By Heather Rose Artushin, MSW, LISW-CP
Travel social work has been gaining popularity in recent years.
A travel social worker operates in much the same way as a travel nurse – social workers assume short-term contracts, typically around 13 weeks in duration, in order to help solve an organization’s staffing crisis. Social workers are employed by a staffing agency, and work directly with a recruiter to locate assignments and arrange interviews for roles of interest. The agency also can assist travel social workers in getting to and from assignments, securing housing, a rental car, and even booking flights during the contractual period.
Agencies like Allied Travel Careers, AMN Healthcare, and TotalMed Staffing handle travel social work contracts, and most travel social workers collaborate with recruiters from multiple agencies to find the next opportunity that is the best fit for their interests. The Military Family Life Counseling program provides free, confidential counseling to service members and their families, and is an opportunity that travel social workers can get involved in through agencies like Magellan Federal, Leidos, and Zeiders Enterprises.
Most travel social work assignments take place in medical settings, such as outpatient clinics, mental health hospitals, acute care hospitals, long-term care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies. While less common, placements may also be available in non-medical settings, like schools, jails and prisons, and government entities. Contracts in non-medical settings may last longer—for example, a placement in a school setting may last the duration of the school year.
Social work students interested in pursuing travel social work in the future should consider specializing in medical social work, school social work, or a related field. At least two years of experience is required before pursuing a travel contract, and most positions require a license. While regular full-time employees might enjoy up to six weeks of training in a new role, a traveler may only get one or two days to orient themselves before being expected to fully step into their responsibilities. Understanding insurance, medical terminology, and other specific skills related to the assignment is crucial to success. There are times that travel social workers are let go if they are unable to work independently from the start.
While some social workers are experienced in working PRN (as needed) roles, most often in hospital settings, travel social work allows for professionals to assume local contracts, less than 50 miles away from your home address, or travel contracts, more than 50 miles away from home. “Travel social work took PRN work and made it broader so you can travel across the country, not just hopping from hospital to hospital in your area,” explained Makeesa Johnson, DSW, an experienced travel social worker.
Read the full story in the NASW Social Work Advocates magazine
