Inpatient Social Worker Jobs
Inpatient Social Worker jobs are open across hospitals, psychiatric facilities, rehabilitation centers, and hospice care, from entry-level to senior clinical roles, with specializations in behavioral health, discharge planning, and substance use. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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The Social Worker assigned to the PRN Inpatient Palliative Care Program will provide comprehensive psychosocial services to all members/families receiving an IPC consult. The Social Worker will be a part of the interdisciplinary Palliative Care team and will be responsible for assessing, planning and coordinating the social services and community resources necessary to respond to the patient’s health care needs and wishes. In addition, responsibilities will include 1) interacting with practitioners, members/families, IPC program staff, vendors and other Kaiser Permanente and QRM staff, 2) education of practitioners, member/family and others, 3) discussing end of life planning with patient and family and support the end of life decision making process, 4) assisting in completing end of life documents, 5) exploring family conflict and supporting emotional issues, 6) coaching family/patient on how to talk about difficult issues, 7) educating patient/family on disease and caregiving issues, 8) ensuring that legal, financial and health care planning take place, 9) providing linkages to community resources and services including hospice, 10) monitoring quality of care, and 11) promotion of high level of member satisfaction.
Major Responsibilities/Essential Functions:
- Performs functional, psychosocial and financial assessments of the member/family as part of the initial screening. This will be done through the use of provider and hospital records, contact with the member/family, significant others, caregivers and current medical caregivers (if permitted by member).
- Speak with the case manager or other team members regarding the patient’s current psychosocial and/or discharge planning needs/issues.
- Shares important psychosocial issues/or concerns with the team prior to consult.
- As part of the consult, the social worker will 1) facilitate introductions of team members and explain “palliative care” to the patient/family, 2) review the purpose of the meeting with the patient/family, 3) assess and validate patient/family experience and offer psychological/emotional support, provide desired information regarding benefits and potentially available resources,4) provide the wrap-up of the meeting and reiterate what the patient/family can expect for follow-up according to identified needs.
- Will assist IPCCs in problem solving and difficult cases for IPC patients.
- Works closely with the inter-disciplinary team to facilitate care services to IPC patients
- Provides psychosocial assessment and acts as an advocate for the patients psychological, social and spiritual needs.
- Discusses end of life planning with the patient and/or family and supports the end of life decision making process.
- Assist patient/family in completing the end of life documents.
- Collaborates with other team members and seeks community services to assist the IPC patient when there is no benefit for specific services that the members may need. Researches and incorporates alternative funding, if appropriate.
- Communicates with IPCCs/CCM regarding the meeting outcomes and plan for next steps.
- Make any necessary community referrals.
- Facilitate follow up meeting as necessary.
- Collaborates with the team to develop and implement quality guidelines and data collection efforts that measure and improve the IPC program and processes.
- Supports QI activities by identifying potential quality deviations and provides appropriate information to the QI Manager.
- Remains knowledgeable of current, relevant state and federal regulations, criteria, documentation requirements and laws that affect managed care and disease care management. Educates staff and physicians on the changes and the implications of the changes. Ensures that policies and procedures are revised and implemented to meet requirements
- Works cross-functionally with other departments to meet organizational goals and objectives.
- Knowledgeable and compliant with regional personnel policies and procedures.
- Knowledgeable and compliant with QRM departmental and unit specific policies and procedures.
- Participates in annual regional and departmental compliance training.
- Develops and maintains an awareness of how to report compliance issues and concerns.
Other Responsibilities:
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Consistently supports compliance and the Principles of Responsibility (Kaiser Permanente's Code of Conduct) by maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of information, protecting the assets of the organization, acting with ethics and integrity, reporting non-compliance, and adhering to applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, accreditation and licensure requirements, and Kaiser Permanente's policies and procedures.
- Access to protected health information (PHI) will be limited to the minimum necessary required to effectively perform your job.
Minimum Work Experience, Required Lincenses and Education:
- LCSW or LMSW licensure in the state of Georgia
- Valid Georgia driver’s license
- At least two (2) years of post-graduate experience in a healthcare setting
- Knowledge of community resources required
- Working knowledge of all federal, state, local and regulatory requirements, including Medicare/CMS
Preferred Work Experience and Qualification:
- Experience in hospice, palliative care or home health environment
The Social Worker assigned to the PRN Inpatient Palliative Care Program will provide comprehensive psychosocial services to all members/families receiving an IPC consult. The Social Worker will be a part of the interdisciplinary Palliative Care team and will be responsible for assessing, planning and coordinating the social services and community resources necessary to respond to the patient’s health care needs and wishes. In addition, responsibilities will include 1) interacting with practitioners, members/families, IPC program staff, vendors and other Kaiser Permanente and QRM staff, 2) education of practitioners, member/family and others, 3) discussing end of life planning with patient and family and support the end of life decision making process, 4) assisting in completing end of life documents, 5) exploring family conflict and supporting emotional issues, 6) coaching family/patient on how to talk about difficult issues, 7) educating patient/family on disease and caregiving issues, 8) ensuring that legal, financial and health care planning take place, 9) providing linkages to community resources and services including hospice, 10) monitoring quality of care, and 11) promotion of high level of member satisfaction.
Major Responsibilities/Essential Functions:
- Performs functional, psychosocial and financial assessments of the member/family as part of the initial screening. This will be done through the use of provider and hospital records, contact with the member/family, significant others, caregivers and current medical caregivers (if permitted by member).
- Speak with the case manager or other team members regarding the patient’s current psychosocial and/or discharge planning needs/issues.
- Shares important psychosocial issues/or concerns with the team prior to consult.
