Behavioral Health Social Worker
About The Position
The Behavioral Health Social Worker serves as a therapist within the hospital, supporting patients from identification of a behavioral health need through crisis intervention, treatment, and inpatient care. The role includes conducting level-of-care assessments, providing crisis intervention and disposition planning, and following an inpatient therapy caseload. The clinician works face-to-face with patients throughout different stages of their behavioral health journey and provides individual support and interventions, facilitates therapeutic and support groups, and links patients and families with resources. Working closely with physicians, providers, nursing, and the interdisciplinary care team, the social worker helps patients understand treatment options and make informed decisions. The role involves assessing psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual needs; identifying patient needs and available resources; providing social casework services; advocating for patients; and educating patients and families about illness, health maintenance, treatment options, and appropriate levels of care. The position calls for empathy, strong communication, collaborative problem-solving, and a compassionate, trauma-informed approach in a fast-paced hospital environment across acute care, outpatient, and community settings.
Requirements
- Master's degree.
- One year of related clinical experience.
- LCSW, LSW, or LPC license.
- Basic Life Support.
Responsibilities
- Assess patients’ psychosocial histories and cultural and spiritual needs through observation, interviews, and clinical data.
- Identify patient needs and existing resources, including financial resources, patient rights, insurance, and family support.
- Provide social casework services as part of an interdisciplinary approach.
- Advocate for patients by communicating with patients, families, and staff about ethical dilemmas, identifying unmet needs, and exploring alternative ways to address them.
- Build trusting relationships with patients and families to support adjustment to illness and loss, and decision-making about treatment and care.
- Educate patients and families about illness, health maintenance, treatment options, and appropriate levels of care.
- Conduct level-of-care assessments, provide crisis intervention, and assist with disposition planning.
- Follow an inpatient therapy caseload and provide individual support and interventions.
- Facilitate therapeutic and support groups.
- Collaborate with physicians, providers, nursing, and the interdisciplinary care team to ensure patients’ mental health needs are understood and addressed.
- Provide counseling, support, and resource linkage to patients and families.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
