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Stanford Medicine Children's Health
Walnut Creek, California

Medical Social Worker

Social WorkerNo nightsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$49.42-$59.3/hr

Listing transparency4 of 6 stated

Ask the employer about call expectations and weekend coverage.

Employment & setting
Full-Time · on-site
Call expectations
Not specified
Weekends
Not specified
Posted 1 day ago · Verified live

Job Description

Company Description

Packard Children’s Health Alliance is a network associated with Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and the Stanford School of Medicine. We bring the best community physicians together in a network that provides healthcare for children and expectant mothers from the Bay Area. In fact, we’re proud to be the only Bay Area medical network with an exclusive focus on women and children, and we understand the unique value provided by our more than 650 leading pediatricians and obstetrician/gynecologists. What’s more, we’re growing fast.

Job ID: PC_00026321-9152026

Job Description

  • JOB SUMMARY
  • This paragraph summarizes the general nature, level and purpose of the job.

As a member of a health care team, the Social Worker provides appropriate intervention services to patients and/or clients as well as their families. Work typically involves assessment of the patient and family needs and concerns related to the impact and understanding of illness and treatment options, providing emotional support, and development of a plan of services, including advocacy, referrals and practical assistance necessary to accomplish desired objectives. Provides consultation, orientation and training to health care staff on the effects of cultural and economic issues on the management of patient/client health needs.

Essential Functions

The essential functions listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification. They are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Employees must abide by all Joint Commission Requirements including but not limited to sensitivity to cultural diversity, patient care, patient rights and ethical treatment, safety and security of physical environments, emergency management, teamwork, respect for others, participation in ongoing education and training, communication and adherence to safety and quality programs, sustaining compliance with National Patient Safety Goals, and licensure and health screenings.

Must perform all duties and responsibilities in accordance with the hospital's policies and procedures, including its Service Standards and its Code of Conduct.

  • Collaborates with health care teams to treat and plan for the social and medical needs of patients by consulting with providers and making referrals. Devises, develops and implements treatment plans as necessary.
  • Conducts assessment of patients to evaluate social, emotional and physical needs by applying social work theories and techniques; interviews and evaluates patients and family members. Identifies factors which may interfere with obtaining maximum benefits from treatment.
  • Develops and implements patient management plans, including the coordination of referrals to specialty and social services, the recording of progress notes and the provision of continuity of care. Helps patients and families cope with environmental and psychological issues of illness by explaining options and treatments as well as making appropriate referrals.
  • Prepares and maintains records and makes written and oral reports to document case activity concerning overall patient care in accordance with department and/or organizational policies and procedures.
  • Participates in monitoring and evaluating the quality and appropriateness of patient care.
  • Provides supportive care to assist patients and families in coping with presenting symptoms and problems such as, for example, coping with illness, accepting medical recommendations, and loss of function. Provides education to patients and families around issues related to adaptation to the patient's diagnosis, illness, treatment and/or life situation.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities as well as possession of any required licenses or certifications is qualifying.

  • Education: Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university (MSW)
  • Experience: Two (2) years of progressively responsible and directly related work experience.

Licensure/Certification: Valid license as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences preferred.

KNOWLEDGE

These are the observable and measurable attributes and skills required to perform successfully the essential functions of the job and are generally demonstrated through qualifying experience, education or licensure/certification.

  • Ability to apply theories, principles and practices of medical social work and of social services delivery systems in a hospital or medical center setting
  • Ability to gather data needed to needed to assess needs of patients and families
  • Ability to manage a caseload, recall case details; maintain confidentiality of information; determine the appropriate course of action in emergencies and other stressful situations
  • Ability to provide written case narratives and reports
  • Knowledge of and ability to apply effective assessment, interviewing, and counseling techniques Knowledge of and ability to apply social work theories, principles and techniques
  • Knowledge of hospital and medical center resources to access and provide for patient care needs, and act on behalf of client needs to obtain necessary services
  • Knowledge of needs, problems, attitudes, and behavior of hospital patients and their families

Physical Requirements

The Physical Requirements and Working Conditions in which the job is typically performed are available from the Occupational Health Department. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Additional Information

Pay Range

Compensation is based on the level and requirements of the role.

Salary within our ranges may also be determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, location, and abilities, as required by the role, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

  • Typically, new team members join at the minimum to mid salary range.
  • Minimum to Midpoint Range (Hourly): $49.42 to $59.30

Stanford Medicine Children's Health (SMCH) strongly values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination in all of its policies and practices, including the area of employment. Accordingly, SMCH does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, or disability, or the perception of any of the above. People of all genders, members of all racial and ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Qualified applicants with criminal convictions will be considered after an individualized assessment of the conviction and the job requirements, and where applicable, in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

  • Employee Referral Amount: Not Applicable
  • Employee Group: EX - Exempt
  • Fixed Term Employment Duration: None
  • Job Family: PC Clinical
  • Department: Multispecialty PCHA Walnut Creek
  • Remote Eligible: No
  • Benefits Eligible: Yes
  • Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40
  • Work Shift: Day - 08 Hour

Key Responsibilities

The Social Worker collaborates with healthcare teams to assess patient and family needs, providing emotional support and developing comprehensive treatment plans. They also facilitate referrals, maintain clinical documentation, and educate families on managing illness and treatment options.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Patient assessmentCase managementCrisis interventionPsychosocial supportTreatment planningReferral coordinationInterdisciplinary collaborationPatient educationCultural sensitivityClinical interviewing

Social Worker Career Context

Of the 50 active Social Work listings this role was benchmarked against, 48% are remote, 32% have no call, 72% require no weekends.

Social Work pay on WeekdayDoc is up 7.0% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$113k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $102k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Social Worker Jobs

39 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution39 jobs · 21 employers

8
<$95k
7
$95k-110k
17
$110k-125k
6
$125k-140k
1
$141k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks33 jobs · 21 employers

401k / retirement match
91% this job
Sign-on bonus
30%
CME allowance
27%
Loan repayment
24%
PSLF eligible
9%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Work-life snapshot

5.1/ 10
Listing-based score

A signal to investigate—not a guarantee about the workplace.

  • No nights
  • On-site

Living in Walnut Creek

  • Median 3-bed home ≈ 11.3× annual pay
  • Typical rent ≈ 35% of gross pay
  • Residents' average commute 33 min
  • State income tax up to 13.3%

Sources: Zillow (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2023.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.