What Healthcare Social Workers do:
- Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.
- Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients' medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.
- Counsel clients and patients in individual and group sessions to help them overcome dependencies, recover from illness, and adjust to life.
- Identify environmental impediments to client or patient progress through interviews and review of patient records.
- Modify treatment plans to comply with changes in clients' status.
- Organize support groups or counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting the client or patient.
- 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.
- Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress according to measurable goals described in treatment and care plan.
- Plan discharge from care facility to home or other care facility.
- Utilize consultation data and social work experience to plan and coordinate client or patient care and rehabilitation, following through to ensure service efficacy.
- Plan and conduct programs to combat social problems, prevent substance abuse, or improve community health and counseling services.
- Supervise and direct other workers providing services to clients or patients.
- Investigate child abuse or neglect cases and take authorized protective action when necessary.
- Develop or advise on social policy and assist in community development.
- Conduct social research to advance knowledge in the social work field.
- Oversee Medicaid- and Medicare-related paperwork and recordkeeping in hospitals.
What work activities are most important?
Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients. | |
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. | |
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. | |
Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. | |
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. | |
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests. | |
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others. | |
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. | |
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. | |
Interacting With Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. | |
Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. | |
Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. | |
Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork. | |
Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills. | |
Provide Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics. | |
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. | |
Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. | |
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. | |
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. | |
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. | |
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. | |
Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. | |
Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. | |
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance. | |
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. | |
Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. | |
Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. | |
Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions. | |
Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money. |