Behavioral Health Social Worker

Atrium Health Enterprise; Winston-Salem (NC); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist invites you to join its Behavioral Health team in delivering psychiatric and crisis services across Emergency Department, medical floors, and ambulatory settings. You will perform psychosocial assessments, coordinate care, and support patients across the lifespan facing psychiatric or crisis-related needs.

The role emphasizes teamwork within a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment, with travel to other Atrium sites as needed to support Behavioral Health

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work
• 1–3 years of clinical mental health experience
• Prior mental health and emergency room experience required
• Dual-diagnosis experience and family therapy training preferred
• Strong assessment, critical-thinking, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment

Responsibilities

• Complete comprehensive psychosocial assessments, including mental status, psychiatric and substance use history, suicide risk, family dynamics, and support systems.
• Evaluate behavioral health treatment needs using DSM-5 criteria and knowledge of the Illinois Mental Health Code.
• Develop and update individualized treatment and discharge plans.
• Provide individual, family, and group interventions, education, and support.
• Coordinate discharge and aftercare services with internal teams and community resources.
• Advocate for patients and families throughout treatment, including court proceedings when needed.
• Collaborate with physicians and multidisciplinary teams to support effective, coordinated care.
• Maintain timely and accurate clinical documentation.
• Participate in program development, quality initiatives, staff education, and continuing professional development.
• Travel to other Advocate locations as needed.

Skills

Clinical experience 1-3 yrs

Emergency room experience

Dual-diagnosis experience

Family therapy training

Assessment skills

Critical thinking

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Independent & collaborative work

Education

Master’s degree in Social Work

Job description

Join our Behavioral Health team and play a vital role in delivering high‑quality psychiatric and crisis services across our Emergency Department, medical floors and extends into ambulatory settings. This position provides comprehensive assessments, care coordination, and support for patients across the lifespan who are experiencing psychiatric, substance use, domestic violence, or abuse-related crises. You will work within a fast‑paced, multidisciplinary environment and may travel to other Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist sites to support Behavioral Health needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Complete comprehensive psychosocial assessments, including mental status, psychiatric and substance use history, suicide risk, family dynamics, and support systems.
• Evaluate behavioral health treatment needs using DSM-5 criteria and knowledge of the Illinois Mental Health Code.
• Develop and update individualized treatment and discharge plans.
• Provide individual, family, and group interventions, education, and support.
• Coordinate discharge and aftercare services with internal teams and community resources.
• Advocate for patients and families throughout treatment, including court proceedings when needed.
• Collaborate with physicians and multidisciplinary teams to support effective, coordinated care.
• Maintain timely and accurate clinical documentation.
• Participate in program development, quality initiatives, staff education, and continuing professional development.
• Travel to other Advocate locations as needed.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work.
• 1–3 years of clinical mental health experience.
• Prior mental health and emergency room experience required.
• Current Illinois Social Worker (LSW) license required; LCSW must be obtained within one year of employment.
• Dual-diagnosis experience and family therapy training preferred.
• Strong assessment, critical-thinking, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment.

What You’ll Bring

A strong understanding of mental illness, developmental needs, behavioral health treatment, and discharge planning, along with compassionate therapeutic communication and a commitment to patient- and family-centered care.