This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.
Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.
Also Known As:AIDS Social Worker, Bereavement Counselor, Case Manager, Case Worker, Caseworker, Certified Health Care Social Worker, Certified Social Worker in Health Care (C-SWHC), Client Advocate +44 more
Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.
Educate clients about end-of-life symptoms and options to assist them in making informed decisions.
Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients' medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.
Refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.
Utilize consultation data and social work experience to plan and coordinate client or patient care and rehabilitation, following through to ensure service efficacy.
Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress according to measurable goals described in treatment and care plan.
Identify environmental impediments to client or patient progress through interviews and review of patient records.
Counsel clients and patients in individual and group sessions to help them overcome dependencies, recover from illness, and adjust to life.
Plan discharge from care facility to home or other care facility.
Organize support groups or counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting the client or patient.
Modify treatment plans to comply with changes in clients' status.
Supervise and direct other workers providing services to clients or patients.
Plan and conduct programs to combat social problems, prevent substance abuse, or improve community health and counseling services.
Develop or advise on social policy and assist in community development.
Conduct social research to advance knowledge in the social work field.
Supplemental Tasks (2)
Investigate child abuse or neglect cases and take authorized protective action when necessary.
Oversee Medicaid- and Medicare-related paperwork and recordkeeping in hospitals.
Emerging Tasks
New and evolving responsibilities for this role:
Conduct psychological assessment of clients.
Education & Training
Job Zone 5Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
On-the-Job Training: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.
Master's Degree
70%
Bachelor's Degree
15%
Post-Master's Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master's degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.
11%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.