Social Worker Level 3

Western Sydney Local Health District; Sydney; On-site; AUD 84,000 - 87,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Sydney Local Health District is seeking a Senior Social Worker at Auburn District Hospital to provide advanced psychosocial care for patients with life-limiting illness and support their families. You will lead a multidisciplinary team, contribute to education and quality initiatives, and drive service development in a compassionate, values-driven environment.

The role emphasizes advanced clinical skills, mentorship, and ongoing professional development within a supportive workplace

Qualifications

• Degree in Social Work with eligibility for AASW membership.
• Experience in palliative care or life-limiting illnesses preferred.
• Strong psychosocial assessment and counselling skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver specialist psychosocial assessments and counselling for patients and families.
• Provide support in advance care planning, grief and bereavement care.
• Coordinate care with multidisciplinary team and contribute to discharge planning.
• Offer clinical supervision and guidance to social work students and staff.
• Lead quality improvement and service development initiatives.

Skills

Counselling

Crisis intervention

Advanced clinical reasoning

Autonomous practice

Team collaboration

Education

Degree in Social Work (AASW eligible)

Job description

• Make a meaningful impact supporting patients and families at end of life
• Join a compassionate multidisciplinary Palliative Care team
• Advanced clinical role with leadership, mentoring and quality initiatives Manage complex palliative care caseloads, provide specialist psychosocial support, and build positive outcomes for patients and families facing life-limiting illness.

Employment Type: Temporary Full Time (Up to 31/05/2027) Position Classification: Social Worker Level 3 Remuneration: $61.31 - $63.29 per hour Hours Per Week: 38 Location: Auburn District Hospital

Where you'll be working

Join the dedicated team at Auburn District Hospital, part of Western Sydney Local Health District, where compassionate, patient-centred care is at the heart of everything we do. Working within the Palliative and Supportive Care Service, you will be part of a highly skilled multidisciplinary team committed to supporting patients and their families through some of life's most challenging moments. In this rewarding senior clinical role, you'll have the opportunity to apply your advanced social work expertise while contributing to service development, education, and quality improvement initiatives.

• Work within a respected multidisciplinary Palliative and Supportive Care team
• Collaborate with experienced clinicians dedicated to holistic patient care
• Contribute to a supportive, inclusive and values-driven workplace culture
• Access ongoing professional development, supervision and career growth opportunities
• Be part of a service committed to excellence, innovation and continuous improvement

What you'll be doing

As the Senior Social Worker, you will provide specialist psychosocial assessment, intervention and support to patients with life-limiting illness, as well as their families and carers. You will utilise advanced clinical skills to navigate complex emotional, psychological, social and practical issues while supporting patients through end-of-life care and advance care planning.

Key responsibilities include:

• Deliver comprehensive psychosocial assessments, counselling, advocacy and crisis intervention for patients and families experiencing complex palliative and end-of-life care needs
• Provide expert support in advance care planning, grief and bereavement, anticipatory loss, family conflict and adjustment to progressive illness
• Partner with multidisciplinary team members to coordinate care, facilitate family meetings, support discharge planning and connect patients with community services
• Provide clinical consultation, supervision and guidance to social workers, students and other healthcare professionals
• Lead and contribute to quality improvement initiatives, evidence-based practice activities and service development projects

Essential Criteria:

• Qualification: Degree in Social Work with eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Work (AASW)

Selection Criteria:

• Degree in Social Work and eligibility for membership of the AASW.
• Demonstrated experience and skills in counselling in palliative care or other clinical settings involving life limiting illnesses, including specialist knowledge of grief and bereavement processes.
• Demonstrated experience and advanced clinical skills in comprehensive psychosocial assessments, crisis intervention, individual and family counselling skills, complex case management, end of life care, advocacy, negotiation, and problem solving.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including conflict resolution skills and time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously with limited supervision, apply independent professional judgement and high-level clinical reasoning skills, whilst working collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated experience and skill in clinical supervision and teaching of staff and students.
• Demonstrated ability and experience in identifying areas for clinical practice improvement, developing and leading quality improvement activities.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a social work and multidisciplinary team to accomplish service goals and improved patient and/or consumer care and outcomes.

Requisition ID: REQ699452 Applications Close: 3rd November 2026

People with disabilities who meet the selection criteria are encouraged to apply; and where required, WSLHD will implement reasonable adjustment consistent with industry standard. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply. Stepping Up aims to assist Aboriginal job applicants by providing information about applying for roles in NSW Health organisations. For more information, please visit https://www.steppingup.health.nsw.gov.au/ . Please note: A person who is not an Australian citizen or a permanent resident is only eligible for temporary employment for a period not longer than the duration of their current visa or a period not shorter than the duration of the advertised position. #S-DNI