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Pediatric Social Work Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Baptistjax

Wolfson Children's Hospital is seeking an experienced and compassionate Licensed Clinical Social Work Manager to oversee our Pediatric Social Work team. This manager will lead a dedicated team ...

University of Rochester

$63K - $85K/yr

Documents social work activity in the patient's medical record utilizing the pediatric, psychosocial assessment and progress notes per SWD policy * Participates in activities of the Social Work ...

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Medical Social Worker

The Woodlands, TX · On-site

$36 - $39/hr

... pediatric healthcare organization in The Woodlands, TX. This position is ideal for a compassionate and experienced social work professional who is skilled in psychosocial assessment, crisis ...

Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta

This Pediatric Social Worker will cover our General Pediatrics units overnight Monday through Friday. Ensures that high-quality, comprehensive social work services are provided which support health ...

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Pediatric Social Work information

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How much do pediatric social work jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average hourly pay for pediatric social work in the United States is $38.68, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $28.61 and $46.88 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is pediatric social work?

Pediatric social work is a specialized field within social work that focuses on supporting children and their families who are dealing with medical, emotional, or social challenges. Pediatric social workers often work in hospitals, clinics, or community organizations, helping young patients cope with illness, trauma, or family issues. They provide counseling, connect families with resources, and collaborate with healthcare teams to ensure children's overall well-being. Their goal is to help children achieve the best possible outcomes by addressing both their emotional and practical needs.

What are some common challenges pediatric social workers face when supporting children and their families in healthcare settings?

Pediatric social workers often navigate emotionally charged situations, such as helping families cope with a child's serious illness or hospitalization. They regularly address complex family dynamics, coordinate with medical teams, and advocate for the child's best interests while balancing the needs of parents and guardians. Additionally, they may encounter barriers to resources or services, requiring creative problem-solving and strong communication skills. Building trust with children and families, especially during crises, is both a challenge and a key part of the role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a pediatric social worker, and why are they important?

To excel as a Pediatric Social Worker, you need a degree in social work (often an MSW), state licensure, and specialized knowledge of child development and family systems. Familiarity with case management software, electronic health records (EHRs), and child welfare regulations is typically required. Strong communication, cultural sensitivity, and emotional resilience help build trust with children and families while navigating difficult situations. These skills ensure effective support, advocacy, and intervention for young clients facing medical, emotional, or social challenges.

What is the difference between Pediatric Social Work vs Child Life Specialist?

AspectPediatric Social WorkChild Life Specialist
Required CredentialsMaster's in Social Work (MSW), state licensureBachelor's or Master's in Child Life, certification (CCLS)
Work EnvironmentHospitals, clinics, community agenciesHospitals, pediatric units, outpatient settings
Employer & IndustryHealthcare, social servicesHealthcare, pediatric care
Primary FocusProviding emotional support, counseling, resource linkagePreparing children for medical procedures, emotional support, education

While both Pediatric Social Workers and Child Life Specialists work in pediatric healthcare settings, Pediatric Social Workers focus on counseling, resource connection, and emotional support for children and families. Child Life Specialists primarily prepare children for medical procedures and help reduce anxiety through education and play. Both roles are vital for holistic pediatric care but differ in their specific training and daily responsibilities.

What does a pediatric social worker for children do?

A pediatric social worker for children provides support and advocacy for young patients and their families, helping them navigate healthcare, social services, and emotional challenges. They assess family needs, develop care plans, and collaborate with medical teams to ensure comprehensive support, often working in hospitals, clinics, or community settings.
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Cities with the most Pediatric Social Work job openings:

What states have the most Pediatric Social Work jobs?

States with the most job openings for Pediatric Social Work jobs include:

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Pediatric Social Work jobs near you
Infographic showing various Pediatric Social Work job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,462 per year, or $38.7 per hour.

Director Social Work Population Health ACHC

Akron Children's Hospital

Akron, OH • On-site

Full-time

Posted 21 days ago

Akron Children's Hospital rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 97 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

