Social Work Associate - 142042

UC San Diego Health; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

UC San Diego Health is seeking a Social Work Associate for the Student-Run Free Clinic Project. The role screens new patients, coordinates care, and provides 1:1 consultations on eligibility for programs and resources.

You will manage referrals and follow up across multiple clinic sites, serving low-income and uninsured patients with culturally competent support. Under supervision, you will work within SRFCP’s network to connect patients to social, mental health, dental, nutrition and charity

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program and one year of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to foster relations with diverse patients including those with medical/mental health needs.
• Ability to exercise professional judgment, maintain boundaries and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Screen all new patients for eligibility for programs and resources.
• Coordinate care and provide 1:1 consults on access to care and referrals.
• Follow up with patients and coordinate referrals across multiple SRFCP sites.
• Collaborate with patient families and community resources to ensure appropriate care coordination.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Professional judgment

Written and oral communication

Confidentiality

Time management

Referral coordination

Community mental health knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social work

Job description

Payroll Title SOCIAL WORK ASC

Department STUDENT-RUN FREE CLINIC

Hiring Pay Scale $30.21 - $39.76 / Hour

Worksite Campus

Appointment Type Career

Appointment Percent 100%

Union HX Contract

Total Openings 1

Work Schedule Days, 8-Hour Shifts, Monday-Friday

#142042 Social Work Associate

Filing Deadline: Wed 11/18/2026

UC San Diego values and welcomes people from all backgrounds. If you are interested in being part of our team, possess the needed licensure and certifications, and feel that you have most of the qualifications and/or transferable skills for a job opening,

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 11/06/2026 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Reassignment Applicants: Eligible Reassignment clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

Description

The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project (SRFCP) has been dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality, no-cost health care for underserved patients in the San Diego area since 1997. At four clinic sites across San Diego, patients receive primary medical care, specialty care, mental health services, food and nutrition programs, medications, vaccines, labs, imaging, social services, dental care, and acupuncture. The SRFCP is also a unique learning environment that empowers medical, pharmacy, and predental students to better understand and combat inequities as they care for patients under faculty supervision.

Our current patients are adults who are low income, food insecure and uninsured. In 2025, we provided over 3000 medical visits, 2500 dental visits, one million dollars worth of free medications and over 80,000 pounds of food. We anticipate the need for free healthcare will significantly increase so there is a clear need for a clinical social worker to help screen new patients and work with all patients to provide case management, appropriate referrals and care coordination.

Under general supervision, the position is responsible for screening all new patients, care coordination and providing 1:1 consults for all new and existing patients on eligibility for programs and resources related to access to care, food, mental health, community resources. The position will manage care coordination and provide appropriate patient follow up with patients regarding a broad range of referrals (Charity programs, vision services, cancer screening programs etc). The position will partner with individuals and families of the multiple sites of the Student-Run Free Clinic Project, providing culturally competent resource services to low-income, uninsured patients.

Minimum Qualifications

• Possession of a bachelor’s degree in social work from a program approved by the Council on Social Work Education, and one year of experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.


• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to foster constructive working relationship with a wide variety of people, including medically and mentally ill patients, using tact, diplomacy, confidentiality and flexibility.


• Demonstrated ability to use professional judgment to interpret, clarify and problem solve. Ability work independently and maintain professional boundaries.


• Strong demonstrated ability to maintain strict confidentiality and use professional judgment when reporting information to clients, other professionals, and family members.


• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and concisely in both written and oral form. Strong oral and written communication skills.


• Knowledge of community, mental health and social services


• Good organizational and time management skills


• Demonstrated ability to coordinate patient referrals.


• Experience working with community mental health resources, and other mental health/recovery professionals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters in Social work.


• Registration with Board of Behavioral Sciences.


• Working knowledge of DSM-V categories and differential diagnosis.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.


• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.


• Must have reliable transportation to multiple sites of the SRFCP.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $63,078 - $83,019 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $30.21 - $39.76

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.

UC San Diego Health Sciences is comprised of our School of Medicine, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, and our Student Health and Well-Being Department. We have long been at the forefront of translational — or "bench-to-bedside" — research, transforming patient care through discovery and innovation leading to new drugs and technologies. Translational research is carried out every day in the hundreds of clinical trials of promising new therapies offered through UC San Diego Health, and in the drive of our researchers and clinician-scientists who are committed to having a significant impact on patient care. We invite you to join our team!

Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.

UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement:

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

• \"Misconduct\" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:


• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy


• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy


• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace