Medical Social Worker (x1 – Permanent)

Job description

ZAMBIA SUGAR PLC. — JOB ADVERTISEMENT 📢
An ABF Sugar Company | Estate Support Services Department

Zambia Sugar Plc. is an ABF Sugar Company and is the leading sugar producer in Zambia. Its main activities are the growing of sugar cane, the production and marketing of sugar and other sugar downstream products.

The company invites applications from suitably qualified and experienced individuals to fill the permanent position of Medical Social Worker (x1) in the Estate Support Services Department at Nakambala Estate, Mazabuka. This position reports directly to the Medical Officer.

Job Purpose:

The Medical Social Worker is responsible for helping patients understand, cope with, and manage their illnesses and the psychosocial impacts on their lives and families.

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate the HIV/AIDS programme on the estate.
• Serve as the designated liaison between the Medical Section and the Employee Wellbeing Programme (EWP), coordinating referrals, case follow-ups, and psychosocial support so that employees identified through clinical services are linked to appropriate wellbeing interventions.
• Share anonymized, aggregated trends from clinical and psychosocial cases to inform EWP planning, while strictly upholding patient confidentiality.
• Contribute to EWP activities, including needs assessments, awareness campaigns, and evaluation reporting.
• Evaluate the social and emotional needs of patients.
• Provide professional counselling and emotional support to patients and their families.
• Help patients understand their medical conditions, diagnoses, and treatment plans.
• Assist patients and families with navigating the emotional impacts of illness and hospitalization.
• Arrange post-discharge services and support systems such as home healthcare, rehabilitation, victim support, and legal aid.
• Provide crisis intervention and bereavement counselling.
• Conduct patient psychosocial assessments and develop comprehensive care plans.
• Liaise closely with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to implement individualized care plans.
• Refer patients to appropriate community support systems and external welfare agencies.
• Document all interactions, assessments, and maintain accurate records and clinical reports on clients.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong understanding of social, psychological, and emotional factors related to illness and wellness, with ability to apply this in patient care.
• Ability to conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments to determine needs and develop appropriate treatment plans.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing, for effective interaction with patients, families, and healthcare teams.
• In-depth understanding of the healthcare system and ability to navigate complex health conditions.
• Skilled in crisis intervention to address urgent mental health concerns and facilitate necessary support services.
• Experience in case management, facilitating coordination of care and seamless transitions across care settings.
• Strong advocacy skills to ensure patients’ rights are respected and healthcare needs are met.
• Capability to work effectively with diverse teams and populations, respecting differences in culture, religion, sexual orientation, and lifestyle.

Minimum Requirements & Qualifications:

• Full Grade 12 School Certificate.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from a recognized institution.
• Proven work experience as a Medical Social Worker (preferably 5 years’ experience).
• Strong working knowledge of medical and psychological issues, medical laws, and ethics.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Professional Registration: Membership and registration with the Social Workers’ Association of Zambia (SWAZ), with a valid practicing certificate.
• ZAQA Verification: Suitably qualified applicants must provide certificates verified by the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA).

How to Apply:

Should you be interested in applying for this role, please submit your detailed CV, copies of relevant qualifications, registrations, and ID/Passport as a single PDF document for the attention of the HR Business Partner via email:

📩 Email: careers@zamsugar.zm

* Please indicate “Application – Medical Social Worker” in the subject line of your email.

Application Details:

• Closing Date: 19th October 2026
• Note: Internal employees are required to complete the Internal Application Form and obtain relevant signatures when applying.
• Applicants may be required to complete pre-employment checks (qualification, credit, security, background, and medical assessments).
• Should you not hear from us within 4 weeks after the closing date, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.