Veterinary Social Worker

Ethos Veterinary Health; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision + HSA/FSA

401(k) with employer match

Paid Time Off

Employee Assistance Program

Life Insurance and AD&D + Disability

Job summary

Ethos Veterinary Health is seeking a Veterinary Social Worker for our WVRC Waukesha location. This full-time role supports clients and staff through grief counseling, resource coordination, and program development in a fast-paced, 24/7 hospital setting.

The position requires a Master's in Social Work and at least four years of experience, including grief and trauma counseling. Bilingual English/Spanish is highly preferred. On-site across three locations with weekend/evening flexibility.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work and at least four years of experience, preferably in medical, hospice, or mental health settings.
• Experience in grief and bereavement counseling, as well as trauma and PTSD counseling.
• Compassionate, nonjudgmental approach to supporting individuals and families through crisis, serious illness, and loss, with appreciation for human-animal bond.

Responsibilities

• Provide pet loss counseling to clients by phone and in person.
• Establish and maintain documentation of client and staff intervention, with confidentiality.
• Facilitate pet loss support group and assist in end-of-life decision making in collaboration with staff and doctors.
• Provide informal debriefing services to staff, individually or in groups.
• Provide short-term interventions such as conflict mediation, assessment, and referral for outside counseling.
• Consult with leadership on staff wellness to enhance hospital functioning.
• Present topics on veterinary social work, compassion fatigue, stress management, and work/life balance.
• Provide resources for staff wellness on website, email, or newsletter; offer client counseling as needed.
• Consult with doctors and staff on assessments to facilitate treatment and communication.
• Support a compassionate euthanasia process and develop a Veterinary Social Worker Internship program.

Skills

Empathy

Verbal & written communication

Crisis counseling

Bereavement counseling

Bilingual English/Spanish

Team collaboration

Education

Master's degree in Social Work

Job description

Veterinary Social Worker

Location:Waukesha, WI
Schedule: Full Time | Monday Through Friday | 1st Shift With Flexibility To Support Weekends And Evenings To Support A 24/7 Hospital
Compensation: $70,000-80,000/year

Why Join WVRC Waukesha?

WVRC Waukesha is a 24/7 VECCS Level I Certified Emergency & Critical Care and Specialty Hospital, providing advanced, lifesaving care in a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility. As a Veterinary Social Worker, you'll bring compassionate support to the people behind our patients, helping clients and families navigate medical crises, serious diagnoses, grief, and end-of-life decisions. You'll collaborate with specialists, emergency clinicians, technicians, and client service teams in an environment that values the human-animal bond and recognizes emotional support as an essential part of veterinary care. Through direct client engagement, resource coordination, program development, and team wellness education, you'll have the opportunity to shape meaningful support services while making a lasting difference for families and the veterinary professionals who care for them.

In Your Day-To-Day, You Will:

• Provide pet loss counseling to clients by phone and in person.
• Establish and maintain consistent documentation of client and staff intervention, while maintaining confidentiality.
• Facilitate (organize, implement, maintain, and promote) a pet loss support group. Assist clients in end-of-life decision making in collaboration with staff and doctors.
• Provide informal debriefing services to staff members, individually, or in groups.
• In conjunction with the People & Organization department, provide other short-term interventions such as mediation of conflict, assessment, and referral for outside and/or EAP counseling.
• Consult with the People and Organization department, Hospital Leadership Teams and Regional Team regarding the wellness of staff to enhance hospital functioning.
• Present topics of Veterinary Social Work expertise such as compassion fatigue, stress management, work/life balance, communication skills, grief, and pet loss.
• Provide resources for staff regarding wellness accessibility on website, email, and/or newsletter Provide support and counseling to clients as needed, or by request from doctors or staff.
• Provide consultation to doctors and staff regarding the Veterinary Social Worker's assessment of clients to facilitate treatment and effective communication.
• Enrich and enhance the hospital environment to provide the most peaceful and meaningful euthanasia process possible.
• Develop a Veterinary Social Worker Internship program in collaboration with local colleges and universities.

What You Bring:

• A master's degree in Social Work and at least four years of experience, preferably in a medical, hospice, or mental health setting.
• Required experience in grief and bereavement counseling, as well as trauma and PTSD counseling.
• A compassionate, nonjudgmental approach to supporting individuals and families through crisis, serious illness, and loss, with an appreciation for the human-animal bond.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to navigate emotionally sensitive conversations and support informed decision-making.
• The ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and respond to client and staff needs in an emotionally intense, fast-paced environment.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to build trusting relationships with multidisciplinary teams, clients, and community partners.
• Knowledge of grief and bereavement resources, crisis support, and community assistance programs.
• An understanding of compassion fatigue, burnout prevention, resilience, and employee wellbeing, with the ability to facilitate discussions, informal debriefings, and educational programs.
• The ability to patiently mentor social work interns, delegate responsibilities, and teach practical skills.
• Initiative to identify support needs and develop, evaluate, and improve programs and resources.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills, sound professional judgment, and a commitment to confidentiality and appropriate boundaries regarding supportive services and clinical mental health referrals.
• Flexibility to work on-site across three hospital locations and adjust your schedule to support teams across all shifts.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish is highly preferred.

Perks & Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, Vision + HSA/FSA Options
• Insurance Options: Life Insurance and AD&D + Short & Long-Term Disability + Critical Illness + Accident + Hospital Indemnity
• 401(k) with employer match
• Employee Referral Bonuses + Employee Discount
• Access exclusive financial benefits to help you save on student loans, mortgages, and personal loans
• NVA Pet Resort Discount + Pet Insurance Discount
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off
• Being a part of a team of elite professionals who prioritize the needs of their patients

WVRC offers a warm, friendly atmosphere where our main goal is to provide compassionate care to our patients and clients as well as offering outstanding customer service. Our Technicians are trusted with advanced patient care and hands‑on responsibility. We provide strong leadership, structured training, and long‑term career growth!

Surrounding Areas

• Pewaukee
• Brookfield
• Hartland
• Wauwatosa
• Mukwonago
• West Allis
• Oconomowoc
• Milwaukee

About Ethos Veterinary Health part of the NVA Group, is where you come to practice world‑class medicine, and help shape what veterinary care becomes next. Across our network of 140 specialty and emergency hospitals, science moves forward, standards are elevated, and innovation is put into practice every day. You'll work alongside respected veterinary leaders in academic‑caliber hospitals designed for learning, teaching, and discovery. Here, mentorship is a two‑way street. You'll share your expertise, learn from others, and continue to grow, clinically, professionally, and personally. At Ethos, you inspire hope, deliver exceptional care, and pursue veterinary medicine at its highest level, together.

Join Us At Ethos, this isn't just a job, it's an opportunity to practice medicine at the highest level and helpshape the future of veterinary care!

Equal Opportunity Employer Ethos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ethos does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, competence, merit, and business need. 11086094