Medical Social Worker Jobs

Medical social workers provide support to patients who have undergone severe psychological and/or physical trauma as a result of illness or severe physical injuries. They primarily help patients and their families with their psychological well-being after a serious medical condition.

Social workers often provide counseling and support for patients and families trying to resume their lives after an extended hospital stay. They can assist with everyday tasks like getting meals delivered and finding ways to get around. They also help with child services, finding support groups for victims of physical and sexual assault and arranging counseling for terminally ill patients and their families. Social workers can also help disabled patients find resources to help them lead more independent lives with their disability.

Medical social workers work in hospitals, clinics and healthcare facilities such as nursing homes or even with hospice units. In this position one may be required to travel to the homes of patients or to various medical facilities to provide support.

Medical Social Worker Training

The minimum educational qualification is a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. One may also choose to obtain a Bachelor’s in Psychology or Sociology. To move beyond entry-level positions a Master’s Degree in Social Work is a necessity.

Along with a Master’s degree, clinical training is necessary to work in the profession. Many degree programs will assist students in finding suitable facilities such as nursing homes, mental health facilities, hospitals or hospice for their internship. Typical requirements for training are upwards of 900 hours to reach professional parity.

After the internship, medical social workers will need to attain certification in the field. The requirements for certification or licensure vary by each State or region of the country. You may contact your state board or the Association of Social Work Boards for additional information on the topic. Students may have to gain additional work experience along with the internship to apply for a license.

To see a list of available Medical Social Worker jobs available through HealthCare Support. Go here>>