Senior Social Worker | Palliative Care

10000 Sanford; United States; On-site; USD 69,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanford Health is seeking a Palliative Care Social Worker to join an interdisciplinary team. The role provides psychosocial assessment, intervention, and care coordination for patients and caregivers facing serious or life-limiting illness.

You will collaborate with palliative physicians, APPs, nursing, chaplaincy, and other disciplines to support patients through treatment, recovery, and transitions across care settings. Advanced clinical judgment and strong customer service are essential.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited program.
• Licensure in good standing in state of practice (Minnesota: LGSW/LISW/LICSW).
• Healthcare and/or mental health hospital experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conducts comprehensive psychosocial assessments across mental health, coping, family systems, and social determinants of health.
• Provides counseling, crisis support, and interventions for patients and families dealing with serious illness.

Skills

Clinical social work

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Master’s degree in Social Work

Job description

Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.

Work Shift: 8 Hours - Day Shifts (United States of America) Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 Compensation: Salary Range: $33.00 - $41.50 $20,000 Sign On with 2-Year Commitment or $30,000 Sign On with 3-Year Commitment! Union Position: No Department Details

This role functions in both inpatient and ambulatory care settings and requires close collaboration with a multidisciplinary healthcare team. The position supports high-quality, patient- and family-centered palliative care and offers opportunities for ongoing professional development.

Summary

Palliative care provides an extra layer of support for patients and their families living with serious or life-limiting illness. Services may be provided at any stage of illness and alongside curative treatment. Care is based on patient and family needs, not prognosis. The Palliative Care Social Worker provides comprehensive psychosocial assessment, intervention, and care coordination for patients and caregivers to address medically related social, emotional, behavioral, and practical needs. As a core member of the interdisciplinary Palliative care team, this role collaborates closely with our two Palliative Care Physicians, APP, nursing, chaplain, and other disciplines to support patients through treatment, recovery, and transitions across care settings. This position requires advanced clinical judgment, strong customer service skills, and the ability to establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with patients, families, and health care team members.

Job Description Responsibilities:

• Conducts comprehensive psychosocial assessments, including evaluation of mental health, coping, family systems, cultural factors, and social determinants of health
• Provides clinical social interventions, counseling, and crisis support to patients and families coping with serious illness, end-of-life concerns, and grief
• Serves as an integral member of the interdisciplinary palliative care team, contributing to treatment planning and goal-of-care discussions
• Facilitates and/or leads family meetings to address complex family dynamics, clarify goals of care, and support shared decision-making
• Provides caregiver assessments, education, and ongoing support to strengthen the family system
• Assist patients and families with advance care planning, including healthcare directives and identification of surrogate decision makers
• Coordinates transitions of care across inpatient, outpatient, and community settings
• Demonstrates strong knowledge of community and healthcare resources, including mental health services, grief support, housing, substance use treatment, long-term care, home care services, equipment coordination, and home safety
• Utilizes the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care and organizational standards to guide practice
• Maintains timely, accurate, and compliant documentation in the electronic medical record
• Provides consultation and support to medical and nursing staff regarding psychosocial and family dynamics
• Participates in quality improvement, program development, and team education as appropriate
• Identifies program and community need to drive strategic program development, resulting in optimized workflows, improved collaboration and successful execution of key initiatives
• Familiarity with medical terminology and documentation or a proven ability to learn new systems quickly

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited curriculum required.
• Healthcare and/or mental health hospital experience preferred.
• Must possess a license in good standing in state(s) of practice: In Minnesota, must have one of the following: Licensed Graduated Social Worker (LGSW) Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)

Sanford is an EEO/AA Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-877-949-5678 or send an email to [e-mail].

The Sanford organization owns and manages multiple distinct brands, including Sanford Health, Marshfield Clinic, and Good Samaritan, as well as Lewis Drug, Sanford Health Equip, Solutions by Sanford, Great Shots, and Blue Rock Bar & Grill. Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization has 53,000 employees and serves over 2 million patients and nearly 425,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The integrated nonprofit health system includes a network of 56 hospitals, 288 clinic locations, 147 senior care communities, 4,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 1,500 active clinical trials and studies. The organization’s transformational virtual care initiative brings patients closer to care with access to 78 specialties. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News. Good Samaritan, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of senior care and services, is committed to transforming the aging experience through innovation, compassion and personalized care. As part of Sanford Health, an integrated nonprofit health system headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Good Samaritan serves 10,000 seniors and offers access to a full continuum of care, including 94 rehabilitation and skilled nursing centers, 56 assisted living and memory care facilities, 44 independent living locations and 37 home health and hospice agencies. The senior care provider delivers services across the upper Midwest, with 70% of residents living in rural communities. Learn more about Good Samaritan’s mission and commitment to delivering high quality senior care in rural America at good-sam.com.