Discharge Planning Associate

UPMC; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Job summary

UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital seeks a Discharge Planning Associate/Social Worker to join a multidisciplinary team. The role supports assessment, treatment planning and disposition, learning case conceptualization, and coordinating post‑acute services.

The position offers LCSW supervision, opportunities for career growth, and a sign-on bonus up to $6,000. Strong communication and organization are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work or health field required.
• Diploma or Associate's Degree in Nursing with RN license maintenance.
• Excellent communication and planning abilities are essential.

Responsibilities

• Assess clinical, psychosocial, and social needs to guide individualized care plans.
• Lead discharge planning coordination with post‑acute services and community resources.
• Communicate clearly with patients, caregivers, and care teams; collaborate across disciplines.
• Advocate for patient rights, safety, and access to services; ensure ethical practice.
• Balance cost, safety, quality, and patient satisfaction; document care accurately.
• Provide orientation and mentoring to staff.

Skills

Planning & organization

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work or related health field

Diploma or Associate's Degree in Nursing

Job description

Western Psychiatric Hospital Discharge Planning Associates/Social Workers are an important part of a multi-disciplinary treatment team contributing to the assessment, treatment, and disposition planning of all patients. Discharge Planning Associates will support the Discharge Plan Managers and treatment teams. This will give them a chance to learn how to do case conceptualization, understand community resources and develop creative problem‑solving skills. LCSW supervision is provided to help facilitate career growth!

Sign‑on Bonus

This position offers a sign‑on bonus of up to $6,000!

Responsibilities:

Assessment & Care Planning

• Assess clinical, psychosocial, and social needs to guide individualized care plans.
• Evaluate health literacy, understanding, and engagement in goals of care.
• Identify self‑care capacity, support systems, discharge barriers, and post‑acute needs.
• Reassess plans regularly to ensure safe, appropriate transitions.

Discharge Coordination

• Lead interdisciplinary planning to ensure safe, timely discharges.
• Coordinate post‑hospital services and maintain knowledge of community resources.
• Integrate patient goals, team input, and available resources into transition plans.
• Update plans based on clinical recommendations, test results, and care milestones.

Communication & Collaboration

• Communicate clearly with patients, caregivers, and the care team.
• Serve as liaison between hospital teams, post‑acute providers, and physicians.
• Collaborate across disciplines to create individualized care and discharge plans.

Advocacy & Ethical Practice

• Advocate for patient rights, safety, and access to needed services.
• Uphold organizational values, ethical standards, and regulatory compliance.

Quality & Resource Management

• Balance cost, safety, quality, and patient satisfaction in care decisions.
• Use technology to enhance coordination and outcomes.
• Document care accurately in the medical record.

Professional Support

• Provide orientation, guidance, and mentoring to staff.
• Diploma or Associate's Degree in Nursing.

OR

• Bachelor's degree in social work or another health or human services field that promotes the physical, psychosocial, and/or vocational well‑being of those being served required.
• No license required.
• Experience: No experience in discharge planning/care coordination.
• Clinical/patient-facing experience preferred.
• Knowledge and Skills:Excellent communication skills required.
• Must be skilled in planning/organization, follow up/control, problem solving, self‑development orientation, organizational behaviors/competencies.
• Must possess the ability to apply principles of logic and critical thinking to a wide range of problems and to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.
• Comfortable working both independently and as a team member.
• Proficient computer skills.

ATTENTION: A COPY OF YOUR OFFICIAL BACHELOR’S DEGREE LEVEL TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE ATTACHED FOR CONSIDERATION

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

Registered Nurses employed in this position are required to maintain active RN license

• Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC)
• Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran