Social Worker-MSW LSW

Indiana University Health System•Indianapolis, IN

9h•Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker provides face-to-face engagement with patients and families, facilitating safe and timely care through collaboration with the healthcare team. This role involves comprehensive psychosocial assessments, counseling, discharge planning, and acting as a liaison with protective services and community agencies. The Social Worker also manages complex cases involving abuse, neglect, guardianship, and end-of-life care, utilizing crisis intervention and de-escalation skills to ensure safety and optimal patient outcomes.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited institution.
Permanent licensure as an LSW in the state of Indiana.
Certification in Crisis Prevention Intervention or equivalent de-escalation training within 6 months of hire.
Experience in psychosocial assessment, short-term therapeutic counseling, and crisis intervention for mental health and substance use disorders.
Knowledge of disease processes, human behavior, and social needs related to health.
Skilled in complex discharge planning and coordination of care.
Strong understanding of state and county legal mandates related to child and adult protective services.
Knowledge of growth and development principles across the lifespan, including end-of-life care.
Ability to identify decision makers and effectively lead goals-of-care conversations.
Experience serving diverse populations, geographically, culturally, and financially.
Ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with hospital staff, law enforcement, community agencies, and social services.
Proficiency in electronic medical records and documentation practices.
Ability to utilize principles of crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques.

Nice To Haves

Flexibility to work on-call, holiday, or weekend rotations as required.

Responsibilities

Meet with patients and families face-to-face to assess psychosocial needs and support systems.
Communicate and collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to facilitate safe, efficient, and resource-informed care delivery.
Interpret and communicate complex patient and family needs, modeling caring and professional practices.
Conduct psychosocial risk assessments, including evaluation of prior functioning, support systems, reactions to illness, and coping strategies.
Counsel patients and families on emotional, social, and financial impacts of illness/disability.
Access and mobilize community, family, and social resources to meet identified needs.
Provide mental health assessments upon physician referral and deliver targeted therapeutic interventions.
Support complex discharge planning to ensure safe transitions to the next level of care.
Serve as the point person for cases involving child abuse/neglect, adult/elderly abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence.
Act as liaison between IU Health, protective teams, law enforcement, schools, and community agencies.
Assist with guardianship arrangements, foster care, adoption, and mental health placements.
Deliver crisis intervention and substance abuse assessments, providing recommendations for psychiatric referral or community resources.
Respond to dangerous or potentially dangerous situations, leading clinical de-escalation efforts.
Conduct effective interviews with victims, perpetrators, families, and significant others.
Provide intervention and support for end-of-life, guardianship, foster care, and adoption cases.
Maintain proficiency in electronic medical documentation and reporting.
Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with hospital administration, medical teams, law enforcement, APS/DCS, schools, probation, and community organizations.
Respond to or coordinate responses with the Department of Public Safety to de-escalate violence and ensure safety.