Hospital social worker
Also known as: public health social worker, hospital discharge social worker, medical social worker, social worker, palliative care, social worker, palliative care social worker
About this occupation
Hospital social workers provide counselling to patients and their families helping them to better cope with the illness, the emotions surrounding diagnosis, and with social and financial problems. They work in cooperation with doctors, nurses and other health professionals sensitising them on the emotional aspects of a patient. They act as link between patients and medical staff. Hospital social workers also support the patients and their families with the discharge from the hospital.
A specialisation of social worker.
Essential skills and knowledge
- apply anti-oppressive practices
- review social service plan
- relate empathetically
- consider social impact of actions on service users
- company policies
- health care system
- social work theory
- apply crisis intervention
- tolerate stress
- organise social work packages
- communicate with social service users
- apply decision making within social work
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Healthcare Social Workers (O*NET 21-1022.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.
- Educate clients about end-of-life symptoms and options to assist them in making informed decisions.
- Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients' medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.
- Refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.
- Utilize consultation data and social work experience to plan and coordinate client or patient care and rehabilitation, following through to ensure service efficacy.
- Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress according to measurable goals described in treatment and care plan.
- Typical education (US)
- Master's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 5 of 5
- Interests
- Social, Investigative, Conventional
Top skills: Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Service Orientation, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking
US median pay: US$67,880 a year (2025), 187,630 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyExtremely important (4.9)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.4)
- SociologyO*NET: Sociology and AnthropologyVery important (4.4)
- Divinity or PhilosophyO*NET: Philosophy and TheologyImportant (3.1)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Master's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Mental Health Counselors
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Rehabilitation Counselors
- Social and Human Service Assistants
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
- Community Health Workers
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
- Health Education Specialists
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.