- As part of the consult, the social worker will 1) facilitate introductions of team members and explain “palliative care” to the patient/family, 2) review the purpose of the meeting with the patient/family, 3) assess and validate patient/family experience and offer psychological/emotional support, provide desired information regarding benefits and potentially available resources,4) provide the wrap-up of the meeting and reiterate what the patient/family can expect for follow-up according to identified needs.
- Will assist IPCCs in problem solving and difficult cases for IPC patients.
- Works closely with the inter-disciplinary team to facilitate care services to IPC patients
- Provides psychosocial assessment and acts as an advocate for the patients psychological, social and spiritual needs.
- Discusses end of life planning with the patient and/or family and supports the end of life decision making process.
- Assist patient/family in completing the end of life documents.
- Collaborates with other team members and seeks community services to assist the IPC patient when there is no benefit for specific services that the members may need. Researches and incorporates alternative funding, if appropriate.
- Communicates with IPCCs/CCM regarding the meeting outcomes and plan for next steps.
- Make any necessary community referrals.
- Facilitate follow up meeting as necessary.
- Collaborates with the team to develop and implement quality guidelines and data collection efforts that measure and improve the IPC program and processes.
- Supports QI activities by identifying potential quality deviations and provides appropriate information to the QI Manager.
- Remains knowledgeable of current, relevant state and federal regulations, criteria, documentation requirements and laws that affect managed care and disease care management. Educates staff and physicians on the changes and the implications of the changes. Ensures that policies and procedures are revised and implemented to meet requirements
- Works cross-functionally with other departments to meet organizational goals and objectives.
- Knowledgeable and compliant with regional personnel policies and procedures.
- Knowledgeable and compliant with QRM departmental and unit specific policies and procedures.
- Participates in annual regional and departmental compliance training.
- Develops and maintains an awareness of how to report compliance issues and concerns.
Other Responsibilities:
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Consistently supports compliance and the Principles of Responsibility (Kaiser Permanente's Code of Conduct) by maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of information, protecting the assets of the organization, acting with ethics and integrity, reporting non-compliance, and adhering to applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, accreditation and licensure requirements, and Kaiser Permanente's policies and procedures.
- Access to protected health information (PHI) will be limited to the minimum necessary required to effectively perform your job.
Minimum Work Experience, Required Lincenses and Education:
- LCSW or LMSW licensure in the state of Georgia
- Valid Georgia driver’s license
- At least two (2) years of post-graduate experience in a healthcare setting
- Knowledge of community resources required
- Working knowledge of all federal, state, local and regulatory requirements, including Medicare/CMS
Preferred Work Experience and Qualification:
- Experience in hospice, palliative care or home health environment
Inpatient Social Worker Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Inpatient Social Worker JobsInpatient Social Worker Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Education
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in inpatient social worker jobs.
- Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from an accredited program
- Active state licensure such as LCSW, LMSW, or LSW
- Experience with discharge planning and care coordination in a clinical setting
- Familiarity with electronic health record systems in a hospital environment
- Knowledge of behavioral health assessment and crisis intervention techniques
- Ability to work collaboratively within interdisciplinary clinical teams
Tips for Your Inpatient Social Worker Job Search
Tailor your resume to care settings
Inpatient roles vary by unit, so your resume should reflect the specific setting you're targeting. Highlight direct experience in acute care, psych units, or long-term care separately rather than grouping all clinical hours together.
List your licensure status clearly
Many inpatient postings require an LCSW, LMSW, or LSW and filter out unlicensed applicants automatically. State your license type, issuing state, and expiration date in your resume header so hiring managers don't have to search for it.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists inpatient social worker openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Search by unit type, not just title
Job titles vary widely across health systems. Search for terms like 'clinical social worker inpatient,' 'acute care social worker,' and 'behavioral health care coordinator' to surface postings that match your background but use different titles.
Prepare for competency-based interview questions
Inpatient interviews often focus on crisis intervention, rapid discharge planning, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Prepare specific examples from your clinical experience that show how you've navigated short-stay environments and high-acuity patient needs.
Negotiate start date around licensure timelines
If you're awaiting reciprocity or a new state license, address it proactively in your offer negotiation. Many health systems will hold a position for a licensed candidate rather than restart the search, especially for hard-to-fill inpatient units.
Inpatient Social Worker Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most inpatient social workers?
St. Luke's University Health Network, US Department of Veterans Affairs, and Advocate Aurora Health are hiring the most inpatient social workers right now, with openings concentrated in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Illinois, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Health systems with large inpatient psychiatric or acute care units tend to post the most roles.
How many inpatient social worker jobs are remote?
About 20% of inpatient social worker openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most hospital-based roles. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid options include utilization review, care management, and telehealth-based discharge planning.
How do you become an inpatient social worker?
To become an inpatient social worker, you earn a Master of Social Work degree, complete a clinical field placement in a hospital or behavioral health setting, and obtain your state social work license after graduation. Many states require supervised post-degree hours before issuing a clinical license, so you'll want to plan for that period between graduation and independent practice.
How do you get hired as an inpatient social worker with little or no experience?
Inpatient roles that accept newer graduates often require an MSW and active licensure even at entry level, so completing your clinical internship in an acute care or psychiatric setting gives you the most relevant hands-on hours. Applying to positions explicitly labeled 'new grad' or tied to residency programs at larger health systems is a practical first step, since those roles are structured to build inpatient competency over time.
What does the inpatient social worker interview process look like?
Most inpatient social worker interviews include a phone screen with HR, followed by a panel interview with a clinical supervisor and unit staff. You'll typically be asked competency-based questions about crisis assessment, discharge coordination, and working with interdisciplinary teams. Some hospitals add a brief case scenario or shadowing component before extending an offer.
Where can I find and apply to inpatient social worker jobs?
You can find and apply to inpatient social worker jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your license type, clinical setting, and location, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background.
See All 97 Inpatient Social Worker Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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