2003 Social Work Survey Results
Compiled by Lori Ammon, LSW

During the past 5 years, SSWANH has conducted three surveys with social workers in long-term care settings to give us all a better picture of our peers’ salaries, caseloads, credentials, and job satisfaction. The results of the 2003 survey will be reviewed, and when appropriate (since some of the questions were changed this year) will be compared to the responses of the previous years (2000 &1998). There were 19 respondents to this survey.

Salary has been an issue we have been most dissatisfied with in past years, but the good news is, salaries are on the rise. The average income of the respondents this year was $19.71/hr or $41,000 per year (in 2000 the avg. starting salary was $31,650). MSW’s are making an average of $21.69/hr or $45,118/yr (in 1998 they were making $28,229) and Bachelor level social workers are making an average of $18.12/hr or $37,700/yr. (in 1998 they were making $24,367). This years survey did not differentiate between starting and current salaries, but most of the respondents had 2-3 years experience. The MSW’s with the most years of experience had the highest salaries (they ranged from $18.70/hr to $29/hr). Years of experience seemed to have no significant correlation to the salaries of Bachelor level social workers (which ranged from $14/hr to $24.49/hr).

Regarding credentials or types of degrees, 37% of the respondents hold BSW’s (compared to 27% in 2000 and 35% in 1998). 42% currently have MSW’s (compared to 16% in 2000 and 37% in 1998). 21% of the social workers that responded have other related degrees such as a BA or BS in sociology or psychology (compared to 37% in 2000 and 28% in 1998).

Caseloads have become extremely difficult to determine due to the diversity in each setting and the multiple levels of care many social workers are covering, such as sub-acute, skilled, intermediate, assisted living and independent living. Examples of this are one full time social worker for the following combinations: 1) 30 sub acute, 20 ICF, and 30 assisted living, 2) 120 Skilled/intermediate, 3)10 sub acute, 15 assisted living, 4) 60 sk./int., 52 assisted living, 5) 46 sk./int., 15 assisted living, 200 independent living. For the facilities that had just the skilled/intermediate mix of long-term care beds, full time social workers are typically covering about 96 beds.

With regard to admissions responsibilities, only 5% of the respondents are now responsible for admissions (compared to 18% in 2000 and 30% in 1998). 74% of the social workers serve as “back-up” for admissions, and 21% have no responsibility for admissions.

On a scale of 1 (totally dissatisfied) to 10 (totally satisfied), today’s long-term care social workers rate their job satisfaction level at 7. Some of the most satisfying aspects of the job were reported to be: meeting with and helping families/caregivers; building relationships/ trust with residents; working with a strong team of health care professionals; helping to resolve conflicts and problem solve stressful decisions successfully; seeing residents become independent enough to return home; giving holistic care; facilitating family support groups; and helping to make a difference.

Some of the most dissatisfying aspects of being a long-term care social worker were:
Too much paperwork; insurance conflicts; angry residents and families with unresolving conflicts; corporate red tape; resistance to change; being the only person in my dept.; poor health care staffing; misconceptions about what social workers do; and never enough time to do it all.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this survey.

Compiled by Lori Ammon, LSW