Medical Social Worker Jobs in California
Medical Social Worker jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in hospital systems, hospice and palliative care, rehabilitation centers, and behavioral health programs, with openings at every level from entry-level case coordinators through senior clinical social workers. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego drive the bulk of hiring, with major employers such as Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and UCLA Health maintaining large, consistent social work departments. Discharge planning, oncology social work, and pediatric case management are the sub-specialties generating the steadiest demand statewide. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 120+ Medical Social Worker jobs
Job Title/Position: Medical Social Worker
Reports to: Clinical Supervisor
Position Summary: The medical social worker is responsible for the implementation of standards of care for medical social work services.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES
Patient Care:
- Assesses the psychosocial status of patients related to the patient’s illness and environment and communicates findings to the registered nurse.
- Carries out social evaluations and plans intervention based on evaluation findings.
- Maintains clinical records on all patients referred to social work.
- Provides information and referral services for Organization patients and families/caregivers regarding practical and environmental needs.
- Provides information to patients or families/caregivers and community agencies.
- Serves as liaison between patients or families/caregivers and community agencies.
- Maintains collaborative relationships with Organization personnel to support patient care.
- Maintains and develops contracts with public and private agencies as resources for patient and organization personnel.
- Participates in in-service education programs.
- Participates in the development of the total plan of care and case conferences as required.
- Assists physician and other team members in understanding significant social and emotional factors related to health problems.
- Participates in discharge planning.
- Other duties as delegated by the Clinical Director/Supervisor.
- The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job related tasks other than those stated in this description.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
1. Graduate of a bachelor’s program in social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
2. Licensed as a licensed clinical social worker by the Board of Behavioral Sciences.
3. Minimum of one year's experience in health care.
4. Experience in a home health care preferred.
5. Possesses and maintains current CPR certification.
6. Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state/or organization requirements and is in good working order.
SKILLS REQUIRED
1. Demonstrates good verbal and written communication, and organization skills.
Compliance:
- Acknowledge my obligation and agreement to fulfill those duties and responsibilities as set forth in the Code of Conduct and Compliance Policies and to be bound by these standards.
- Certify that throughout my association with EH I will comply with the terms of the Code of Conduct and Compliance Policies.
- Understand that violations of the Code of Conduct and Compliance Policies may lead to disciplinary action, including termination of employment.
Job Title/Position: Medical Social Worker
Reports to: Clinical Supervisor
Position Summary: The medical social worker is responsible for the implementation of standards of care for medical social work services.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES
Patient Care:
- Assesses the psychosocial status of patients related to the patient’s illness and environment and communicates findings to the registered nurse.
- Carries out social evaluations and plans intervention based on evaluation findings.
- Maintains clinical records on all patients referred to social work.
- Provides information and referral services for Organization patients and families/caregivers regarding practical and environmental needs.
- Provides information to patients or families/caregivers and community agencies.
- Serves as liaison between patients or families/caregivers and community agencies.
- Maintains collaborative relationships with Organization personnel to support patient care.
- Maintains and develops contracts with public and private agencies as resources for patient and organization personnel.
- Participates in in-service education programs.
- Participates in the development of the total plan of care and case conferences as required.
- Assists physician and other team members in understanding significant social and emotional factors related to health problems.
- Participates in discharge planning.
- Other duties as delegated by the Clinical Director/Supervisor.
- The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job related tasks other than those stated in this description.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
1. Graduate of a bachelor’s program in social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
2. Licensed as a licensed clinical social worker by the Board of Behavioral Sciences.
3. Minimum of one year's experience in health care.
4. Experience in a home health care preferred.
5. Possesses and maintains current CPR certification.
6. Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state/or organization requirements and is in good working order.
SKILLS REQUIRED
1. Demonstrates good verbal and written communication, and organization skills.
Compliance:
- Acknowledge my obligation and agreement to fulfill those duties and responsibilities as set forth in the Code of Conduct and Compliance Policies and to be bound by these standards.
- Certify that throughout my association with EH I will comply with the terms of the Code of Conduct and Compliance Policies.
- Understand that violations of the Code of Conduct and Compliance Policies may lead to disciplinary action, including termination of employment.
See All 120+ Medical Social Worker Jobs in California
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Find Medical Social Worker JobsMedical Social Worker Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Medical Social Worker Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Premier Home health Providers18P
- Guardian Angel Home Care11G
- Anchor Health8A
- Madrona Hospice Care8M
- Kaiser Permanente7
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in medical social worker jobs across California.
- Active California LCSW or MSW licensure issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences
- Master of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program required for most clinical roles
- Experience with discharge planning, care coordination, or interdisciplinary hospital teams
- Proficiency in electronic health record systems such as Epic or Cerner
- Knowledge of California Medi-Cal, Medicare, and community resource referral processes
- Strong documentation skills and ability to meet Joint Commission compliance standards
Medical Social Worker Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a medical social worker in California?
To become a medical social worker in California, you must earn a Master of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program and obtain licensure through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Most hospital and clinical employers require at minimum an Associate Clinical Social Worker registration, which allows supervised practice while you accumulate the hours needed to sit for the Licensed Clinical Social Worker exam. Some entry-level case management roles accept a BSW with relevant experience.
Which companies hire medical social workers in California?
Employers hiring medical social workers in California right now include Premier Home health Providers, Guardian Angel Home Care, and Anchor Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. California's scale of integrated health systems and county hospital networks means consistent hiring across both urban academic medical centers and regional community hospitals throughout the state.
Which California cities have the most medical social worker jobs?
San Diego, Santa Rosa, and Walnut Creek have the most medical social worker openings in California. Los Angeles anchors the largest share due to the concentration of academic medical centers, county health systems, and nonprofit hospice agencies, while San Francisco and San Diego add significant volume through UCSF Health, Scripps Health, and a dense network of behavioral health and rehabilitation programs serving large urban populations.
Are there remote medical social worker jobs in California?
Yes, but they are rare. Medical social work is fundamentally a patient-facing role built around bedside assessments, care conferences, and in-person discharge coordination, which limits remote options significantly. About 79% of medical social worker openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and those positions tend to be in telephonic case management, utilization review, or managed care coordination rather than direct clinical hospital work.
How can I get hired as a medical social worker in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing an Associate Clinical Social Worker registration through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and applying to supervised internship or new-graduate positions at county hospital systems such as LA County Department of Health Services or UCSF Medical Center. Many large California health systems post clinical social work internship and fellowship programs specifically for new MSW graduates. Adjacent roles such as discharge planner, community health worker, or care coordinator can also serve as lateral entry points that build the clinical documentation and interdisciplinary team experience hospitals look for.
Where can I find and apply to medical social worker jobs in California?
You can find and apply to medical social worker jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across hospital systems, hospice providers, rehabilitation centers, and behavioral health programs. Find roles that fit your experience and specialty area and apply directly through each listing.
See All 120+ Medical Social Worker Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Medical Social Worker Jobs