Clinical Social Worker – Sheikh Khalifa Medical City

The Medical Social Worker provides essential psychosocial support to patients, families, and caregivers facing complex emotional, financial, social, and environmental challenges related to illness, treatment, or hospitalization. The role includes conducting comprehensive assessments, facilitating care coordination, offering crisis intervention, and supporting discharge planning while advocating for the patient's needs within a multidisciplinary healthcare setting. Proficiency in Arabic is required to ensure effective communication with the local population.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct person-centered psychosocial assessments and develop individualized care plans in coordination with patients, families, and clinical teams.
• Provide care management and advocacy for vulnerable patients, ensuring their needs are met through coordinated care planning.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings to support complex discharge planning and advocate for patients' social, emotional, and legal needs.
• Act as a liaison between patients/families and external agencies (e.g., social services, police, courts, charities) to secure necessary resources and interventions.
• Offer psychoeducation and direct therapeutic interventions where appropriate to support patients’ mental well-being.
• Ensure timely documentation of assessments, interventions, and care coordination activities in line with JCI and SEHA standards.
• Provide crisis intervention and emotional support during emergencies or distressing situations.
• Ensure patients’ legal and social needs are addressed, including processing ER-exempt cases and coordinating treatment for financially needy patients.
• Uphold patient confidentiality, cultural sensitivity, and respect for personal beliefs and customs.

• Manage workload prioritization and case allocation within the department to ensure efficient service delivery.
• Provide supervision and support to junior staff, ensuring compliance with departmental policies and procedures.
• Contribute to departmental planning and quality improvement initiatives.

• Adhere to and promote best practices in patient safety, infection control, and environmental safety.
• Participate in policy development and implementation of service standards.
• Maintain high standards of clinical record-keeping and data protection.
• Ensure all services are aligned with SEHA and Department of Health (DOH) guidelines.

• Participate in continuous professional development, workshops, and in-service training sessions.
• Assist in the orientation and mentoring of new staff and students.
• Maintain up-to-date licensure, certifications, and mandatory training requirements.
• Participate in hospital and department meetings and committees as required.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work
• Master’s Degree in Social Work
• Licensed by the Department of Health (DOH) or eligible for licensure

• Minimum of 2 years post-graduate experience in a clinical or hospital setting
• Experience working in multidisciplinary teams and handling complex discharge planning

• Fluency in Arabic (Required)
• Proficient in English (written and spoken)

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Clinical judgment and emotional resilience in high-stress situations
• Knowledge of healthcare systems, patient rights, and social care networks in the UAE
• Cultural competence, including respect for diverse backgrounds and values
• Proficiency in case documentation and use of electronic medical records (EMR)
• Ability to manage complex caseloads and prioritize needs in a fast-paced environment