Social Worker-MSW LSW

IU Health • Indianapolis, IN

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker MSW / LSW provides face-to-face psychosocial assessments, counseling, discharge planning, and resource coordination for patients and their families within the transplant unit. This role involves collaborating with the healthcare team to ensure safe, timely, and effective patient care while addressing complex psychosocial needs related to illness, disability, and social determinants. The social worker also serves as a key liaison for abuse/neglect cases, guardianship, foster care, and mental health placements, supporting patients through crisis situations and complex discharge processes.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited program.
• Permanent Indiana LSW licensure required.
• Certification in Crisis Prevention Intervention or an approved de-escalation training required 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 social needs.
• Complex discharge planning skills.
• Understanding of legal mandates related to child and adult protective services.
• Principles of growth and development across the lifespan, including end-of-life care.
• Ability to identify decision-makers and facilitate goals of care discussions.
• Experience working with diverse populations across geographic, cultural, and financial backgrounds.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
• Computer literacy and proficiency in electronic medical record documentation.

Nice To Haves

• Relevant healthcare, mental health, or community-based experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Meet face-to-face with patients and families, conducting psychosocial assessments and counseling.
• Collaborate with all members of the healthcare team to facilitate care delivery, ensuring patients and families receive necessary education and resources.
• Interpret and communicate complex patient and family needs; role-model caring practices for other caregivers.
• Assess psychosocial risk factors, including prior functioning, support systems, reactions to illness, and coping skills.
• Counsel patients and families regarding emotional, social, and financial impacts of health conditions and disabilities.
• Access and mobilize community and family resources to meet individual needs.
• Conduct mental health assessments upon physician referral.
• Facilitate complex discharge planning and therapeutic interventions.
• Serve as the primary point of contact in cases involving child abuse/neglect, elder abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence.
• Act as liaison between IU Health and local protective agencies (APS/DCS).
• Utilize principles of crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques, responding effectively to volatile situations.
• Provide intervention support for guardianship (temporary/permanent), foster care, adoption, and mental health Level II placements.
• Deliver specialized mental health services, including crisis intervention, addiction assessments, and community resource recommendations.
• Support individuals during acute crises, employing de-escalation to prevent violence.
• Conduct interviews with victims, perpetrators, and significant others, applying effective interviewing principles.
• Provide intervention for end-of-life, guardianship, foster care, and adoption cases.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with hospital leadership, law enforcement, community agencies, schools, probation, and other partners.
• Respond as needed to de-escalate violence or dangerous situations, in collaboration with or in place of the Department of Public Safety.

Benefits

• To learn more about our benefits, visit: IU Health Benefits
• At Indiana University Health, your personal and professional growth is a top priority. You will have access to many diverse opportunities to learn and develop in meaningful ways that matter most to you, such as advanced clinical training, leadership development, promotion opportunities and cross training development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level