Social Worker-MSW LSW

IU Health•Indianapolis, IN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Social Worker provides face-to-face support and intervention with patients and families, collaborating closely with the healthcare team to facilitate safe, timely, and resource-informed care. The role involves assessing psychosocial needs, providing counseling, crisis intervention, discharge planning, and acting as a liaison with child and adult protective services, law enforcement, and community agencies. The Social Worker models caring practices, interprets complex needs, and ensures patients and families receive comprehensive support throughout their healthcare journey.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) is required.
Permanent licensure as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) is required.
Certification in Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) or equivalent de-escalation training within 6 months of hire.
Knowledge of evidence-based psychosocial assessments, short-term therapy, and crisis intervention techniques.
Familiarity with disease processes, human development, and health-related social needs.
Strong discharge planning skills and legal knowledge related to child and adult protective mandates.
Experience working with diverse populations across geographical, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with community agencies, law enforcement, legal entities, and healthcare providers.
Proficiency in computer use and documentation within an EMR system.
Ability to maintain principles of crisis intervention and de-escalation.
May require working on-call and holiday shifts as scheduled.

Responsibilities

Meet face-to-face with patients and families, providing psychosocial assessment, counseling, and resource coordination.
Communicate and collaborate with healthcare team members to coordinate care and discharge planning.
Assess patients’ and families’ psychosocial risk factors, prior functioning, support systems, and coping mechanisms.
Counsel on emotional, social, and financial impacts of illness or disability.
Access, mobilize, and coordinate family, community, and social resources to meet identified needs.
Conduct mental health assessments upon physician referral and provide therapeutic interventions.
Serve as the point person for child abuse/neglect, adult/elderly abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence cases.
Act as liaison between IU Health and state/county protective teams.
Provide intervention in guardianship, foster care, adoption, and mental health placement cases.
Deliver specialized mental health services, including crisis intervention and addiction assessments, with recommendations for psychiatric or community resources.
Manage dangerous or potentially dangerous situations with clinical intervention and de-escalation techniques.
Support individuals in crisis, utilizing effective de-escalation strategies to prevent violence.
Develop decision-maker identification, care goals, and conduct care conversations to optimize patient throughput and care quality.
Maintain knowledge of evidence-based psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, and mental health/substance abuse disorders.
Understand disease processes, human behavior, legal mandates, and principles of growth/development across the lifespan.
Adapt services to diverse geographic, cultural, and financial populations.
Develop strong working relationships with hospital leadership, medical teams, law enforcement, protective services, schools, probation, and community agencies.
Respond to violent or crisis situations, including those requiring Department of Public Safety intervention.
Document all activities accurately in the electronic medical record (EMR).
May be scheduled for on-call and holiday rotations.