348th of 1,060 rated hospitals

Job description

Summary:
The Director of Social Work - ACHC and Population Health provides enterprise leadership for pediatric social work services across inpatient care, emergency services, ambulatory operations, and population health functions within the Akron Children's Health Collaborative accountable care organization. This role establishes the strategic direction, operational infrastructure, professional standards, and performance expectations necessary to advance high-quality, integrated social work practice across the continuum of care.
The Director serves as a key leader in aligning hospital-based social work, ambulatory care coordination, care transitions, crisis response, population health initiatives, payer-aligned quality efforts, and services for children attributed to the ACO with complex medical, behavioral health, and social needs. This position is accountable for building scalable models of care, strengthening interdisciplinary partnerships, supporting workforce readiness, improving patient and family outcomes, and ensuring responsible fiscal stewardship of organizational and donor-supported funds.
Responsibilities:
  1. Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for pediatric social work services across inpatient, emergency department, ambulatory, population health, and ACHC accountable care organization functions.
  2. Lead, develop, and support social work leaders and teams by fostering professional excellence, accountability, collaboration, engagement, equity, innovation, and top-of-scope practice.
  3. Design and sustain enterprise social work structures, standards, workflows, role clarity, escalation pathways, and best practices that support coordinated handoffs, transitions, crisis response, ambulatory care coordination, and integrated care management across the continuum.
  4. Oversee social work operations that support inpatient care delivery, discharge planning, family support, behavioral health and social needs navigation, population health initiatives, payer-aligned quality efforts, and services for children with complex medical, behavioral health, and social needs.
  5. Advance care management models for ACHC patients through risk stratification, proactive longitudinal support, inpatient transitions, ambulatory follow-up, and alignment with value-based care priorities.
  6. Partner with Case Management, Care Coordination, clinical leaders, administrative leaders, interdisciplinary teams, and executive stakeholders to advance enterprise-wide social work strategy, optimize cross-continuum workflows, align services with organizational priorities, and improve patient and family experience, access, continuity of care, utilization, equity, and outcomes.
  7. Serve as a strategic liaison with community organizations, social service agencies, behavioral health partners, payers, and other external stakeholders to strengthen resource alignment and support the needs of children and families served.
  8. Monitor program performance, quality indicators, utilization trends, access measures, and outcome data to identify opportunities, guide improvement efforts, and demonstrate the impact of social work services.
  9. Maintain accountability for budget oversight, responsible management of program funds, fiscal stewardship, appropriate distribution of donor-supported resources, and alignment with organizational policies, funding requirements, and strategic priorities.

Other information:
Technical Expertise
  1. Advanced knowledge of pediatric social work practice across inpatient, emergency department, ambulatory, ACHC accountable care organization, and population health settings.
  2. Demonstrated expertise in pediatric care coordination, care transitions, psychosocial assessment, family support, behavioral health navigation, social drivers of health, crisis response, and interdisciplinary care models.
  3. Experience designing and implementing social work workflows, standards, staffing structures, escalation pathways, and quality improvement processes across complex healthcare environments.
  4. Ability to use data, performance indicators, utilization trends, and outcome measures to inform strategy, improve service delivery, strengthen access, and advance measurable results.
  5. Demonstrated fiscal stewardship, including the ability to align resources with strategic priorities, monitor budget performance, support responsible allocation of funds, and ensure efficient use of organizational and donor-supported resources.
  6. Strong leadership capability in change management, including the ability to anticipate organizational needs, guide transformation, engage stakeholders, and sustain practice improvements.
  7. Ability to influence across clinical, operational, financial, community, and executive stakeholders to advance shared goals and system-level performance.

Education and Experience
  1. Education: Master's degree in social work (MSW) required. Master's degree in healthcare administration, business administration, public health, or related field preferred.
  2. Licensure: Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervision (LISW-S) required.
  3. Certification: Case Management, healthcare leadership, quality improvement or related certification preferred.
  4. Years of relevant experience: Minimum of five years of progressive social work leadership experience required, preferably in pediatric healthcare, population health, care management, or an accountable care organization environment.
  5. Years of supervisory experience: Minimum three years supervisory or leadership experience required; experience leading multidisciplinary or matrixed teams preferred.

Full Time
FTE: 1.000000
Status: Onsite

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About Akron Children's Hospital

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Akron Children's Hospital has been caring for children since 1890, and our pediatric specialties are ranked among the nation's best by U.S. News & World Report. With two hospital campuses, regional health centers and more than 50 primary and specialty care locations throughout Ohio, we're making it easier for today's busy families to find the high-quality care they need. In 2020, our health care system provided more than 1.1 million patient encounters. We also operate neonatal and pediatric units in the hospitals of our regional health care partners. Every year, our Children's Home Care Group nurses provide thousands of in-home visits, and our School Health nurses manage clinic visits for students from preschool through high school. With our Quick Care Online virtual visits and Akron Children's Anywhere app, we're here for families whenever and wherever they need us. Learn more at akronchildrens.org.

Industry

Hospitals

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Akron, OH, US

Year founded

1890

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