Job Description Summary

We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Social Worker to join our pediatric palliative care team. The ideal candidate will work within a transdisciplinary team and must be collaborative and flexible with shared responsibilities. This role requires a professional who can provide comprehensive psychosocial assessments, emotional support, crisis intervention, and resource referrals for patients and families facing serious illness.

Role within the Palliative Care Program:
- Provide psychosocial expertise as a core member of the transdisciplinary pediatric Palliative Care team.
- Engage in clinical support, psychosocial assessment, education, and outcomes initiatives.

Entity

Medical University Hospital Authority (MUHA)

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type​

Regular

Cost Center

CC000584 CHS - Palliative Care (Main)

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Pay Grade

Health-29

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Work Shift

Job Description

• Complete and document a psychosocial assessment for referred patients and families within a mutually agreed upon timeframe.
• Establish a therapeutic relationship, provide and document a plan of care to support the patient and family through discharge or until support no longer necessary.
• Identify and address psychosocial barriers and needs.
• Provide emotional support and counseling.
• Collaborate and participate in shared decision making with the transdisciplinary team to address symptoms, goals of care, medical decision-making, grief, and spirituality.
• Connect families with appropriate community resources.
• Participate in family meetings as necessary

• Collaborate with the Palliative Care clinicians in the Advanced Fetal Care Center (AFCC) to support families.
• Conduct psychosocial assessments for high-need patients.
• Perform phone follow-ups to assess ongoing needs and provide emotional support.
• Continue support post-delivery and facilitate transitions of care.
• Refer families to grief and bereavement services, as well as chaplain services, when appropriate.

• Assess need and eligibility for financial assistance
• Assist patients and families with access internal and community resources.

• Actively participate and engage in transdisciplinary meetings, providing regular updates on patient and family needs and follow-up plans.

Additional Job Description

• Conduct psychosocial assessments, evaluating emotional, financial, social, and spiritual stressors.
• Assess past trauma, losses, mental health, or substance abuse and their impact on coping.
• Address structural, procedural, and systemic barriers to healthcare access and compliance.
• Establish therapeutic alliances with patients and families.
• Provide crisis intervention and help activate family support networks.
• Navigate access to community resources including insurance, housing, food, and transportation.
• Offer supportive counseling and refer to external mental health professionals or support groups as needed.
• Assist with grief and bereavement services alongside the Grief and Bereavement Coordinator.
• Coordinate financial assistance funds for needs not related to bereavement
• Support families in guardianship and legal matters for patients approaching adulthood.
• Communicate and effectively navigate separate roles with unit-based case managers and social workers.
• Assist with advance care planning when necessary.
• Engage in community outreach and education about pediatric palliative care.
• Provide backup support for adult palliative social work as needed.

• Master's degree in social work (MSW) required.
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-CP) or equivalent preferred.
• Experience in pediatric, palliative, or hospital-based social work is strongly preferred.
• Strong ability to work collaboratively within a transdisciplinary team.
• Excellent communication, crisis intervention, and counseling skills.
• Knowledge of community resources, financial assistance programs, and healthcare access barriers.

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

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