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

Lead Social Worker

Social WorkerFull-Time

Listed compensation

$80k-$100k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 22m ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Job Location: Main Office - Newton, MA
  • Salary Range: $80000.00 - $100000.00Salary/year, Lead 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 Lead Social Worker to join its expanding counseling services 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: In addition to maintaining a reduced caseload of terminally ill clients and their families, the Lead Social Worker is an integral part of an interdisciplinary hospice team. The Lead Social Worker will be responsible for providing services in accordance with organizational guidelines, along with guiding the social workers and interdisciplinary team regarding psychosocial needs, social work ethics, the need to report abuse/neglect, and other clinical matters. The Lead Social Worker is responsible for monitoring compliance and assisting, together with other Lead Social Workers, in the smooth functioning of the department. Education, Skills and Experience: MSW required, LICSW preferred Sensitivity and understanding of end-of-life issues Facility with learning and using computer systems. Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills. A self-motivated and resourceful individual with the ability to balance a caseload of patients while fulfilling additional responsibilities for the department. Excellent organizational and time management skills Clear communication Ability to contribute as part of a collaborative team Good Shepherd Benefits: Competitive salary Four weeks paid time off in first year, to increase with tenure 12 paid holidays Health, dental, and vision 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: $80,000-$100,000: 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.:

Key Responsibilities

The Lead Social Worker manages a reduced caseload of terminally ill clients while providing leadership and guidance to the interdisciplinary hospice team. They are responsible for monitoring compliance, addressing psychosocial needs, and ensuring the smooth functioning of the department.

Requirements

A Master of Social Work (MSW) is required, with a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) credential preferred. Candidates must possess strong organizational and communication skills, along with a deep understanding of end-of-life care issues.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Hospice careCase managementInterdisciplinary team leadershipPsychosocial assessmentEthics complianceAbuse reportingOrganizational skillsInterpersonal skillsResourcefulness

Social Worker Career Context

Of the 50 active Social Work listings this role was benchmarked against, 58% are remote, 24% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

Social Work pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.9% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

Social Work by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$80k–$100kSocial Work median $76k (middle half $68k–$98k)11 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$85k in purchasing powerMassachusetts index 105.8 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Social Work listings in Massachusetts216 active6,425 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 58% remote · 24% no call · 68% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedMassachusetts social worker listings (all specialties): 19% state a sign-on bonus (median $8k) · 10% offer loan repayment249 active listings, Nov 2026
New Social Work listings2,508 in the last 30 days1,457 the 30 days before (+72%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Social Work pay trend+1.9% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Social Worker Jobs

39 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

39 jobs · 19 employers
8
<$85k
7
$85k-100k
5
$100k-115k
17
$115k-130k
2
$130k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

32 jobs · 19 employers
401k / retirement match
94% this job
Sign-on bonus
34%
CME allowance
22%
Loan repayment
9%
Relocation assistance
3%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

LifeStance Health · Portland, Oregon

$123k-$141k
#2

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

LifeStance Health · Costa Mesa, California

$117k-$134k
#3

LICSW/Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

$73k-$126k
#4

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW - LPCC - LMFT

$74k-$126k
+ 37 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 5.1this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Social Work listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 6,335 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Good Shepherd Community Care logo

About Good Shepherd Community Care

Hospitals and Health Care
Newton, MA
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Competitive salary
Four weeks paid time off in first year
12 paid holidays
Health, dental, and vision insurance
Life insurance
403(b) with company match
Flexible Spending Account
Short and Long Term Disability

Living in Newton

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.27M≈ 15.8× annual pay
Typical market rent
$3,358/mo≈ 50% 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 (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 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.