Hospice and palliative care social workers support patients and their families during some of the most trying situations of their lives. Also called health care social workers, medical social workers, and licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), hospice and palliative social workers follow the ethical standards set by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for palliative and end-of-life care. Hospice and palliative care social workers work with an interdisciplinary care team of doctors, nurses, specialists, and outpatient facilities to develop a care plan or end-of-life care plan for their patients.
Chicago and surrounding areas have a highly diverse population with increasing Latino and Asian communities that rely on social workers with cultural competence and humility. Thus, social workers who offer palliative and end-of-life care must possess a deep knowledge of traditions, values, and in some cases other languages in order to help distinctive communities in Illinois.
What qualities should a hospice and palliative care social worker possess?
- Cultural competence
- Empathy
- Patience
- Good listening skills
- Nurturing mindset
- Excellent communication skills
What Do Hospice & Palliative Care Social Workers Do?
Hospice care and palliative care are specialized types of care provided for different circumstances. Qualified professionals in these health care settings are trained to provide unique support to patients with critical health care needs and their families.
Hospice Care vs. Palliative Care
Type of care | Characteristics | Social Work Intervention |
Palliative care |
|
|
Hospice care |
|
|
Advance Directives
Hospice and palliative care social workers are able to provide information to patients and their family members regarding living wills and obtaining a health care power of attorney.
Living Will
A living will is a legal document that allows patients to specify their wishes regarding medical treatment in the event of a terminal illness. It outlines the types of medical interventions a person does or does not want, such as CPR, mechanical ventilation, artificial nutrition, and IV fluids. In instances of terminal illness, patients may find solace in accepting their fate and choose to end their suffering by refusing further life-saving measures. Hospice and palliative care social workers can have these difficult discussions with their clients and their families, guiding them toward decisions that feel right for them.
Health care Power of Attorney (HCPA)
A health care power of attorney, sometimes known as a POA, is a legal document that allows individuals to appoint a trusted person, often a family member, to be a health care agent or proxy. Hospice and palliative care social workers can discuss POA options with the patient and their family members. The health care agent can then make medical decisions on behalf of the patient in situations where the patient may become incapacitated due to mental illness, dementia, or physical impairment. The health care agent is responsible for advocating the patient’s wishes. In instances where the health care agent is a close family member, they may find end-of-life care decisions more daunting than they anticipated. Hospice and palliative care social workers can help by talking with family and facilitating correspondence with specialists who can provide more information that may make difficult decisions easier to accept.
Collaboration and Coordination
Palliative care social workers collaborate with specialists to figure out personalized care plans for their clients. Hospice care social workers coordinate admittance from the hospital to outpatient hospice.
Evaluation
Hospice and palliative care social workers assess their clients’ needs, quality of life, and eligibility for various programs and services. Language barriers, lack of transportation, and disability limitations are barriers to access that social workers look to identify.
Advocacy and Support
During serious illness situations that require palliative or hospice care, several decisions may be difficult for both the patient and their families. Family members may struggle to accept the gravity of terminal illness situations. Qualified social workers can facilitate difficult discussions about prolonged care and end-of-life care. They can also offer bereavement and counseling services or referrals.
Fraud Detection and Prevention
Qualified social work professionals are trained to recognize signs of potential fraud, abuse, or exploitation within social assistance programs. They can conduct investigations and report suspected instances of fraud to appropriate government agencies and law enforcement.
Illinois’ Requirements for Becoming a Hospice and Palliative Care Social Worker
Licensure
Illinois requires that social workers obtain licensure. There are two levels of licensure: a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Licensure is based on education and field experience hours.
What is the difference between an LSW and an LCSW?
There are different requirements for becoming an LSW versus an LCSW. When it comes to hospice and palliative care, becoming an LCSW may offer more career opportunities than becoming an LSW.
LCSWs are able to offer mental health care treatment and bereavement counseling that LSWs may not be qualified to do. LSW licensure typically reduces the scope of practice a social worker can cover versus LCSW licensure. LSWs may need more supervision and usually cannot diagnose or treat mental disorders.
To become a hospice and palliative care social worker in Illinois, candidates must obtain a master’s degree in social work (MSW) from an accredited institution, combined with a license in clinical social work and relevant specialized field experience.
Education
Prospective health care social worker candidates typically begin their education with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. BSW programs often take four years to complete. A BSW will offer the foundational knowledge of social work principles and practices before field experience and licensure.
Not all social workers start with a BSW. Some may choose a related bachelor’s degree in psychology or sociology and continue with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. To become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree is required.
Most health-related fields, especially in specialized areas, require a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. MSW programs typically take two years to complete. Several MSW programs are available to meet on-campus or online at highly reputable colleges and universities throughout Illinois. You can find MSW programs that are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in its directory of accredited programs.
Specialized Training
The NASW Specialty Certification program and the National Hospice ad Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) offer a bachelor’s level national certification Certified Hospice and Palliative Social Worker (CHP-SW) to demonstrate expertise in this field. This is not a requirement to become a hospice and palliative care social worker, but it would certainly offer a tailored credential capturing the specialized knowledge and skills that these professionals need to possess in hospice and palliative care settings.
2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics job market trends and salary figures for child, family, and school social workers, healthcare social workers, mental health and substance abuse social workers, and social workers (all others) are based on national data, not school-specific information.
Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed March 2024.