How do they match: Healthcare Social Workers

  • Family Support Specialist
  • Family Support Worker
  • Social Services Director

  • Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.

  • Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients' medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.
  • Organize support groups or counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting the client or patient.
  • Plan and conduct programs to combat social problems, prevent substance abuse, or improve community health and counseling services.
  • 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.
  • Supervise and direct other workers providing services to clients or patients.
  • Utilize consultation data and social work experience to plan and coordinate client or patient care and rehabilitation, following through to ensure service efficacy.

  • Collaborate with other professionals to assess client needs or plan treatments.
  • Refer clients to community or social service programs.
  • Supervise workers providing client or patient services.