Social Worker Jobs in Iowa
Social Worker jobs in Iowa concentrate heavily in healthcare systems, child welfare, and community mental health services, with consistent demand at every level from entry-level case managers to licensed clinical supervisors. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport are the largest hiring hubs, anchored by employers like UnityPoint Health, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and Youth Emergency Services and Shelter. The most in-demand specialties across Iowa right now are child protective services, substance use counseling, and school-based social work. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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The University of Iowa Health Care, Care Coordination Division is seeking a Social Worker III to provide direct social work services including assessment, treatment, interventions, and recommendations to facilitate movement through the continuum of care to patients and their families. This role will also participate in and provide the social work perspective to interdisciplinary activities, as well as provide social work treatment, individually or in groups, to patients and clients and their families with complex emotional or social problems. Additionally, this position assumes basic consultation, supervisory, teaching, research, program development, and/or administrative responsibilities.
Duties to include:
- Develops and implements plan of care, responsive to patient/family concerns, health care status, available resources, age specific problems, and clinical impressions.
- Identifies patients requiring social work intervention through use of case finding.
- Performs social work assessments with patient and/or family involvement.
- Develops clinical impressions and rates severity of problems for planned interventions.
- Provides range of social work services responsive to identified problems (e.g., help with psychosocial functioning, help with adaptation to illness, facilitating services, protective services, post hospital planning, etc.).
- Provides information, consultation and professional support to interdisciplinary team members.
- Provides information to team members regarding psychosocial issues and their impact.
- Informs team members of social work treatment goals and patient status and progress and collaborates with team regarding service provision.
- Acts as resource for team (e.g., participates in patient care rounds, team conferences, etc.)
- Advocates for the social work role with health care team members.
- Uses body of social work knowledge & understanding of human behavior to remedy team-related issues and help team members evaluate and enhance team functioning.
- Develops and facilitates groups for patients and/or significant others as appropriate.
- Identifies goals and structure for group work services.
- Provides therapy, educational, and/or support group services reflecting diagnosis and age related issues.
- Evaluates effectiveness of group and revises as necessary.
- Contributes to strengthening the social work profession.
- Participates in local, regional, state or national social work or health care related groups.
- Contributes to the development, strengthening and delivery of needed health and social services.
- Participates in departmental and unit-based activities.
University of Iowa Health Care —recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States—is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. Each day more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives.®
Percent of Time: 60%
Schedule: Weekend Option, from 7:00 AM - 7:30 PM on Saturdays and Sundays
Pay Grade: https://hr.uiowa.edu/pay/pay-plans/seiu-pay-plan
Benefits Highlights:
- Regular salaried position located in Iowa City, Iowa
- Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans
- For more information about Why Iowa?, click here
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree with a major concentration in social work
- 6 months-1 year of clinical social work experience
- A license to practice social work in Iowa
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Desirable Qualifications
- Some familiarity with social work undergraduate education
- Social work experience in a health care setting with the appropriate patient population and their families.
- Experience with identifying and navigating financial resources, including insurance coverage options, changes related to the federal and state health programs, and the disability process.
- Experience working with community resources, home healthcare, nursing facilities and other options available for patients in outpatient settings
- Experience in a fast paced, high volume work environment
- Care coordination experience or case management skills in a health care setting as part of an interdisciplinary team including experience utilizing an electronic medical record to assist with management of non-adherence, post-care follow-up and referrals to appropriate resources.
Application Process: In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload the following documents and mark them as a “Relevant File” to the submission:
Resume
Cover Letter
Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended.
Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.
For additional questions, please contact Maggie Kusiak at CCD-HR@uiowa.edu
- Classification Title: Social Worker III
- Appointment Type: SEIU
- Schedule: Part-time
- Work Modality Options: On Campus
- Pay Level: 7
- Organization: Healthcare
- Contact Name: Maggie Kusiak
- Contact Email: CCD-HR@uiowa.edu
The University of Iowa Health Care, Care Coordination Division is seeking a Social Worker III to provide direct social work services including assessment, treatment, interventions, and recommendations to facilitate movement through the continuum of care to patients and their families. This role will also participate in and provide the social work perspective to interdisciplinary activities, as well as provide social work treatment, individually or in groups, to patients and clients and their families with complex emotional or social problems. Additionally, this position assumes basic consultation, supervisory, teaching, research, program development, and/or administrative responsibilities.
Duties to include:
- Develops and implements plan of care, responsive to patient/family concerns, health care status, available resources, age specific problems, and clinical impressions.
- Identifies patients requiring social work intervention through use of case finding.
- Performs social work assessments with patient and/or family involvement.
- Develops clinical impressions and rates severity of problems for planned interventions.
- Provides range of social work services responsive to identified problems (e.g., help with psychosocial functioning, help with adaptation to illness, facilitating services, protective services, post hospital planning, etc.).
- Provides information, consultation and professional support to interdisciplinary team members.
- Provides information to team members regarding psychosocial issues and their impact.
