Social Services Specialist Jobs in Richmond, VA
Social Services Specialist jobs in Richmond are in active demand, concentrated in the Shockoe Bottom corridor, the Near West End, and Manchester, across local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community health systems. Employers hiring right now include VCU Health System, DaVita, and Thriveworks. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Essential Job Statements
Leadership: Supervises and mentors a team of social work staff, including team leads, fostering professional development and ensuring effective team collaboration. Manages Human Resources activities for direct repots in regard to: recruiting and selection; hiring and termination, training, development, mentoring, counseling, and performance evaluation and management.
Clinical Operations: Oversees the day-to-day implementation of clinical workflows to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, compliance, and standards of care. Fosters the implementation of protocols for seamless patient transitions across the health system to ensure high quality patient outcomes.
Staff Management: Cultivates a culture of safety by developing and maintaining staff schedules, ensuring adequate coverage for all shifts and units. Manages paid time off requests, ensuring that staffing levels remain sufficient to meet patient care needs. Oversees the use of agency staff, coordinating with external agencies to fill staffing gaps and ensuring that all temporary staff are properly oriented and integrated into the team.
Patient-Centered Care: Manages care transition programs, intake or discharge planning, and working with managed care companies and community partners. Must ensure frontline staff tailors social work care coordination to individual patient needs, focusing on quality, accessibility, and equity.
Patient Advocacy: Ensures unit level care coordination planning templates/processes/procedures meet patients’ needs, addressing concerns and barriers to care proactively.
Communication: Serves as the primary liaison between frontline staff and Director. Fosters bidirectional communication to ensure that aggregated patients, family, clinicians, and other stakeholders are represented during care design processes. Through collaboration with fellow care coordination leaders, the continuity of care is enhanced by streamlining communication between inpatient and outpatient teams.
Regulatory Compliance: Ensures all social work processes comply with local, federal, and organizational regulations and standards.
Performance Monitoring: Conducts regular meetings with the social work team to review performance metrics, identify gaps, and develop action plans for improvement. These meetings will focus on analyzing key performance indicators, discussing challenges, and implementing strategies to enhance care delivery and operational efficiency.
Budget Management: Collaborates with the Director to manage department budgets, ensuring efficient resource allocation.
Performs other duties as assigned and/or participates in special projects to support the mission of VCUHS and department. Provides assistance to team members. Accepts alternate assignments as required.
Patient Population
Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide equitable care appropriate to the age of the patients served on their assigned unit.
Demonstrates knowledge and related competencies of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age, specific needs and to provide the equitable care needed as described in departmental policies and procedures.
Neonates (0-4 weeks)
Infant (1-12 months)
Pediatrics (1-12 years)
Adolescents (13-17 years)
Adults (18-64 years)
Geriatrics (65 years and older)
Employment Qualifications
Education Required:
Masters Degree in Social Work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program
Education Preferred:
N/A
Licensure Required:
LCSW licensure is required; however, LMSW candidates may be considered exclusively for Inpatient and Emergency Department positions.
BLS certification required
Licensure Preferred: N/A
Certification Required: N/A
Certification Preferred: N/A
Minimum Qualifications
Years and Type of Required Experience
Five (5) years of social work experience in a medical setting to include two (2) years in a lead or supervisory role. Previous work experience identifying and utilizing community resources.
Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
Required frequent visibility on all shifts and weekends to enhance staff communication and monitor staff effectiveness.
Must be available (or able to delegate) to staff for consultation 24/7.
Strong knowledge of care coordination principles, healthcare regulations, accreditation requirements, best practices in care coordination and patient advocacy.
Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills.
Proficiency in healthcare software and data analysis tools.
Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred: N/A
Working Conditions
Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur.
General office environment.
May be exposed to physical altercations and verbal abuse.
Required to car travel to off-site locations, occasionally in adverse weather conditions.
May be exposed to high noise levels and bright lights.
May be exposed to limited hazardous substances or body fluids. *
May be exposed to human blood and other potentially infectious materials. *
May have periods of constant interruptions.
- Individuals in this position are required to exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment and devices, and learn the policies concerning infection control.
Physical Requirements
Physical Demands: Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs.), Push/ Pull (0-50 lbs.), Bending
Work Position: Sitting, Walking, Standing
Additional Physical Requirements/ Hazards
Physical Requirements: Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination), Hear alarms/telephone/tape recorder, Repetitive arm/hand movements, Finger Dexterity, Acuity - far, Acuity - near
Hazards: Use of Latex Gloves
Mental/Sensory – Emotional
Mental / Sensory: Strong Recall, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Hearing, Speak Clearly, Write Legibly, Reading, Logical Thinking
Emotional: Fast-paced environment, Steady Pace, Able to Handle Multiple Priorities, Frequent and Intense Customer Interactions, Noisy Environment, Able to Adapt to Frequent Change
EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran
See All 14 Social Services Specialist Jobs in Richmond
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Find JobsSocial Services Specialist Job Market in Richmond
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Education
- Construction & Real Estate
Social Services Specialist Jobs in Richmond: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a social services specialist job in Richmond?
Targeting Richmond's dense concentration of nonprofit human services organizations, local government agencies, and community health nonprofits gives candidates the strongest footing. Roles cluster around city and county social services departments, federally funded community action agencies, and behavioral health providers. Candidates who can show direct case management experience, bilingual skills, or familiarity with Richmond's specific populations served by the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care stand out in this market.
Which companies hire social services specialists in Richmond?
Richmond social services specialist roles are posted by VCU Health System, DaVita, and Thriveworks and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Richmond's employer mix skews toward city and regional government agencies, faith-based nonprofits, and integrated health systems with community outreach arms.
Are there remote social services specialist jobs in Richmond?
Yes, though social services specialist work is largely in-person by nature, since direct client contact, home visits, and community outreach are central to most roles. About 33% of social services specialist openings tied to Richmond are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, concentrated in administrative coordination, case documentation, and program compliance functions. Client-facing and field-based positions almost universally require on-site presence.
How can I get a social services specialist job in Richmond with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Richmond is through a case aide, family support worker, or eligibility technician role with the City of Richmond Department of Social Services or Chesterfield County. Richmond-area community action agencies and federally qualified health centers also hire entry-level outreach workers and intake coordinators. A relevant degree in social work, psychology, or human services, combined with any volunteer or practicum hours with a Richmond-area organization, significantly strengthens a first application.
Which industries hire the most social services specialists in Richmond?
Most social services specialist openings in Richmond sit in Healthcare & Medical Services, Education, and Construction & Real Estate, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Richmond's role as a regional government and healthcare hub, alongside a dense network of nonprofit providers anchored by organizations tied to the Greater Richmond area, keeps demand in these sectors consistently strong.
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