Social Worker-MSW LSW

IU Health•Indianapolis, IN

19h•Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker at Riley Hospital provides face-to-face psychosocial assessments, crisis intervention, discharge planning, and resource coordination for patients and families. This role involves collaboration with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to ensure safe, timely, and effective patient care and transitions. The social worker acts as a key liaison with protective services, community agencies, and hospital staff, supporting complex cases involving child abuse/neglect, elder abuse, domestic violence, guardianship, foster care, and end-of-life planning. The position emphasizes evidence-based practice, crisis management, and legal compliance, with a focus on holistic patient support across diverse populations.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) required.
Must hold permanent Indiana LSW licensure.
Prior experience in healthcare, mental health, or community social work preferred.
Certification in Crisis Prevention Intervention or an alternative de-escalation training within 6 months of hire.
Evidence-based psychosocial assessment, short-term therapeutic counseling, and crisis intervention.
Knowledge of disease processes and human behavior related to health and social needs.
Complex discharge planning skills for safe patient transitions.
Familiarity with state and county adult and child protective legal mandates.
Ability to adapt services to geographically, culturally, and financially diverse populations.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills.
Proficiency in electronic medical records and documentation.
Ability to respond effectively to dangerous or potentially violent situations, utilizing principles of crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in healthcare, mental health, or community social work preferred.

Responsibilities

Meet face-to-face with patients and families to assess psychosocial needs, prior functioning, and support systems.
Communicate and collaborate with all members of the healthcare team to facilitate safe and timely services, providing necessary resources and education.
Interpret and communicate complex patient/family needs, modeling caring and professional practices.
Counsel patients and families regarding emotional, social, and financial impacts of illness or disability.
Access and mobilize family and community resources to meet identified needs and support discharge planning.
Provide mental health assessments upon physician referral and deliver therapeutic interventions to support complex discharge planning.
Serve as the primary point of contact for cases involving child abuse/neglect, elder abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence; act as liaison with protective agencies and legal entities.
Support crisis intervention, including de-escalation and safety planning, in dangerous or potentially violent situations.
Provide intervention and support for guardianship (temporary and permanent), foster care, adoption, and end-of-life care, ensuring compliance with legal and clinical standards.
Conduct interviews and assessments of victims, perpetrators, and significant others, ensuring safety and legal adherence.
Maintain accurate documentation in electronic medical records, following hospital and legal standards.
Develop and foster strong working relationships with hospital administrators, medical teams, law enforcement, APS/DCS, schools, probation, and other community agencies.
Respond with or in lieu of the Department of Public Safety to de-escalate violence when needed.