Sr Medical Social Worker

Tan Tock Seng Hospital; Singapore; On-site; SGD 68,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

Tan Tock Seng Hospital seeks a Senior Medical Social Worker in palliative care to conduct comprehensive bio-psychosocial-spiritual assessments and interventions for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families, ensuring care aligns with professional standards.

The role covers end-of-life planning, group work, community collaboration, education, supervision, and research to advance palliative social work practice and ethical, culturally sensitive care.

Responsibilities

• End-to-end case management for patients with life-limiting illnesses and families, including advance care planning and bereavement support.
• Group work development and facilitation for palliative care populations, including caregiver programs and psychoeducational sessions.
• Community engagement to strengthen support systems across hospital, community organisations, and bereavement services.
• Provide education and clinical supervision to medical social workers in palliative care.
• Engage in research activities to advance palliative social work practice and evidence-based interventions.
• Apply social work ethics and cultural sensitivity in end-of-life care and decision-making.

Job description

Job Summary: Function as a Senior Medical Social Worker in palliative care to provide comprehensive bio-psychosocial-spiritual assessment and intervention in the management of patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families, ensuring care that meets professional standards of practice.

Key Responsibilities:

Casework/Psychosocial Care

Provide end-to-end case management support for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families through holistic assessment, advance care planning, therapeutic interventions and evaluation of care. This includes addressing complex grief, loss and bereavement issues, facilitating difficult conversations about end-of-life wishes, supporting decision‑making around treatment options, and coordinating transitions of care across different settings.

Group Work

Develop, conduct and facilitate group work sessions tailored to palliative care populations, including bereavement support groups, caregiver support programmes, and psychoeducational sessions addressing anticipatory grief, coping strategies and legacy work.

Community Work

Implement and strengthen community support systems that enhance the psychosocial and spiritual well‑being of patients, families and caregivers facing serious illness. This includes building partnerships with community organisations, hospices and bereavement services to ensure continuity of support beyond hospital settings.

Programme Development and Implementation

Provide educational and clinical supervision to medical social workers in palliative care practice. Deliver education to patients, families, caregivers and the public on topics related to advance care planning, end‑of‑life care options, grief and bereavement, and available community resources.

Research and Professional Development

Engage in research activities that advance palliative social work practice and contribute to evidence‑based interventions in end‑of‑life care.

Professional Standards

Apply social work ethics and values with particular attention to patient autonomy, dignity in dying, cultural sensitivity in end‑of‑life care, and ethical considerations in advance care planning and decision‑making.

Job Requirements:

Education

A recognised qualification in Social Work. Training or experience in palliative care, grief counselling, or end‑of‑life care is highly desirable.

Experience

3 – 5 years of experience as a MSW.

Behavioural Attributes

• Envision: commit to compassionate end‑of‑life care and build collaborative networks across healthcare, community and bereavement services.
• Empower: advocate for patients wishes and dignity whilst fostering family resilience and self‑sufficiency. Enable: demonstrate cultural sensitivity, emotional maturity and courage in navigating complex end‑of‑life conversations and ethical dilemmas.
• Elevate: provide leadership in palliative social work practice and develop professional capabilities within the team.
• Evaluate and energise self: engage in reflective practice and self‑care as essential components of sustainable palliative care work and continuous professional learning.