University of Washington Human Resources

Social Worker

UW CODE AND REPRESENTATIVE GROUP

BASIC FUNCTION

As a member of a health care team, provide professional social work services in a client/patient care, research and/or teaching environment.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Under general direction, provide social work services to clients/patients, their families, and/or others; and/or participate in health sciences research; and/or participate in health sciences teaching activities, and exercise independent decision-making authority and expertise specific to assigned area of practice.

TYPICAL WORK

Provide specialty consultation to other health care staff and health care teams regarding psychosocially focused aspects of client/patient care;

Provides psychosocial support to patients and families;

In collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, develops and implements safe and timely discharge plans;

Provides care coordination for patients with complicated social and medical histories;

Provides case management in specialized programs;

Provides counseling services in specialized programs;

Makes timely referrals to hospital and/community agencies including those required by mandatory reporting laws such and child and vulnerable adult abuse;

Maintains appropriate documentation;

Participates in practicum instruction of social work students and/or provides work direction to Social Work Assistant(s) or other assigned staff;

Participates in formal and informal teaching of health care professionals, health sciences students and the general community;

Coordinates elements of research studies and projects;

Participates in or chairs departmental program development activities or committees;

Represent the Social Work Department on hospital, university, and community committees/work groups;

Perform related duties as assigned/required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A Master of Social Work Degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education

AND

One year of full-time social work experience in a health care setting or equivalent. Experience can include a practicum placement as part of a social work training program and/or employment experience.

LEGAL REQUIREMENT

Within 90 days of hire must hold one of the following credentials issued by the state of Washington:

• Agency Affiliated Counselor, or
• Licensed Social Work Associate – Advanced, or
• Licensed Social Work Associate – Independent Clinical, or
• Licensed Advance Social Worker, or
• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

CLASSIFICATION HISTORY

01/03/1973: New Class
12/14/1973: Revise Class
05/01/1982: Revise Title & Class
01/18/1988: Revise Title/Class
07/02/1990: Revise MQ
03/15/2002: Revise MQ
06/01/2005: CSR Class Conversion
07/01/2009: Revise legal requirements
02/16/2016: Combine Social Worker 1, UW job code 8943, and Social Worker 2, abolishing Social Worker 1 when the change is complete; revise and update spec and MQs, including lowering minimum years of experience from two to one.
01/01/2020: Add SEIU 1199NW UWMC-NW job profiles
10/01/2022: Class adopted for UW contract classified staff per PERC decision to add this title to the SEIU 925 Healthcare Prof/Lab Tech bargaining unit. Incorporates the work of UW classified non-union job code 16115, Social Worker 1 – Academic Medical Centers/Washington State Job Code 351E and 16116 Social Worker 2 – Academic Medical Centers/Washington State Job Code 351F.