Social Worker - Hospice (PRN)

Overview

At Augusta Health, your work matters — and so do you. Whether you're delivering direct patient care, supporting operations, or innovating behind the scenes, every role contributes to our mission of promoting wellness and healing through compassionate service. We offer more than just a job — we offer a purpose-driven career in a nationally recognized, independent health system located in Virginia’s scenic Shenandoah Valley.

Learn more about career opportunities on our Careers Page .

Our team members thrive in a supportive culture that values collaboration, integrity, and excellence. With opportunities across clinical and non-clinical areas, Augusta Health is a place where your skills make a difference, and your growth is a priority.

Why Join Augusta Health?

We believe in taking care of the people who care for our community. That’s why Augusta Health offers a comprehensive and thoughtfully designed benefits package that supports your well-being, career development, and work-life balance. Whether you're launching your career or bringing in years of experience, we provide the tools, resources, and encouragement to help empower you to reach your full potential — personally, professionally, and financially.

Explore our Benefits , current Hiring Incentives , and our Taking Care of Us initiative — which embraces Belonging , Respect , Inclusion , Diversity , Growth , and Equity ( B.R.I.D.G.E. ) — to see how we invest in our team members and culture.

Total Rewards & Benefits: ( may vary by position )

• Comprehensive insurance package including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement savings plans and financial wellness support programs.
• Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling to promote work-life balance.
• Career development programs including clinical ladders, shared governance, and advancement opportunities.
• Personalized onboarding with dedicated preceptors and ongoing educational support.
• Tuition reimbursement and access to onsite childcare.
• Free onsite parking, 24/7-armed security for your safety, a Health Fitness Reimbursement Program, and an onsite credit union and pharmacy
• Competitive pay with shift/weekend differentials.
• Employee discounts at the cafeteria, gift shop, pharmacy, and local entertainment venues (i.e., movie tickets).

Full details are available on our Benefits Page .

Job Summary:

As a designated Social Worker in Hospice, medical social services will be provided by a qualified social worker, under the direction of a physician. Social work services will be based on the patient’s psychosocial assessment and the patient and family’s needs. The social worker will participate in the coordination of care with the Interdisciplinary Group/Team (IDG/IDT) and participate in on-call rotation per the Hospice needs. Works in patients’ homes in various conditions, can be flexible, and travels locally with reliable transportation and valid auto liability insurance.

This is a PRN position.

This position plays a critical role in supporting Augusta Health’s mission and advancing departmental goals through measurable performance indicators and service excellence. This position contributes to a collaborative, patient-centered environment and helps drive outcomes aligned with organizational priorities.

Essential Job Duties:

Clinical:

• Possesses a working knowledge of practice standards.
• Displays initiative and responsibility for professional growth.
• Assesses and completes the Comprehensive Assessment within five (5) days of the patient’s election of hospice care to identify patient and family’s psychosocial, financial, environmental and community needs as evidence by POC documentation, clinical records, IDG/T meetings, and community resource referrals.
• Assists with advance directives, funeral planning, discharge planning, family counseling and may assist in changes in the level of care as indicated by the patient or family’s needs.
• Provides patient and family/care giver counseling around issues of end-of-life, death, and grief.
• Promote hospice philosophy and administrative policies to ensure quality of care.
• Attends IDG/Team meetings, participates in the patient care planning process and coordinating and collaborating with the IDT to promote coordination of patient care.
• Accepts clinical assignments that are consistent with education and competence to meet the
  needs of the patients.
• Provides an environment which promotes respect for patients and their privacy and property.
• Participates in the Hospice’s Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program.
• Promotes the Hospice’s philosophy and administrative policies to ensure quality of care.
• Ensures that clinical documentation is clinically sound and completed within policy standards.
• Documentation is accurate and completed at point of care.
• Serves as a social work resource for members of the team.
• Makes social work home visits as assigned. Cares for patients across the life spectrum.

Ethics:

• Maintains confidentiality for patient and in other situations as required.
• Maintains competence. Participates in continuing education programs per divisional requirements and licensing board as needed.
• Displays the ability to interact in an honest, straightforward manner.
• Follows company and department policies and procedures.
• Serves as a role model.
• Maintains integrity. Consistent in performance at level of minimum competence in situations where judgment is required.
• Personnel and company issues are appropriately channeled, discussed, and communicated.
• Maintains ongoing communications with management.

Productivity:

• Utilizes time, materials, and resources in an economical manner.
• Manages time to complete assigned projects in a timely manner.
• Maximizes productivity by prioritizing efficiently to manage time.

