Medical Social Worker - Hospice (Per Diem)

MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER (PER DIEM) **Per Diem \| Field\-Based \| Greater Houston, TX** ABOUT VIKING HOSPICE CARE Viking Hospice Care is a Medicare\-certified, independently owned hospice agency providing end\-of\-life care throughout Greater Houston, including Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, and Brazoria Counties. We are a small, locally operated team — not affiliated with a national chain — built around individualized, relationship\-centered care. We provide services in private residences, assisted living communities, and skilled nursing facilities, and we are committed to the dignity and comfort of every patient we serve. POSITION SUMMARY The Medical Social Worker provides psychosocial assessment, counseling, care planning support, and community resource coordination to hospice patients and their families. This is a required interdisciplinary team role under CMS Conditions of Participation, playing a central part in addressing the emotional, social, financial, and practical needs of patients and families navigating end\-of\-life care. This is a per diem position. WHAT YOU’LL DO * Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments for newly admitted patients and contribute to individualized Plans of Care * Provide individual and family counseling addressing grief, anxiety, anticipatory loss, caregiver burden, and end\-of\-life decision\-making * Support patients and families in understanding goals of care, advance directives, and hospice philosophy * Facilitate family meetings and care conferences to address complex psychosocial or ethical situations * Identify and connect patients and families with community resources — financial assistance, support groups, transportation, respite options * Assist families with practical end\-of\-life planning, including funeral pre\-planning resources and benefits coordination * Provide crisis intervention and support during periods of acute emotional distress * Participate in Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) meetings and contribute to care plan decisions * Document all contacts, assessments, and interventions in Hospice Tools on the day of service COMPENSATION Complete compensation details will be provided in the independent contractor agreement prior to the first visit. QUALIFICATIONS **Required** * Current, unrestricted Texas licensure as an LMSW or LCSW in good standing * Minimum 1 year of social work experience in a hospice, palliative care, home health, or healthcare setting * Demonstrated experience conducting psychosocial assessments and developing care plans in a clinical setting * Knowledge of CMS hospice Conditions of Participation as they relate to social work services * Ability to work independently in patient homes and community settings * Strong written and verbal communication skills * Reliable personal vehicle and ability to travel throughout Greater Houston * Smartphone capable of running the Hospice Tools mobile app (iOS or Android) **Preferred** * Prior experience as a Medical Social Worker in a Medicare\-certified hospice agency * Experience facilitating IDT meetings and contributing to interdisciplinary care planning * Familiarity with Hospice Tools or a comparable hospice EMR * Bilingual in English and Spanish * Experience with bereavement support services and grief counseling Work Location: On the road