Veterinary Social Worker

Hiring Department

Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery

Job Description

The College of Veterinary Medicine at MU is on a mission to educate and train outstanding clinicians and scientists, generate new knowledge, engage stakeholders, and foster economic growth, all of which promote and protect the health and welfare of animals and people. Simply put, our mission is to Teach, Heal, Discover and Serve.

We are currently seeking a Veterinary Social Worker to provide services, support, and outreach for the clients of the Veterinary Health Center (VHC). The veterinary social worker provides support and assistance to around 150 clients of VHC annually. This includes providing in-person support in situations of grief and loss, pet euthanasia, diagnosis of major pet illness, as well as processing and understanding medical information. Beyond one-on-one care, this position conducts client outreach, plans and facilitates client support groups and plans educational programs. Additionally, this position provides faculty and staff of the VHC with educational programing in client support and communication as well as acute support and referral services in dealing with difficult cases, patient outcomes, and client situations.

The primary duties for this position will include:

• Provide one-on-one support and counseling to clients dealing with situations such as pet loss, euthanasia, difficult or complex diagnoses and medical conditions, and Making decisions about quality of life, treatments, and outcomes for their pets.
• Assist clients with navigating end-of-life decisions for their companion animals, memorialization, and on-going support.
• Collaborate with veterinary care teams and clinicians to provide support through difficult client conversations, de-escalation, and emotional regulation.
• Conduct outreach and follow-up work with clients of the VHC, providing direct support and referral services.
• Design and facilitate support groups and educational programing for VHC clients, with an emphasis on increasing accessibility for all clients.
• Curate, create materials, and maintain a resource library on topics such as pet loss, grief, and end-of-life care for clients.
• Provide crisis-support and referral services for students, staff, and faculty / clinicians of the VHC following difficult cases, client interactions, or patient outcomes.
• Conduct training for students, staff, and faculty / clinicians on topics such as de-escalation, client communication, self-care, emotional boundary setting, and personal well-being as a veterinary professional. Maintain a resource library and referral avenues to assist members of the VHC.
• Evaluate current offerings and support mechanisms and make recommendations on improvements or new initiatives to continue to grow support avenues and programs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Veterinarians throughout the Midwest refer animal clients to the Veterinary Health Center for specialized diagnoses and treatment. With sophisticated therapeutic equipment that includes an underwater treadmill, advanced imaging techniques, and groundbreaking equine lameness diagnostic equipment, we are a center for animal healthcare.

Most of this position’s time is spent providing support in the small animal / companion animal clinic; however, client support is needed from time to time in the large (equine and food) animal clinics.

Shift

This is a full-time (40-hour per week) position. Scheduling is flexible, with a majority of the work being performed during standard work hours, Monday through Friday. Some schedule flexibility is expected to best facilitate client support and programming (for example, facilitating an evening client support group).

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree in related/ relevant area and at least 2 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary. Licensure as required for position.

Preferred Qualifications

At least 1 year of prior experience in general clinical counseling, specifically providing support in areas such as grief and loss.
Prior experience in a veterinary or human medical / clinical setting is preferred.

Successful candidates will exhibit the following skills and competencies:

• Deep sense of compassion and ability to work with clients making difficult decisions for their pets.
• High degree of adaptability and the ability to quickly handle or de-escalate difficult situations.
• Ability to create and lead educational programming as well as support group activities.
• Strong communication skills and high emotional intelligence.
• Ability to work alongside clinical staff in assisting clients in understanding, processing, and navigating complex medical information.
• A strong sense of teamwork and collaboration.

Anticipated Hiring Range

Salary: $57,000 to $65,000 annually, based on education and experience
Grade: GGS-9E
University Title: Social Worker
Internal applicants can determine their University title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.