O*NET-SOC 21-1022.00

Healthcare Social Workers

Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.

Preparation

ItemValue
Preparation zoneZone 5 – Extensive preparation needed
What O*NET says the zone requiresExtensive skill, knowledge, or experience is needed
Broad occupation in O*NETTrue (Yes)
Skills listed for this occupation6
Abilities listed for this occupation6
Tasks listed for this occupation5
Interest scores given for this occupation6

Skills

The 6 skills with the highest importance values in this occupation's records.

SkillO*NET elementImportanceDate
Social Perceptiveness2.B.1.a4.2508/2021
Service Orientation2.B.1.f4.1208/2021
Speaking2.A.1.d4.1208/2021
Active Listening2.A.1.b4.008/2021
Coordination2.B.1.b4.008/2021
Critical Thinking2.A.2.a4.008/2021

The importance value is what each record itself carries on O*NET's importance scale; the date is the date in each record.

Abilities

The 6 abilities with the highest importance values in this occupation's records.

AbilityO*NET elementImportanceDate
Oral Expression1.A.1.a.34.1208/2021
Deductive Reasoning1.A.1.b.44.008/2021
Oral Comprehension1.A.1.a.14.008/2021
Problem Sensitivity1.A.1.b.34.008/2021
Speech Clarity1.A.4.b.54.008/2021
Speech Recognition1.A.4.b.44.008/2021

The importance value is what each record itself carries on O*NET's importance scale; the date is the date in each record.

Tasks

The tasks O*NET records for this occupation, with the type, respondent count and date each record carries.

TaskTypeIncumbents respondingDate
Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.Core2708/2021
Educate clients about end-of-life symptoms and options to assist them in making informed decisions.Core2708/2021
Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients' medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.Core2708/2021
Refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.Core2708/2021
Utilize consultation data and social work experience to plan and coordinate client or patient care and rehabilitation, following through to ensure service efficacy.Core2708/2021

Work interests

The interest scores O*NET gives this occupation, on the six interest types.

InterestScoreDate
Social6.9211/2023
Investigative4.2411/2023
Conventional3.0611/2023
Enterprising2.5311/2023
Artistic2.3311/2023
Realistic1.9711/2023

More occupations in preparation zone 5

Source: O*NET 29.1 Database (Occupation Data, Job Zones, Skills, Abilities, Task Statements, Interests), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Data fetched 2026-10-31. See about and sources.