skip to Main Content

Health Care Social Worker Job Description

What does a Health Care Social Worker do?

A Health Care Social Worker is responsible for providing support and counseling to patients who are dealing with various health issues. They work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals to ensure that patients receive holistic care and support. This can include providing emotional and practical support, advocating for patients’ needs, and helping patients navigate the healthcare system. Health Care Social Workers also work with patients’ families to provide education, counseling, and support throughout the patient’s illness or recovery. They may specialize in a particular area like palliative care, mental health, or substance abuse. Overall, a Health Care Social Worker plays a crucial role in helping patients and their families cope with health challenges and achieve the best possible outcome.

Our Health Care Social Worker job description includes the Health Care Social Worker responsibilities, duties, skills, education, qualifications, and experience.

Health Care Social Worker Example


Our Job Advertising Packages

Choose the best package, edit the advert and post your job!

 StarterPremiumCorporateNationalBrandedResourcer
Reed
Indeed Sponsored
Monster
Google Jobs
Glassdoor
LinkedIn Jobs
Totaljobs
Jobsite
Guardian Jobs
CV-Library
Industry boards
CV Targeting*
many more
£99£199£329£349£399£599
Job Advert Package + Flat Fee Recruitment Services
CV Filtering
Video Interviewing
Interview Scheduling
£799£799£929£949£999£1199

If you need an example job description for a Health Care Social Worker download the one below, alternatively we have many other Social Care job description samples and a job description library with over 3000 job descriptions templates that you can download for free.

What does a Health Care Social Worker do?

A Health Care Social Worker is responsible for providing emotional, practical and psychological support to individuals, couples and families within the health care system. This includes assessing the physical and mental health needs of their clients, providing advice and guidance on how to manage their health, and offering appropriate interventions to reduce the impact of illness or disability. The Health Care Social Worker will also work closely with other health care professionals, such as GPs, nurses and health visitors, to ensure the best possible outcomes for their clients.

Health Care Social Worker Role Purpose

The purpose of a health care social worker is to provide support to individuals, families and groups who have physical, mental or emotional health needs. They work to help people access the services and resources they need to improve their health and wellbeing, and to provide emotional and practical support to enable them to cope with their condition and any associated challenges. Health care social workers often work in partnership with other healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses and psychiatrists, to ensure that people receive the best possible care.

Health Care Social Worker Role

A Health Care Social Worker assists individuals and families in managing their physical and mental health needs, as well as providing support and guidance for those affected by illness and disability. They work with patients and their families to identify and address social, psychological and environmental factors that may be contributing to their health issues, and to create a plan for improving overall wellbeing. They also provide counselling and advocacy services, and connect people to community resources such as housing, financial assistance and healthcare services.

Health Care Social Worker Duties

  • Provide emotional support to patients and their families
  • Advise on a range of social care issues
  • Assess and evaluate the needs of patients and their families
  • Help patients and their families to access relevant services
  • Develop and implement care plans
  • Liaise with other healthcare professionals
  • Advocate on behalf of patients
  • Keep accurate records and maintain case files

Health Care Social Worker Requirements

  • A relevant degree in social work or health and social care
  • Experience in delivering care services to a range of clients
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • Good IT skills
  • Knowledge of relevant legislation
  • Knowledge of relevant evidence-based practice

Health Care Social Worker Skills

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to manage difficult situations with empathy, respect and discretion
  • Knowledge of health and social care services
  • Understanding of the principles of confidentiality

Health Care Social Worker Personal Traits

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team
  • Flexibility and adaptability
  • A commitment to anti-discriminatory practice
  • Empathy, understanding and good judgement
  • Good organisational and time management skills

How to write a Health Care Social Worker Job Advert

Use our job advert template to write a job advert for posting on job sites and job boards. Our job advertising templates are carefully created to help you reach your audience and beat the competition to the best talent.

A job description informs the reader about a job, whereas a job advert’s main objective is to sell the job opportunity to attract as many suitable applicants possible. A job advert maybe the first touch-point a candidate has with your company so it is important to create a great impression.

Job Advertisements should enticing, so considering using short, exciting language which get the reader’s attention.

How to write a Health Care Social Worker Job Description

To write a job description, we recommend starting with a job description template from our job description library, which contains examples for 800+ positions and professions. Our job description examples include a job summary with duties and responsibilities and skills and requirements, which can be personalised for your job vacancy.

Job Description Advice - Guidance on How to Personalise a Health Care Social Worker Job Specification

The hiring process and recruiting new employees to fill your key roles requires a degree of personalisation if you are to attract the best employees in a competitive employment market. The right person for a crucial role or more senior roles will likely have other employers targeting them. As your job description will be the first point of contact, you need to nail your pitch and provide the best possible service.

Job Description Tips - Help on formatting a Health Care Social Worker Job Specification

When creating your bespoke description and advert, you should cover and promote these points:

Job title: This should accurately reflect the role and include keywords that top talent might be using to search for jobs.

Job duties: The day to day duties, such as administrative tasks, which vary depending on the company and inform the candidate if they can complete the role.

Technical skills: These are the hard skills required through training, such as proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Soft skills: These include the interpersonal skills and general abilities the right candidates will possess. For example, the competency to prioritise multiple tasks, handle customer queries and customer complaints, work alone, or build a good relationship with coworkers.

The company's culture: Highlighting your company culture and values ensures employees thrive and find outstanding job satisfaction. Candidates that are not the right fit won’t waste their time completing the application process, meaning you can focus on qualified individuals and hire in a more timely manner.

Career progression: Including the career path will entice candidates looking for career growth. 

Training and development programs: Smaller companies may need employees with previous experience or provide educational assistance over internal training offered by larger organisations with more significant resources. 

Employee benefits: Compensation and benefits often fail to appear in job ads and while you may want to hold your cards close to your chest, failing to include them is a mistake. Consider answering common questions, such as working hours and paid leave. Researching the average salary for the role in these early stages will ensure you don’t waste your interviewer’s and the candidate’s time.

Skill gaps: Your company may need to bring in new skills beyond those required to complete the key role and duties. Thinking on an organisational level can be beneficial when contemplating skills diversity.

Legal requirements: Ensure your job advert and description does not ask for inappropriate or discriminatory personal details, such as age, marital status, or religion.

How to Hire a Health Care Social Worker

Once you have selected your Job Description download it or convert it to a Job Advert. From here you can post/advertise your job across our network of job boards. If you wish to use the job description for a CV Template click through for advice and Convert to a CV

Back To Top