Medical Social Worker - Children's Physicians - 30 hrs/wk

Children's Nebraska•Lincoln, NE

About The Position

The Medical Social Worker provides patients and caregivers with psychosocial and therapeutic support under provisional supervision, addressing overall health, wellbeing, and safety. The role may involve longitudinal case management or encounter-specific support to promote positive health outcomes and reduce barriers to care. Services include supportive counseling, patient support, assessment-based referrals, and resource coordination. The Social Worker develops professional relationships with patients, caregivers, and team members to support a team-based approach and continuity of care. The position conducts psychosocial, mental health, safety, transplant, and needs assessments; screens patients and caregivers with chronic illness, complex medical or social needs, or safety concerns; and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to develop and monitor strength-based care plans. It provides referrals and advocacy related to identified needs, crisis counseling and intervention, mental health screening follow-up, and assessment and coordination of child abuse and neglect cases. Responsibilities also include legal consultation and documentation, participation in hospital Social Work coverage as needed, and support for colleagues, new team members, and Social Work students. This is a 30-hour-per-week, benefit-eligible position with a Monday–Friday set schedule between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The position may also require on-call and in-house shifts as needed and flexibility to adjust availability to meet patient and hospital needs.

Requirements

Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university.
Current Provisional Master Social Worker license in Nebraska upon hire.
Current Provisional Mental Health Practitioner license in Nebraska upon hire.
Knowledge of human behavior, social problems, counseling modalities, and community resources.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with patients, families, physicians, healthcare professionals, attorneys, and law enforcement.

Nice To Haves

1–3 years of supervised experience as a Social Worker in a clinical setting.
Medical Social Work experience.

Responsibilities

Conduct psychosocial, mental health, safety, transplant, and needs assessments under provisional supervision.
Screen patients and caregivers in assigned areas, with attention to chronic illness, complex medical or social needs, and safety concerns.
Build professional working relationships with patients, caregivers, and team members.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and advocate for care plans that account for medical, emotional, safety, and family-functioning needs.
Develop patient goals and monitor care-plan progress using strength-based interventions.
Assess high-risk families and provide interventions focused on patient and caregiver safety and mental health.
Gather information about family functioning, strengths, barriers, and Social Drivers of Health; share resources and advocate for access.
Maintain knowledge of community resources and provide referrals for patient and caregiver needs.
Provide crisis and supportive counseling, coaching, education, problem-solving support, and interventions related to illness and social wellbeing.
Respond to positive mental health screenings with risk assessments, initial interventions, resources, education, and referrals for ongoing care.
Assess and coordinate child abuse and neglect cases, communicate recommendations to the team, facilitate CPS/law-enforcement reporting, and collaborate with the Child Advocacy Team as needed.
Share responsibility for 24-hour hospital Social Work coverage by covering on-call and in-house shifts as needed, and respond to requests and consults within expected timeframes.
Provide consultation and interventions regarding legal issues, including coordination with Compliance, Legal Counsel, and Health Information Management as necessary.
Support Social Work team members and a positive work culture, including assisting with onboarding, training, student education, coverage, and team communication.
Attend weekly provisional supervision and maintain outlook calendars to support coverage communication.