Seattle Children’s Hospital is a pediatric medical facility serving infants, children, teens, and young adults from across the region. This position is a unique role and opportunity for a student interested in gaining experience and skills as a Medical Social Worker. This student will work with two Field Instructors in both the Inpatient General Medicine Unit and Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit. A student in this role will engage with patients and family's both in acute/brief hospitalizations as well as providing continuity for families experiencing lengthy admissions.

One of the major parts of our role is to work closely with the patients and their families directly through a variety of different approaches and interactions. Examples of typical responsibilities include, but are not limited to, facilitating supportive counseling as it pertains to families/ caregivers navigating a variety of stressors within an acute care setting, completing routine psychosocial assessments, assessing barriers to care and discharge, connecting families to basic needs (including meals, transportation, clothing, etc.), and advocating to support inclusion for reintroduction into the community and home setting. Building rapport with patients and caregivers is the foundation of our work, promoting trust and willingness to engage with the services we provide.

Collaboration amongst an interdisciplinary team mostly consisting of nurses, care managers, physicians, physical/ occupational/ speech therapists, and psychologists is common within the practice of an acute care social worker. Family and patient engagement can be challenging without our support and encouragement. Together, we facilitate conversation with the patient and family to empower decision-making and education surrounding hospital policies, advocacy, and available resources. Hospitalizations often pose a threat to caregiver finances, thus emphasizing the need for assistance. We utilize our clinical judgment and connection with the interdisciplinary team to assess eligibility and apply for hospital and/or department specific funding when needed. State funded programs like EBT, SSI, and DDA, are some of the many resources an acute care social worker can help families access during their admission. Coordination and referrals to DCYF is also likely due to the many high risk/ need patients we serve.

An inpatient social worker’s practice naturally consists of advocacy for diverse and/ or underserved populations, allowing us to recognize gaps in the healthcare systems and the policies driving the care. Our most recent example of advocacy at a macro level was collaborating with Medicaid transportation brokers regarding transportation and lodging needs for families. It is also common for us to advocate for equitable services and supports for our patients that reside within the WWAMI region. Even though we serve many within the WWAMI region, that does not stop us from encountering families from all over the world seeking specialized care, a better life for their family, or on holiday. It is typical to assist patients and/or families with asylum or refugee statuses or are recent immigrants from another country trying to navigate the United States healthcare system for the first time. The work that we do is varied, yet essential, and no two days are the same.

MSW Specialized Student

Email resume and cover letter to janina.alcantara@seattlechildrens.org and tyler.domingo@seattlechildrens.org by 3/01/2024. Interviews will be scheduled in March.