Hospital Social Worker

Memorial Health; United States; On-site; USD 58,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

Memorial Health is seeking a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) with an MSW to address psychosocial factors affecting health outcomes across care teams. The role emphasizes coordination with clinics and community resources to support patients and families dealing with chronic or serious illness.

The ideal candidate will hold an MSW and IL social work licensure, with LCSW preferred. Strong communication, diplomacy, and problem-solving skills are essential for effective discharge planning and care

Qualifications

• MSW from an accredited School of Social Work
• Experience with adults with chronic or serious illness
• Licensure as an Illinois Social Worker required; LCSW preferred
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills
• Familiarity with community resources and care coordination

Responsibilities

• Conduct biopsychosocial assessments to identify patient needs, home situation, and financial constraints.
• Coordinate information and referrals to link patients/families to community resources and entitlements.
• Collaborate with the clinical care team across sites to plan and coordinate care.
• Provide crisis intervention and supportive counseling to patients and families as needed.
• Assist with discharge planning and care coordination; document in the EMR per policy.
• Support advance care planning and patient advocacy; navigate resources for benefits and programs.
• Maintain adherence to NASW Code of Ethics and quality/utilization metrics.

Skills

MSW

Patient advocacy

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Cultural sensitivity

Education

Master’s in Social Work (MSW)

Tools

EMR

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description Summary:

Join Memorial Health and make a real difference in the lives of patients and their families. As a Hospital Social Worker (LSW) with an MSW degree, you'll play a critical role in addressing complex psychosocial factors that affect health outcomes, contributing to holistic, patient-centered care.

Education:

Master’s degree of Social Work from a School of Social Work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Licensure/Certification/Registry:

Illinois Licensed Social Worker required. Licensed Clinical Social Worker preferred. Where required, will accept a Memorial Health System car for business purposes only as deemed necessary by geography or mileage. Valid IL driver license and must be deemed as an acceptable driver in accordance with the MHS Fleet Safety Policy (five year MVR will be required).

Experience:

Experience working with adults across the life span presenting with chronic or serious illness Experience identifying and coordinating the needs of chronically ill patients and families as well as supporting the care team Understanding of psychosocial implications of illness, hospice and/or home care death and dying issues. Knowledge of local community resources. Knowledge and understanding of individual development and human behavior as it relates to the effects of illness and of the influence of culture on healthcare

Other Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

Flexible problem solver who is eager to tackle complex problems and tasks Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to solve problems creatively Ability to work across multiple sites of care and multiple members of a care team while managing competing commitments through clear communications Ability to work in a changing and ambiguous environment. Self-starter with initiative Experience identifying issues and developing and implementing solutions Must possess strong oral and written communication skills, planning skills, problem-solving skills, and personal diplomacy skills. Demonstrates personal traits of a high level of motivation, team orientation, professionalism and trustworthiness. Excellent PC skills, including the use of Microsoft Office products. Familiarity with EMR clinical products preferred. Current driver’s license and transportation.

Responsibilities:

Embodies the Memorial Health System Performance Excellence Standards of Safety, Quality, Integrity and Stewardship that support our mission, vision and values: SAFETY: Prevent Harm - I will put safety first in everything I do. I will speak up, without fear, on matters of patient and colleague safety. I will take action to create an environment of zero harm. QUALITY: Improve Outcomes - I will continually advance my knowledge and skills. I will seek out continuous improvement opportunities. I will deliver evidence-based care that leads to excellence in outcomes. INTEGRITY: Show respect and Compassion - I will respect others and show compassion. I will behave honesty and ethically. I will be accountable for my attitude, actions and health. STEWARDSHIP: Reduce Waste - I will use resources wisely and maintain financial stability. I will work together to coordinate care and services across the health system. I will promote healthier communities.

Biopsychosocial Assessment

Utilizing specialized knowledge and experience, make assessment of patients’ psychosocial needs, home situation and economic constraints Community Resources Serve as liaison between patients/ families and community agencies. Coordinate information and referrals for financial and community resources to link patients/families to the appropriate resources. Serve as resource to clinical team, patients and families regarding entitlement to programs and support services Develop strong working relationships with internal and external healthcare organizations and community resources. Work with patients to formulate an individualized plan to obtain medication, particularly, in light of Medicare coverage limitations including the facilitation of enrollment in various drug companies’ patient assistance programs when warranted

Care Delivery

Work closely and collaboratively with the clinical care team across sites of care. Assist the team with care delivery by scheduling appointments, assisting with the completion of forms, ensuring that patients can access services, and arranging transportation to and from medical appointments as needed. Participate in clinic office visits, team rounds, or family conferences with when needed based on site of care.

Care Transitions

Coordinate patient care with other disciplines involved in the plan of care and maintain appropriate documentation. Confer with the patient, family, and clinical team to obtain information to coordinate efficient and quality patient care. Build relationships with primary care providers, skilled nursing facilities, and the community to promote continuity of care.

Support

Provide crisis intervention and supportive counseling for patients and their families as needed. Serve as patient advocate, assisting with navigation of patient eligible resources and programs. Provide patients and families with support and information to overcome personal and environmental difficulties which pre-dispose toward illness or interfere with obtaining maximum benefits from medical cared. Assist patients to effectively utilize available resources to meet their personal health needs and help them develop their own capabilities. Evaluate patients’ ability to independently manage self and locate alternative resources when limitations are identified.

Advance Care Planning

Maintains a working knowledge of relevant medical/legal issues that impact patient care, e.g., advance directives, power of attorney, and guardianships.

Counseling

When requested, provide group, individual, and family counseling to patients and their families as requested.

Discharge Planning

Initiate discharge planning and care coordination for patients as appropriate Record documentation for all social work activities in the electronic medical record in a timely and thorough manner. Adhere to department productivity standards. Participate in the monitoring of quality and utilization metrics and participates in improvement efforts to refine the delivery of care to maximize clinical, quality, and fiscal outcomes. Assists, as needed, in the staff training, new employee orientation, student education, community education, in-house activities, and general public relations activities. Refer to ancillary teams when warranted. Aware of and comply with department and hospital policy and procedures. Demonstrates knowledge of care for older adults through accurate assessments, treatment and effective implementation of interventions. Adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics. Participate in continuing education and in-service training to support professional growth and expertise. Enter orders in preparation for authentication/signature by physician. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Pay Transparency

$27.52 - $42.65 Additional compensation in the form(s) of participation in our annual incentive program are dependent on role. Pay is based on factors such as work experience, education, certification(s), training, skills, and competencies related to the role. Memorial Health also offers a comprehensive benefits plan, which includes paid time off, 401(k) match, and health/ dental/ vision insurance options. All benefits can be found at https://jobs.memorial.health/about/benefits/

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application or participate in the hiring process, please contact [e-mail]. Requests will be handled confidentially.