- Informs team members of social work treatment goals and patient status and progress and collaborates with team regarding service provision.
- Acts as resource for team (e.g., participates in patient care rounds, team conferences, etc.)
- Advocates for the social work role with health care team members.
- Uses body of social work knowledge & understanding of human behavior to remedy team-related issues and help team members evaluate and enhance team functioning.
- Develops and facilitates groups for patients and/or significant others as appropriate.
- Identifies goals and structure for group work services.
- Provides therapy, educational, and/or support group services reflecting diagnosis and age related issues.
- Evaluates effectiveness of group and revises as necessary.
- Contributes to strengthening the social work profession.
- Participates in local, regional, state or national social work or health care related groups.
- Contributes to the development, strengthening and delivery of needed health and social services.
- Participates in departmental and unit-based activities.
University of Iowa Health Care —recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States—is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. Each day more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives.®
Percent of Time: 60%
Schedule: Weekend Option, from 7:00 AM - 7:30 PM on Saturdays and Sundays
Pay Grade: https://hr.uiowa.edu/pay/pay-plans/seiu-pay-plan
Benefits Highlights:
- Regular salaried position located in Iowa City, Iowa
- Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans
- For more information about Why Iowa?, click here
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree with a major concentration in social work
- 6 months-1 year of clinical social work experience
- A license to practice social work in Iowa
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Desirable Qualifications
- Some familiarity with social work undergraduate education
- Social work experience in a health care setting with the appropriate patient population and their families.
- Experience with identifying and navigating financial resources, including insurance coverage options, changes related to the federal and state health programs, and the disability process.
- Experience working with community resources, home healthcare, nursing facilities and other options available for patients in outpatient settings
- Experience in a fast paced, high volume work environment
- Care coordination experience or case management skills in a health care setting as part of an interdisciplinary team including experience utilizing an electronic medical record to assist with management of non-adherence, post-care follow-up and referrals to appropriate resources.
Application Process: In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload the following documents and mark them as a “Relevant File” to the submission:
Resume
Cover Letter
Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended.
Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.
For additional questions, please contact Maggie Kusiak at CCD-HR@uiowa.edu
- Classification Title: Social Worker III
- Appointment Type: SEIU
- Schedule: Part-time
- Work Modality Options: On Campus
- Pay Level: 7
- Organization: Healthcare
- Contact Name: Maggie Kusiak
- Contact Email: CCD-HR@uiowa.edu
See All 43 Social Worker Jobs in Iowa
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Find Social Worker JobsSocial Worker Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Social Worker Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in social worker jobs across Iowa.
- Active Iowa Social Worker license issued by the Iowa Board of Social Work
- Bachelor's or master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
- Experience with case management, documentation, and service planning in a clinical setting
- Proficiency with electronic health records and care coordination software
- Valid Iowa driver's license and reliable transportation for fieldwork and home visits
- Strong knowledge of Iowa community resources, state agencies, and local referral networks
Social Worker Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a social worker in Iowa?
You become a licensed social worker in Iowa by completing an accredited social work degree and applying through the Iowa Board of Social Work. A bachelor's degree qualifies you for a Social Worker license, while a master's degree from a CSWE-accredited program is required for the Licensed Master Social Worker or Licensed Independent Social Worker credential. Most clinical roles require passing the ASWB exam at the corresponding level before the Iowa Board issues your license.
Which companies hire social workers in Iowa?
Employers hiring social workers in Iowa right now include Families First Counseling Services, Four Oaks Family And Childrens Services, and The University of Iowa, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Iowa's largest health systems, county Department of Human Services offices, and nonprofit community agencies are consistently among the most active sources of openings across the state.
Which Iowa cities have the most social worker jobs?
Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and Grinnell have the most social worker openings in Iowa. Des Moines drives the highest volume as the state's population and administrative center, with large health systems and state agency offices concentrated there, while Cedar Rapids and Davenport generate steady demand through regional hospital networks and county human services departments serving the eastern corridor.
Are there remote social worker jobs in Iowa?
Yes, but they're limited. Social work roles in Iowa are predominantly in-person because the work involves face-to-face client contact, home visits, and on-site coordination with schools or facilities. About 20% of social worker openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of October 2026. The roles most likely to offer remote options are utilization review, telehealth counseling, and care coordination positions that rely primarily on phone and documentation rather than direct field visits.
How can I get hired as a social worker in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for case aide, social services assistant, or family support specialist roles at Iowa Department of Health and Human Services county offices or at larger nonprofits like Iowa Homeless Youth Centers. Many Iowa hospital systems, including UnityPoint Health and MercyOne, hire new BSW graduates into structured care coordination roles. Completing a field placement in Iowa during your degree and obtaining your Iowa Social Worker license before graduation gives you a meaningful edge over unlicensed applicants.
Where can I find and apply to social worker jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to social worker jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings updated regularly. Search the listings to find roles that match your license level, specialty, and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that fit your background.
See All 43 Social Worker Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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