Social Worker (LSW) - Pulmonary Stepdown, Full Time, Days

Northwestern Memorial Healthcare • Chicago, IL

8d

About The Position

The Social Worker LSW reflects Northwestern Medicine’s mission, vision, and values, adheres to its Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with applicable policies, procedures, regulatory requirements, and accreditation standards. The role provides psychosocial assessment and intervention, crisis support, advocacy, patient and family education, and discharge planning in collaboration with patients, families, physicians, payers, and the multidisciplinary healthcare team.

The Social Worker assesses patients’ social, emotional, cultural, mental, environmental, and financial circumstances; develops intervention plans based on patient needs and preferences; and connects patients and families with community resources. The role coordinates timely transitions to appropriate post-hospital settings and services, identifies and addresses barriers to discharge, supports utilization management, and participates in clinical performance improvement activities.

New graduates participate in weekly clinical supervision with an LCSW until completing at least 3,000 supervised hours. Social Workers are responsible for professional development and meeting continuing education requirements, and must comply with patient confidentiality and HIPAA requirements.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Social Work from a school of Social Work accredited by CSWE.
• Illinois licensure as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW).
• Strong interpersonal skills to affect positive outcomes.
• Organizational skills to prioritize and manage an appropriate patient caseload while performing Social Worker functions.
• Self-direction in daily work.
• Analytical skills to independently collect, analyze, and interpret data; resolve problems requiring innovative solutions; and negotiate in sensitive situations.

Responsibilities

• Meet with patients and families to conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments and develop mutually agreed-upon intervention plans.
• Provide psychosocial interventions addressing illness, disability, treatment decisions, adjustment to hospitalization, coping with post-hospital care, insurance and payment concerns, psychiatric symptoms, chemical dependency, family relationships, and conflict resolution.
• Assess outpatient living environments and support systems to help prevent crises or hospitalization.
• Provide crisis intervention and protective services for vulnerable people, including older adults, people with impaired mental status, and suspected victims of abuse, neglect, assault, or domestic violence.
• Address guardianship and protective-service needs for patients with significant mental-status impairment, unsafe living environments, or homelessness.
• Coordinate discharge planning, placement, resource utilization, and skilled home health care; identify post-hospital needs early and facilitate timely discharge to an appropriate setting.
• Conduct initial screening of new patients for medical necessity, funding source, and potential social work or discharge-planning needs.
• Serve as a point person for discharge planning, maintaining communication and collaborative decision-making among patients, families, physicians, payers, and the healthcare team.
• Participate in multidisciplinary rounds, case conferences, and other collaborative forums; coordinate action plans to resolve discharge barriers and delays.
• Meet with patients and families to assess needs and preferences and develop home health care plans in collaboration with physicians; maintain consensus among relevant parties.
• Consult with or refer to appropriate disciplines and departments to expedite discharge planning.
• Connect patients and families with community resources and advocate for access to needed information, resources, and services.
• Facilitate review of high-risk cases by the Office of General Counsel and Risk Management, inform healthcare team members of needed interventions, and coordinate interventions.
• Educate patients and families to promote wellness and increase understanding of the healthcare system.
• Apply utilization-management knowledge, including level-of-care assignment, payer communication, and benefit authorization as applicable.
• Participate in clinical performance improvement activities and assist with collection and reporting of financial indicators, including length of stay, avoidable days, resource utilization, and discharge barriers.
• Use financial, clinical, quality, and patient-satisfaction data to guide decisions and performance-improvement strategies for assigned patients or units.
• Complete weekly clinical supervision with an LCSW if a new graduate, until at least 3,000 supervised hours are fulfilled.
• Maintain professional development and Social Work continuing education requirements through workshops, conferences, and in-services.
• Comply with hospital confidentiality policies, HIPAA requirements, and Personal Rules of Conduct.

Benefits

• Tuition reimbursement
• Loan forgiveness
• 401(k) matching
• Lifecycle benefits
• A wide range of benefits supporting physical, emotional, and financial well-being and protection from unexpected life events

What This Job Offers

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