Social Worker-Palliative Care

Texas Children's Medical Center · Houston, TX Full Time

$82198 – $82198 / year

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Job Description

Description We are searching for a Social Worker-Palliative Care. Someone who will assist patients with chronic, complex and/or life-threatening conditions and their families in making psychosocial adaptations specific to their diagnosis, while facilitating the optimal utilization of health care services and community resources in accordance to the age and developmental level of the patient. To provide clinical social work and therapeutic services to TCH palliative patients and families utilizing a collaborative approach. The social worker will assess, plan, implement, deliver, monitor and evaluate the options and services required to meet an individual's health needs. Thank you've got what it takes? Qualifications: Master's Degree Social Work from an accredited School of Social Work LMSW, LMSW-AP, or LCSW from Texas Behavioral Health 3 years' Experience working with patients with life-threatening conditions, chronic disease, hospice and/or end-of-life care, and related situations preferred Pediatric experience preferred Experience working with family systems preferred Responsibilities: Develops and Initiates the Psychosocial Plan of Care Conducts a thorough psychosocial assessment from a family-centered care perspective after receiving a palliative care consult, as evidenced by documentation in the medical record and/or team observation/feedback. Collaborates with family and team to identify options, goals and priorities for care: advanced care planning. Develops an action plan with the patient, family and team as evidenced by documentation in the medical record and/or team observation/feedback. Communicates with the patient, family and team as evidenced by documentation in the medical record and/or team observation/feedback. Educates patient and family regarding Coordinates, Implements & Follows-up on the Psychosocial Plan of Care Participates in Program Development for Purposes of Improved Quality of Care and Service Delivery Pursues Professional Development

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What Most Job Listings Don’t Tell You

General overview for this role type — specific duties and requirements vary by employer.

Support roles in senior living — housekeeping, maintenance, activities, and social work — are far more resident-facing than similar positions in other industries. Housekeepers and maintenance staff interact with residents in their personal living spaces daily, which requires discretion, patience, and genuine respect for the people who live there. In Texas, even non-clinical staff must complete facility-specific training on topics like abuse prevention, infection control, and emergency procedures.

Activities coordinators and social workers play a direct role in resident well-being — isolation and depression are significant concerns in senior living, and programming that keeps residents socially engaged has measurable health outcomes. Maintenance staff in senior care need to understand life-safety systems (fire alarms, emergency generators, call systems) and are often the first responders for building emergencies. Background checks are required for all positions, and many facilities prefer candidates who have previous experience working with older adults.

What to Expect in This Role Day-to-Day

Based on typical senior living facilities in the Houston area.

For housekeeping roles, the day follows a room-by-room schedule — cleaning resident rooms, sanitizing common areas, managing laundry, and responding to spill or accident cleanups as they happen. Infection control protocols are more rigorous than in hotels or commercial cleaning, especially during flu season or respiratory illness outbreaks.

Maintenance staff handle a daily work order queue — everything from changing light bulbs and fixing call buttons to HVAC maintenance and plumbing repairs. Life-safety equipment checks (fire extinguishers, exit lighting, generator testing) happen on set schedules. Activities professionals plan and lead group programming — exercise classes, crafts, music sessions, outings — and also provide one-on-one engagement for residents who cannot participate in group settings. Social workers manage care conferences, discharge planning, family mediation, and community resource referrals. Across all these roles, the common thread is that you become a familiar, trusted presence in residents' daily lives.

Houston Area Salary Data

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Home Health and Personal Care Aide positions in the Houston metro area earn a median wage of $10.97/hr ($22,818/yr). The typical range is $10.60 – $13.28/hr (25th–75th percentile).

Entry Level (10th) $20,613/yr

Houston Median $22,818/yr

Experienced (90th) $30,597/yr

vs. National Median -34.6%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Metro Area). Salary data provided by Houston Senior Living Guide.