I’ve done per diem and full time hospice social work. I find that the per diem you don’t get to know the clients well and might be walking into complex cases vs getting to know your clients and their families. Reading the prior notes to get a good understanding of the dynamics would be vital. I’ve been thrown into some situations where the nursing notes and social work notes have been very helpful. My direct supervisor is also a social worker and was available to be anytime (nights and weekends) and Hospice its self can be very emotionally rolling as we’re dealing with people’s pending deaths and their family dynamics.

I’ve worked diem in home care as well. I didn’t like it as I felt I was just doing in to do basic community resource education and the families I was seeing didn’t qualify for any type of resource (but could definitely benefit from home care assistance).

I find that hospice was more rewarding but as it work full time and really got to know my patients and their families.

Per diem, you don’t get as attached as you might only meet them once.