Social Worker - Hospice

WHAT YOU’LL DO

As a hospice social worker, you will provide emotional and logistical support to patients and their loved ones during an important and vulnerable time. 

You will ensure VITAS patients reach the end of life with their affairs in order, honoring their wishes for finances, funeral arrangements, and more. Their loved ones will trust you to help them navigate the grieving process.

With this in mind, you will:

• Perform psychosocial assessment of patients and families, working with your clinical teammates to create a comprehensive plan of care for each
• Provide individual and family supportive counselling
• Deliver psychotherapy if appropriately credentialed
• Be proactive in delivering bereavement care to each patient’s families and loved ones after the patient’s passing
• Refer patients and family members to community resources as needed
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation 

Working alongside your team, you will give your best each day in service of our core commitment: Delivering compassionate, personalized care with heartfelt empathy, honoring the wishes of each patient who entrusts VITAS with their end-of-life journey.

WHERE YOU’LL WORK

Each day is different for our social workers. You will spend most of your time caring for hospice patients wherever they call home, which may be a private residence or an assisted living/skilled nursing facility.

About once a week, you'll come to the office to meet with the rest of your interdisciplinary team: the RNs, physicians, chaplains, nurses and aides who work together to provide 360-degree support to the patients and families we serve.

REQUIREMENTS

• Masters of Social Work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
• At least one year of social work experience in a healthcare setting
• Valid licensure and/or certification as required by your state
• Reliable transportation

Preference is given to candidates who have at least one year of social work experience with end-of-life patients and their families

State-specific licensure requirements are as follows:

• CT: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• DC: Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW)
• DE: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• GA: MSW must be supervised by LCSW up to obtaining LMSW
• IL:   Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
• NJ: Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
• OH: Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
• TX: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• WI: Social Worker Certificate

WHO WE ARE

We are VITAS Healthcare, the nation’s leading end-of-life care provider since 1978. 

Our hospice organization: 

• Kickstarts careers in caring
• Promotes from within
• Provides an award-winning, nationally recognized best-in-class employee experience

Supported by industry-leading experts and a growing network of programs in 15+ states, VITAS empowers team members to grow toward their goals while transforming patients’ lives.