MSW Hospice

Pinnacle Hospice, LLC; Altoona (PA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Pinnacle Hospice, LLC is seeking a compassionate MSW Hospice Social Worker to provide psychosocial support to patients and families, coordinate resources, and ensure dignity, comfort, and peace at end of life.

You will collaborate with nurses, physicians, chaplains and therapists, conduct assessments, develop care plans, and deliver group therapy and grief support in a patient-centered team environment.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited institution.
• Experience in hospice care or palliative medicine with end-of-life expertise.
• Experience with child & family counseling, behavioral health, and CBT/motivational interviewing.
• Familiarity with ICD coding (ICD-10), Medicare regulations, and EMR documentation.
• Experience with geriatric patients, dementia/PTSD care, and post-acute settings.
• Ability to work with diverse cultural backgrounds and HIPAA compliance.

Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough patient assessments of emotional, social, and psychological needs in hospice settings.
• Develop individualized care plans aligned with ethical guidelines and standards.
• Provide direct clinical counseling, grief support, and crisis intervention.
• Coordinate resources such as housing, transportation, spiritual support, and social services.
• Document interactions in EMR systems complying with HIPAA.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to deliver holistic patient care.
• Facilitate intake, discharge planning, case management, and group therapy as needed.

Skills

Hospice care

Case management

Crisis intervention

Behavioral health

Motivational interviewing

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cultural competence

HIPAA knowledge

Education

Master’s degree in Social Work

Tools

EMR systems

ICD-10 coding

Medicare regulations

Job description

We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated MSW (Master of Social Work) Hospice Social Worker to join our team and provide exceptional end-of-life care to patients and their families. In this vital role, you will deliver comprehensive psychosocial support, coordinate community resources, and ensure that patients experience dignity, comfort, and peace during their final stages of life. Your expertise will help families navigate complex emotional, social, and practical challenges associated with hospice care, fostering a supportive environment grounded in clinical excellence and empathetic communication.

Duties

• Conduct thorough patient assessments to evaluate emotional, social, and psychological needs within hospice settings.
• Develop individualized care plans aligned with clinical ethical guidelines, hospice & palliative medicine standards, and social work practice standards.
• Provide direct clinical counseling, including grief support, behavioral therapy, mental health counseling, and crisis intervention for patients and families.
• Coordinate community resources such as housing assistance, transportation services, spiritual support, and other social services to enhance patient quality of life.
• Document all patient interactions accurately using electronic medical records (EMR systems), ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations and medical documentation standards.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams—including nurses, physicians, chaplains, and therapists—to deliver holistic patient care through clinical interprofessional collaboration.
• Facilitate intake procedures, discharge planning, case management activities, and group therapy sessions tailored to diverse cultural backgrounds and individual needs.

Experience

• Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited institution.
• Proven experience working in hospice care or palliative medicine with a strong understanding of end-of-life issues.
• Demonstrated expertise in child & family counseling, behavioral health interventions, and mental health counseling techniques such as motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy.
• Familiarity with medical terminology, ICD coding (ICD-10), Medicare regulations, ICD-9/10 coding systems, and medical records management.
• Experience working with geriatric patients, individuals with disabilities—including Alzheimer’s disease—and those requiring dementia or PTSD care.
• Knowledge of crisis management protocols, home & community care practices, inpatient experience, nursing home experience, assisted living environments, and post-acute care settings.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds while adhering to HIPAA standards and clinical ethical guidelines.

Join us in making a meaningful difference by providing compassionate hospice social work that enriches lives during their most vulnerable moments. We value your expertise in delivering client-centered care that promotes dignity, comfort, and emotional well-being for patients and their loved ones alike.