JobsAdvocate Health

Medical Social Worker

Advocate Health · Oak Lawn, IL

Posted Sep 7, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you had to plan a discharge for a patient with very limited resources or insurance coverage.

resourcefulness and knowledge of payer constraints in real discharge planning

Describe a case where you suspected abuse or neglect. What did you do first?

knowledge of mandatory reporting steps and comfort acting under pressure

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a physician or nurse on the plan of care for a patient.

ability to advocate within a multidisciplinary team without damaging working relationships

Describe a situation where a discharge plan fell apart after the patient left. What did you learn from it?

accountability and whether they reflect on outcomes to improve future planning

Technical

Walk me through how you'd do a psychosocial assessment on a new patient who was just admitted and seems reluctant to talk to you.

whether the candidate has a real, adaptable assessment process rather than a script

This role tracks length of stay and readmissions as part of an ACO. How do you personally think about balancing a fast discharge with a safe one?

understanding of value-based care metrics and whether they can hold that tension without cutting corners

What's your process for helping a family with advance directives or figuring out a legal decision-maker when there's no clear next of kin?

familiarity with legal and ethical procedures around guardianship and healthcare decisions

How do you keep track of community resources and make sure the information you give patients is current?

organizational habits and follow-through, since outdated referrals cause real harm

How do you approach documentation so it holds up for both the care team and any audits or legal review?

discipline around compliance and clear, defensible record-keeping

What does it mean to you to practice according to the NASW Code of Ethics in a hospital setting specifically?

depth of professional grounding versus reciting a phrase from the job posting

Situational

How do you decide which post-acute option to recommend when the patient, the family, and the care team don't agree?

how they balance patient advocacy against clinical and family pressure

A patient refuses hospice or palliative services that the medical team strongly recommends. How do you handle that conversation?

communication skill and respect for patient autonomy versus clinical recommendations

You have a full caseload and a patient's family is upset about a delayed transfer. How do you manage your time and communicate with them?

time management and de-escalation skills under a fast-paced hospital schedule

This job includes weekend rotation and some travel between coverage needs. How do you handle a schedule that isn't fully predictable?

realistic fit with the part-time, rotating schedule and travel demands

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 11211 Advocate Christ Medical Center - Social Services: ACH Status: Part time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 20 Schedule Details/Additional Information: part time with rotation to Sunday 2 times a month Pay Range: $30.70 - $46.05 MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES • Provides social work services to patients, families, and individuals including psychosocial assessment, screening, determination of needs evaluation, appropriate interventions and follow up, and discharge planning.  Implements interventions substantiated by assessment as appropriate to the needs of the patient/client system and consistent with available resources and payer network. • Participates as part of the multi-disciplinary health care team to develop safe and timely coordination of care including but not limited to post-acute placement, palliative/hospice service lines, medical equipment, home healthcare, outpatient follow up, mental health resources, and other community resources. Advocates for patient involvement in the plan of care. Initiates and coordinates interventions with the activities of other members of the health care team. • Maintains up-to-date knowledge of community resources, legislation, and regulations impacting health care delivery and educating patients and families on these issues as appropriate. Provides resources to patients and families to ensure a timely discharge and to provide an appropriate link with post-acute care providers and services. Provides support and connection to additional services such as bereavement and loss, ethical issues, advanced directives, and end of life issues. Connects patients to appropriate agencies on issues of suspected abuse and neglect, domestic violence, guardianship, and other social matters. Collaborates with community agencies and institutions to plan continued care and to coordinate interventions Provides resources and education to patients and families regarding appropriate resources and access to community social services. • Communicates effectively with patients, family, other members of the health care team and community agencies and facilitates resolution of issues which could impact on continuity of care (e.g., prior-approvals, application requirements, transfer paperwork). Documents activity according to department and program protocols or standards. • Manages the progression of patients stay with the goal of optimizing the LOS and ensuring appropriateness of assigned Level of Care. Manages the patient’s care across the continuum to decrease unnecessary readmissions. Manages and coordinates patient care within an ACO environment to help facilitate patient outcomes through in network care coordination. Accountable for site specific KRA goal achievement as it relates to Care Coordination across the continuum. Participates in the orientation of new staff and/or education of social work students. • Provides education to patients/families regarding Advance Directives for health care decision-making. Assists with execution of these documents as appropriate. Participates in legal proceedings as necessary to secure legal decision-makers. • Maintains professional standards and responsibilities for his/her own professional practice according to accreditation, hospital, system, state and NASW Standards and Code of Ethics. Completes all required continuing education to maintain licensure and increase knowledge within area of practice specialty. MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED License/Registration/Certification:  IL-LSW Eligible, LCSW preferred issued by the State of Illinois/WI-Social Work Certification issued by the State of Wisconsin Level of Education:  Master’s degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited school. Years of Experience:  1 year of social work experience in healthcare MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSA) • Demonstrated knowledge of social work principals and methods and the ability to apply these in a health care setting. • Demonstrates time management, professional accountability, and documentation skills. • Demonstrates communication skills and the ability to collaborate within a multi-disciplinary team. • Demonstrates and acts in accordance with safety principals of an accountable care organization. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS • This position requires travel, therefore, will be exposed to weather and road conditions. • Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job. • Exposed to a normal office environment. • Exposed to patient care environment. May be exposed to hazardous materials and life-threatening diseases, therefore team members must abide by personal protective equipment as ordered. • Weekend, holiday, and evening coverage per site requirement. • Position requires sitting, standing, speaking, reading/writing, and walking throughout the workday. • Fast paced work environment with established time constraints per site. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health  Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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