Hospice Social Worker

Job Description

Job Description

Benefits/Perks

• Flexible Scheduling
• Competitive Compensation
• Careers Advancement 

Hospice Social Worker

Job Summary

Millenia Hospice is seeking a compassionate, dependable, and professionally licensed Hospice Social Worker to join our interdisciplinary hospice team. The Hospice Social Worker is responsible for assessing the psychosocial, emotional, financial, environmental, and caregiver-related needs of hospice patients and their families. This role provides counseling, education, resource coordination, discharge planning support, crisis intervention, and ongoing emotional support to patients and families facing end-of-life care.

The Hospice Social Worker works closely with the RN Case Manager, Medical Director, Chaplain, Hospice Aide, Administrator, and other members of the Interdisciplinary Group to ensure that each patient’s plan of care reflects the patient’s goals, family dynamics, psychosocial needs, safety concerns, and end-of-life preferences.

The ideal candidate must be compassionate, organized, professional, patient-centered, and able to document clearly in the EMR in a way that supports the patient’s hospice eligibility, psychosocial needs, caregiver burden, and “Why Hospice Now.”

Key Responsibilities
Psychosocial Assessment

 

1. Complete initial and ongoing psychosocial assessments for hospice patients and families. 
2. Assess emotional, social, spiritual, financial, environmental, cultural, and caregiver-related needs.
3. Identify family dynamics, support systems, caregiver stress, barriers to care, safety concerns, and patient/family coping ability.

Counseling and Emotional Support

 

1. Provide supportive counseling to patients and families related to terminal illness, grief, anticipatory grief, caregiver stress, loss, end-of-life planning, and adjustment to hospice care.
2. Assist patients and families in processing fear, anxiety, depression, denial, guilt, conflict, or emotional distress related to disease progression and end-of-life care.
3. Provide crisis intervention when needed and escalate urgent concerns to the appropriate clinical leader 

Care Coordination

 

1. Collaborate with the RN Case Manager, Chaplain, Hospice Aide, Medical Director, Administrator, facility staff, and other members of the hospice team.
2. Participate in care planning and help ensure that psychosocial needs are included in the patient’s Plan of Care.
3. Coordinate with nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, hospitals, families, and community agencies as needed.

Resource Support

 

1. Assist patients and families with community resources, long-term care planning, advance directives, Medicaid/community assistance, funeral planning resources, caregiver support, and other psychosocial needs.
2. Provide education regarding hospice benefits, levels of care, patient rights, caregiver responsibilities, and available support services.
3. Help families understand hospice philosophy and comfort-focused care.

Advance Care Planning

 

1. Assist with discussions related to advance directives, medical power of attorney, DNR status, end-of-life wishes, funeral arrangements, and family decision-making.
2. Notify the clinical team of any conflict, confusion, or change in patient/family goals of care.

Documentation

 

1. Complete all documentation accurately, professionally, and timely in Kinnser/WellSky EMR.
2. Ensure social work notes clearly reflect the patient’s psychosocial condition, caregiver burden, emotional needs, interventions provided, family response, and plan for follow-up.
3. Document in a way that supports hospice compliance, continuity of care, and ADR readiness.
4. Submit all visit notes and required documentation within agency-required timeframes.

IDG Participation

 

1. Attend and participate in Interdisciplinary Group meetings as required.
2. Provide meaningful psychosocial updates for each assigned patient.
3. Report changes in patient/family coping, caregiver availability, safety concerns, emotional distress, financial/resource needs, and any unresolved psychosocial issues.
4. Recommend updates to the Plan of Care based on patient and family needs. 

Required Qualifications

• Current Texas social work license in good standing, preferably Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) .
• Minimum of one year of social work experience in a healthcare setting.
• Knowledge of hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, grief, family dynamics, caregiver stress, and psychosocial assessment.
• Ability to complete accurate, timely, and professional documentation.
• Strong communication, counseling, problem-solving, and crisis-intervention skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with an interdisciplinary hospice team.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and demonstrate compassion, patience, and cultural sensitivity.
• Must be able to pass required background checks, license verification, and onboarding requirements.
• Must maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA and agency policies at all times.

Work Expectations

• Complete visits as assigned and in accordance with the patient’s Plan of Care.
• Submit documentation within Millenia Hospice’s required timeframe.
• Attend IDG meetings and provide meaningful patient updates.
• Communicate changes in psychosocial condition, caregiver concerns, safety risks, or family conflict timely.
• Follow all Millenia Hospice policies, procedures, HIPAA requirements, and professional standards.
• Represent Millenia Hospice with professionalism, compassion, and respect at all times.