Good Shepherd Community Care logo
Good Shepherd Community Care
Newton, Massachusetts

Pediatric Palliative Care Social Worker

Social WorkerFull-Time

Listed compensation

$65K - $85K

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 6mo ago

Job Description

Job DetailsJob Location: Main Office - Newton, MA 02459Pediatric Palliative Care Social Worker Named by the Boston Globe as one of the Top Places to Work in Massachusetts for the last four years, our community-based, mission-driven hospice and palliative care organization seeks a Pediatric Palliative Social Worker to join its expanding Pediatric Palliative Care Team.

Travel is required for this position.

Care is provided in patients’ private homes and residential facilities throughout Greater Boston and parts of Metrowest Job Responsibilities: The Pediatric Palliative Social Worker is an integral part of an interdisciplinary pediatric palliative care team responsible for providing comprehensive psychosocial care to children (and their families) with life-limiting illnesses.

Makes home visits, facilitates referrals and admissions to services and provides counseling support.

Education, Skills and Experience: MSW required, LICSW preferred Pediatric or in-patient social work experience required Understanding of serious advancing/terminal illness Psychosocial assessment and treatment expertise Excellent organizational and time management skills Ability to communicate clearly with patients/families/clinicians Contribute as part of a collaborative team Must have a car and be willing to make home visits independently Good Shepherd

Benefits

Package offers: Competitive salary Four weeks paid time off in first year 12 paid holidays Health and dental insurance, coverage begins as of your start date Life insurance 403(b) with company match Flexible Spending Account Short and Long Term Disability Employee Assistance Program Partnership with Regis College for reduced tuition rates Pay Range: $65,000 - $85,000: This number reflects an average starting range for this position.

Individual pay is determined through a variety of factors including experience, education, certifications, and skills and can exceed the starting range.

Industry: Healthcare Employment Type: Full Time About Us: Good Shepherd Community Care is one of the most trusted health care organizations in Greater Boston focusing on hospice and palliative care. Founded as Hospice of the Good Shepherd in 1978, we are the original Massachusetts hospice.

After decades of caring for our community, we continue to remain an independent, not-for-profit, non-sectarian organization. We believe in the importance of mutual respect and acceptance and value diversity in our patients, families and caregivers, employees, volunteers, community, and partner organizations.

We are committed to these values and honor the dignity of each individual through the care, support and education we provide. Our team members benefit from a collaborative work environment in a welcoming office, easily accessible to I-95, with on-site parking in Newton.

Good Shepherd Community Care does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex stereotyping, marital status, pregnancy, religion or age in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs, services and activities.

Qualifications

Key Responsibilities

The Pediatric Palliative Social Worker is a key member of an interdisciplinary team providing comprehensive psychosocial care to children with life-limiting illnesses and their families. Responsibilities include conducting home visits, facilitating necessary referrals and admissions, and offering counseling support.

Requirements

A Master of Social Work (MSW) is required, with a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) preferred, alongside experience in pediatric or in-patient social work. Candidates must possess expertise in psychosocial assessment and treatment, excellent organizational skills, and reliable transportation to conduct independent home visits.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Referral FacilitationAdmissions FacilitationInterdisciplinary TeamworkClear CommunicationPediatric Care

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Pediatric Palliative Care Social Worker at Good Shepherd Community Care a 7.5 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 5% in Pediatrics (Social Work) — ranked against 55 active Pediatrics (Social Work) listings on WeekdayDoc.

Pediatrics — Social Worker Career Context

Of the 50 active Pediatrics listings this role was benchmarked against, 40% are remote, 32% have no call, 72% require no weekends.

Pediatrics pay on WeekdayDoc is down 18.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Massachusetts is 105.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$75k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $71k in an average-cost state. 63.2% of Massachusetts clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Social Worker Jobs

36 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution36 jobs · 22 employers

11
<$90k
10
$90k-110k
11
$110k-130k
4
$130k-150k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks35 jobs · 22 employers

401k / retirement match
94% this job
Sign-on bonus
46%
CME allowance
14%
PSLF eligible
6%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)

LifeStance Health · Vancouver, Washington

$123k-$141k
#2

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

LifeStance Health · West Linn, Oregon

$123k-$141k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

$117k-$134k
#4

Licensed Mental Health Clinician (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

$117k-$134k
+ 34 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 7.5
Among the best 10% of Pediatrics (Social Work) listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 55 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site

Living in Newton

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.29M≈ 19.9× annual pay
Typical market rent
$3,408/mo≈ 63% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
27 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
108.3
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

Good Shepherd Community Care logo

About Good Shepherd Community Care

Hospitals and Health Care
Newton, MA
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Competitive Salary
4 Weeks Paid Time Off
12 Paid Holidays
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Life Insurance
403b with Company Match
Flexible Spending Account