Hospice Social Worker (MSW required)

About the role

The Hospice Social Worker models the Compassus values of Compassion, Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork, and Innovation, promotes the Compassus philosophy, upholds the Code of Ethical Conduct, and fosters positive working relationships across the organization and with external stakeholders. The role provides preventive, educational, evaluative, and treatment services to meet the psychosocial needs of patients and their families, helping them improve, restore, and maintain their maximum level of coping by utilizing community resources and the interdisciplinary team (IDT).

Responsibilities

• Explain hospice services and Medicare benefits to patients and families; obtain Informed Consent and Election of Benefits documents as requested.
• Submit appropriate documentation and paperwork to facilities at the completion of patient visits, ensuring timely completion according to company policy.
• Participate as a member of the IDT, including development and implementation of the plan of care.
• Provide psycho‑social support and counseling services to the patient and family; involve external counseling resources as needed.
• Assist in identifying the need for intervention of other IDT members and effectively communicate patient and family needs to the IDT.
• Collaborate with the IDT to coordinate psycho‑social care and support for the patient and family, ensuring appropriateness, continuity, and quality of care.
• Maintain updated, comprehensive care plans that reflect current problems, goals, and interventions for patients.
• Respect the family’s environment and belief systems; remain nondiscriminatory regarding age, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, and other personal matters.
• Complete initial and ongoing psycho‑social assessments; address concerns related to financial means, insurance, living arrangements/placement for long‑term care, caregiver stressors, pre‑bereavement and anticipatory grief, and community resource needs.
• Facilitate placement in long‑term care as warranted and monitor adjustment; participate in care planning meetings at long‑term care facilities.
• Support and facilitate advance planning, including living will/POA documents, funeral arrangements, memorial services, and body/organ donation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Master of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE‑accredited program with at least 1 year of healthcare experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field with 1 year of healthcare experience may be considered for locations where an MSW is available to supervise.
• State licensure as required and applicable for the state in which you practice.

Skills

• Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; compute rates, ratios, and percentages.
• Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations; write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals; present information effectively and respond to questions from leaders, team members, investors, and external parties.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Strong written and verbal communication; ability to understand, read, write, and speak English; articulation and embrace of hospice philosophy.

State‑Specific Licensure Requirements

• Alabama – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
• Alaska – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
• Arizona – Licensure not mandatory for hospice but required for independent counseling.
• California – Licensure not mandatory for hospice but required for independent counseling.
• Colorado – Licensure not required to practice social work.
• Connecticut – Licensure not required to practice social work.
• Georgia – Licensure required: BSW must be supervised by MSW; MSWs need licensure after one year.
• Illinois – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
• Indiana – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
• Iowa – Licensure not required to practice social work.
• Kansas – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
• Kentucky – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
• Louisiana – Licensure required: LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW; a minimum MSW degree is needed.
• Maine – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
• Massachusetts – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
• Michigan – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
• Mississippi – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
• Missouri – Licensure not required; however, BSW must be supervised by MSW.
• Montana – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
• New Hampshire – Licensure required: LCSW is needed for independent counseling in clinical social work.
• New Jersey – Licensure required: LMSW or LCSW.
• New Mexico – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, or LCSW.
• Ohio – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
• Oklahoma – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
• Oregon – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
• Pennsylvania – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
• South Carolina – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
• Tennessee – Licensure not required to practice social work.
• Texas – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
• Virginia – Licensure required only for independent counseling in clinical social work.
• Washington – Licensure not required to practice social work.
• West Virginia – Licensure required: LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
• Wisconsin – Licensure required: LBSW or LCSW.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The role requires regular standing, walking, and manual dexterity, with the ability to lift and move objects up to 50 pounds. Visual acuity requirements include close and distance vision, color and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The work environment involves exposure to bodily fluids, infectious diseases, and other typical healthcare conditions, and routine use of standard medical equipment and tools associated with clinical care. Adaptations can be made to accommodate team members with disabilities.

Benefits

Compassus offers competitive pay, flexible time off, tuition reimbursement, wellness programs, leadership pathways, mentorship, personalized professional development, recognition programs, and a culture that values diversity, equity, inclusion, and authentic self‑expression.