Communication:

• Uses effective interpersonal communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Keeps management informed of activities including all patient complaints. Maintains ongoing communications with team members.
• Maintains complete, accurate and timely records. Follows organizational policy regarding clinical documentation.
• Communicates appropriately with team members.
• Communicates appropriately with patients, families, and caregivers.
• Communicates appropriately with physicians and other health care personnel.

Customer Relations:

• Resolves potential problems and concerns of customers and referral sources. Referrals are directed to appropriate team members.
• Maintains professional image. Appearance, dress, and decorum are professional as defined by company policies.
• Polite, courteous, and sensitive to customer needs. Interacts in a positive manner conveying an interest for the most positive outcome.

Work Habits:

• Acknowledges co-workers and team members as having rights to cooperative effort and applies that knowledge into action as teamwork. Contributes to group efforts as a team member.
• Maintains order in workplace.
• Displays diligence. Persists to get the job done.
• Recognizes opportunities for improvement and responds to problems effectively.
• Is professional and courteous. Displays respect for others.
• Displays persistence in obtaining an acceptable outcome. Works as a member of the hospice team in attaining a productivity goal.
• Arrives at appointments and meetings on time. Displays value for the time of co- workers.
• Initiates projects and problem solving. Make suggestions to enhance the quality of work and follow through enabling professional growth.
• Works independently as required. Requires minimal supervision.
• Educate and mentor new team members, volunteers, and students as requested.
• Participation in bereavement and grief support, including but not limited to phone calls to bereaved after death, support to facilities and families, and participation in the Memorial Service.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Baccalaureate degree in social work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; or Baccalaureate degree in psychology, sociology, or other field related to social work and supervised by an MSW, or Baccalaureate degree from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, is employed by the Hospice before December 2, 2008 and is not required to be supervised by an MSW.
• Licensure/Certification:
  • CPR
  • BLS Heartcare Provider (BLS HCP)
• Experience: None
• Driver's License: Yes.
  • To drive an Augusta Health Vehicle, must also be 21 years old and Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) must be approved by Risk Management.
• Eligibility to work in the United States and meet Virginia state employment requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education: Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
• Licensure/Certification: None
• Experience:
  • 1 year of experience in palliative care or hospice, or
  • 2 (two) years of social work experience in case work or counseling in a health care or social services delivery system.
• Prior experience in a hospital, healthcare system, or related service-oriented environment.
• Familiarity with Augusta Health’s systems, workflows, or organizational culture is a plus.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Competence to deal with clients of varying ages and stages of development is required.
• Working knowledge of community resources.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrates ability to work with computers.
• Ability to work in patient homes of various conditions.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.
• Ability to travel to and from patient homes in various weather conditions.
• Ability to work under stressful situations, providing counseling and education to terminally ill patients and their families.

About Augusta Health:

Augusta Health is an independent, nonprofit, mission-driven health system located in Fishersville, Virginia, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. We offer a full continuum of inpatient and outpatient services, including Augusta Medical Center—a 255-bed facility—and Augusta Medical Group, which operates 40 practice locations and four urgent care centers. Our commitment to excellence, innovation, and compassionate care makes Augusta Health a leading employer and healthcare provider in the region.

Discover more about our history, values, and community impact on our About Us Page .

Equal Opportunity Statement

Augusta Health recruits, hires, and promotes qualified candidates for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran or military discharge status, and family medical or genetic information.

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace in accordance with federal and Virginia state employment laws.

Exceptional care, small town hospitality Nestled in Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, Augusta Health is among the finest nonprofit community hospitals in America. Augusta Health opened in 1994 to continue a tradition of personalized care with small-town hospitality that began with predecessor hospitals in Staunton and Waynesboro. Today, our highly trained physicians and staff use state-of-the-art technology to provide top quality care with warmth and compassion. We offer many amenities so patients and families can be comfortable and close during difficult times. View Our Mission, Vision & Values. If you are a resident of Augusta County, Staunton, Waynesboro, or surrounding areas, you can benefit from a variety of programs we host to promote good health. If you are a dedicated healthcare professional, you will find exciting career opportunities at Augusta Health. Quick Stats for 2023 Licensed for 255 beds 124 Medical/Surgical 14 Intensive Care Unit 18 Labor and Delivery 4 Pediatric Non-traditional, Non-acute services 28 bed psychiatric unit 17 bed skilled nursing unit 8 bed rehab unit Largest local private employer Employees: 2,375+ Active Physicians: 225 APPs: 87 Volunteers: 290 Service Area: 200,000 AH Urgent Cares: 5 AH Practices: 49