Entry Level Social Work Assistant Jobs
New grad social work assistant jobs are open to recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where a strong internship or field placement record can matter more than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Education, Healthcare & Medical Services, and Government & Public Sector, with employers like Brigham Young University, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Emory Healthcare hiring at this level now.
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Under the supervision of the Clinical Supervisor of the Citywide 1321 Mission Team, the Social Work Associate (SWA) works with formerly homeless individuals with mentally illness, chronic physical health issues, and/or substance abusing clients to prevent homelessness and link to appropriate outpatient services. The SWA will carry a caseload of residents from 1321 Mission and provide individual treatment including case management services, psychotherapy, crisis intervention and 5150 assessments, substance abuse treatment, and psycho education, group treatment, community events; intake, assessment, service planning and consultation. The SWA will coordinate closely with property management staff from DISH, support service partners, Compass, Citywide 1321 Mission St Team members to develop successful treatment strategies; advocacy and coordination with other agencies, families and clients; track client contacts in Avatar Billing System, assessments, referrals and linkage; coordinate closely with hospitals and clinic medical providers and the candidate will also perform other duties as assigned. Patients typically require routine assistance, individualized treatment approach and support from a community of providers. Primary emphasis on treatment and attempt where possible to help patients control their own lives in the outside world and maximize housing retention with the use of a combination of clinical case management and advocacy. The incumbent must foster and embrace the UCSF PRIDE values and work from a clinical approach and professional orientation committed to anti-racism, equity and inclusion.
DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION:
The Division of Citywide Case Management Programs provides comprehensive outpatient treatment to San Franciscans suffering from severe mental illness, often complicated by substance abuse and/or chronic medical conditions. The mission of the division is to help clients recover prior functioning, while reducing reliance on acute services, and facilitate transitions from ZFGH psychiatric inpatient, jails, or other institutions to the community.
The Citywide Team at 1321 Mission St provides mental health treatment, housing advocacy, substance abuse treatment, crisis intervention, and case management services to 120 formerly homeless clients residing in permanent, supportive housing site at 1321 Mission St, subsidized through the Dept of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, The programs mission is to help residents maintain housing and support their recovery with comprehensive clinical and case management services along with building community and fostering partnerships with property management and other supportive services providers on-site. Funding comes from the SF Department of Public Health, Human Services Agency. The incumbent needs to work collaboratively with core partners, DISH and Compass as well as community agencies and partners to ensure that tenant’s right and responsibilities are attended to, while treatment and case management needs are addressed.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- Possession of a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from a program approved by the Council on Social Work Education, and two years of experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience if a bachelor’s degree is not possessed; and knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
- BA or case management experience.
- One year experience doing community-based case management and the ability to do outreach and crisis intervention to resident in their units.
- Knowledge of psychiatric service operations and ability to apply concepts in an acute care setting.
- Strong interpersonal skills and experience working with populations that is diverse in gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity.
- Ability to work cooperatively and communicate effectively with others. Ability to work in a high stress, high volume area and work well under pressure and with deadlines. Ability to follow oral and written instructions accurately; detail oriented. Able to efficiently prepare written summaries of activities, set priorities and complete reports within required time frames. Knowledge of medical and/or psychiatric terminology.
- Two years working with severely mentally ill adults, the homeless and dual diagnosed populations.
- The ability to do outreach to client units and in the community at inpatient hospitals and other community locations.
- Ability to work with clients and program staff from diverse cultural and social class backgrounds Ability to ensure patient care service standards are consistently met; assists staff with managing challenging patient interactions with sensitivity and skill.
PREFERRED:
- Two years’ experience working with individuals actively involved in the SF Homelessness Response System
- Demonstrated ability to work within multidisciplinary team to support clients
- Spanish language fluency
- Experience with clinical documentation
- Experience with SF ONE System
- Commitment to social justice & anti-racism
- Prior related experience in the homelessness response system of SF Demonstrated understanding of Harm Reduction, The Recovery Model and Housing First Model
LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS:
- N/A
Under the supervision of the Clinical Supervisor of the Citywide 1321 Mission Team, the Social Work Associate (SWA) works with formerly homeless individuals with mentally illness, chronic physical health issues, and/or substance abusing clients to prevent homelessness and link to appropriate outpatient services. The SWA will carry a caseload of residents from 1321 Mission and provide individual treatment including case management services, psychotherapy, crisis intervention and 5150 assessments, substance abuse treatment, and psycho education, group treatment, community events; intake, assessment, service planning and consultation. The SWA will coordinate closely with property management staff from DISH, support service partners, Compass, Citywide 1321 Mission St Team members to develop successful treatment strategies; advocacy and coordination with other agencies, families and clients; track client contacts in Avatar Billing System, assessments, referrals and linkage; coordinate closely with hospitals and clinic medical providers and the candidate will also perform other duties as assigned. Patients typically require routine assistance, individualized treatment approach and support from a community of providers. Primary emphasis on treatment and attempt where possible to help patients control their own lives in the outside world and maximize housing retention with the use of a combination of clinical case management and advocacy. The incumbent must foster and embrace the UCSF PRIDE values and work from a clinical approach and professional orientation committed to anti-racism, equity and inclusion.
DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION:
The Division of Citywide Case Management Programs provides comprehensive outpatient treatment to San Franciscans suffering from severe mental illness, often complicated by substance abuse and/or chronic medical conditions. The mission of the division is to help clients recover prior functioning, while reducing reliance on acute services, and facilitate transitions from ZFGH psychiatric inpatient, jails, or other institutions to the community.
The Citywide Team at 1321 Mission St provides mental health treatment, housing advocacy, substance abuse treatment, crisis intervention, and case management services to 120 formerly homeless clients residing in permanent, supportive housing site at 1321 Mission St, subsidized through the Dept of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, The programs mission is to help residents maintain housing and support their recovery with comprehensive clinical and case management services along with building community and fostering partnerships with property management and other supportive services providers on-site. Funding comes from the SF Department of Public Health, Human Services Agency. The incumbent needs to work collaboratively with core partners, DISH and Compass as well as community agencies and partners to ensure that tenant’s right and responsibilities are attended to, while treatment and case management needs are addressed.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- Possession of a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from a program approved by the Council on Social Work Education, and two years of experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience if a bachelor’s degree is not possessed; and knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
- BA or case management experience.
- One year experience doing community-based case management and the ability to do outreach and crisis intervention to resident in their units.
- Knowledge of psychiatric service operations and ability to apply concepts in an acute care setting.
- Strong interpersonal skills and experience working with populations that is diverse in gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity.
- Ability to work cooperatively and communicate effectively with others. Ability to work in a high stress, high volume area and work well under pressure and with deadlines. Ability to follow oral and written instructions accurately; detail oriented. Able to efficiently prepare written summaries of activities, set priorities and complete reports within required time frames. Knowledge of medical and/or psychiatric terminology.
- Two years working with severely mentally ill adults, the homeless and dual diagnosed populations.
- The ability to do outreach to client units and in the community at inpatient hospitals and other community locations.
- Ability to work with clients and program staff from diverse cultural and social class backgrounds Ability to ensure patient care service standards are consistently met; assists staff with managing challenging patient interactions with sensitivity and skill.
PREFERRED:
- Two years’ experience working with individuals actively involved in the SF Homelessness Response System
- Demonstrated ability to work within multidisciplinary team to support clients
- Spanish language fluency
- Experience with clinical documentation
- Experience with SF ONE System
- Commitment to social justice & anti-racism
- Prior related experience in the homelessness response system of SF Demonstrated understanding of Harm Reduction, The Recovery Model and Housing First Model
LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS:
- N/A
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Entry Level Social Work Assistant Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level social work assistant job?
Employers at this level prioritize candidates who have completed field placements, internships, or volunteer work in community services, healthcare, or human services settings. A degree in social work, psychology, or a related field gives you a strong foundation, and familiarity with case documentation, client intake processes, and trauma-informed care principles will set you apart from other entry level applicants.
Which companies hire entry level social work assistants?
Companies hiring entry level social work assistants right now include Brigham Young University, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Emory Healthcare, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Employers at this level range from nonprofit agencies and government social services departments to hospitals, community health centers, and residential care organizations.
Are there remote entry level social work assistant jobs?
Yes, though most roles are on-site given the client-facing nature of the work. About 11% of entry level social work assistant openings are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, with remote positions typically focused on case coordination, administrative support, or telephone-based client services rather than direct in-person care.
Are these new grad social work assistant jobs?
Yes, these openings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior roles. A posting is new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, counts internships or supervised field hours toward its requirements, or accepts a portfolio of case work in place of professional employment history. Many employers in this field actively recruit from social work degree programs.
Which industries hire the most entry level social work assistants?
Entry Level social work assistant roles concentrate in Education, Healthcare & Medical Services, and Government & Public Sector, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. These sectors drive entry level hiring because they depend on support staff to assist licensed social workers with caseloads, documentation, and client coordination as demand for social services continues to grow.