Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Medical Specialties & Primary Care

University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 57,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin seeks a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) to support patients within Medical Specialties & Primary Care. You will work in an interdisciplinary team to provide case management, psychotherapy, and psychosocial education.

Hybrid work is available after onsite training; strong clinical judgment and collaboration with care teams are essential to improve biopsychosocial outcomes for patients with chronic illness or behavioral health needs.

Qualifications

• MSW from CSWE-accredited program.
• Current LMSW licensure in the State of Texas.
• Minimum 2 years of post-degree clinical experience preferred.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification preferred.
• LCSW eligibility or in progress toward licensure.

Responsibilities

• Direct Clinical Care and Intervention: conduct case consultations, case management, psychotherapy, and psychosocial education for patients and caregivers.
• Urgent Needs and Crisis Response: initiate timely contact for urgent needs including mental health crises and PROMs.
• Care Planning and Interdisciplinary Collaboration: update care plans and collaborate with medical teams on psychosocial factors affecting care.
• Clinical Documentation: maintain timely, accurate documentation per standards.
• Care Coordination and Community Resource Navigation: educate patients and coordinate with families and community resources.
• Research and Program Improvement: participate in quality improvement and outcomes tracking.
• Team Engagement and Continuing Education: attend meetings and pursue ongoing training.

Skills

Clinical assessment

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Crisis intervention

Communication with patients

Education

MSW (CSWE-accredited)

LMSW license in TX

Job description

Job Posting Title:

Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Medical Specialties & Primary Care

Hiring Department:

Dell Medical School

Position Open To:

All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

FLSA Status:

Exempt from FLSA

Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

Location:

AUSTIN, TX

Job Details:

GENERAL NOTES

The Division of Health Social Work serves as a centralized hub for social workers and other integrated health providers, fostering an environment that empowers professionals to improve the health and enhance the well‑being of patients and families in partnership with patients, families, and communities. Through cutting‑edge models and comprehensive services, the division creates tangible value within the healthcare ecosystem while championing whole‑person care and interprofessional collaboration. Functioning as a formalized collaborative structure, the Division of Health Social Work unites interprofessional missions, cultivating synergies that drive impactful, patient‑centric care.

A hybrid work schedule (working onsite and remotely) is available for this position after onsite training and successful performance review have been completed.

PURPOSE

The Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) supports patients in improving their overall functioning and well‑being through case consultation, case management, evidence‑based brief interventions, and psychotherapy. Working as part of an interdisciplinary team, the LMSW uses a patient‑centered approach to address the biopsychosocial needs of individuals facing medical and behavioral health conditions such as chronic illness, chronic pain, adjustment disorders, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The role requires strong clinical judgment, clear communication, and the ability to create individualized care plans that foster resilience and continuity of care.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Direct Clinical Care and Intervention Conduct case consultations, case management, psychotherapy, and psychosocial education for patients, caregivers, and their support networks. Introduce social work services and assess psychosocial and support system needs.
• Urgent Needs and Crisis Response Initiate timely contact in response to urgent needs, including critical patient‑reported outcome measures (PROMs) and mental health crises. Provide appropriate assessment, intervention, and follow‑up based on identified needs.
• Care Planning and Interdisciplinary Collaboration Recommend care plan updates to enhance patient function, quality of life, and health‑related outcomes. Collaborate with medical teams to address psychosocial factors affecting care, including substance use (e.g., tobacco cessation), pre‑ and post‑surgical planning, and transportation barriers to support positive surgical outcomes.
• Clinical Documentation Maintain timely, accurate, and comprehensive documentation in accordance with organizational standards.
• Care Coordination and Community Resource Navigation Provide psychosocial education to patients’ care partners and support networks. Coordinate care with families, healthcare teams, and community agencies. Build and sustain relationships with community organizations to facilitate referrals and ensure access to vital services such as transportation, emergency housing, caregiver support, financial assistance, and complex case management.
• Research and Program Improvement Participate in research and quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing patient care operations. Support screening, tracking, and reporting of patient outcomes and social work interventions. Offer discipline‑specific expertise to interdisciplinary teams, particularly regarding mental health, historically underserved populations, social determinants of health, and innovative approaches to managing chronic illness.
• Team Engagement and Continuing Education Attend division and integrated practice unit (IPU) meetings, as well as ongoing training and continuing education opportunities to support collaborative practice and adherence to best practices. Assist with preparation for interdisciplinary care team meetings as needed.
• Coverage Support Provide occasional coverage for urgent social work needs when other team members are unavailable, ensuring continuity of care.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE‑accredited program.
• Current licensure as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in the State of Texas.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 2 years of post‑degree clinical experience in a healthcare setting.
• Proficiency in evidence‑based brief interventions, motivational interviewing, and a strong knowledge of community resources.
• LCSW eligibility or in progress toward licensure.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

SALARY RANGE

$63,000+ depending on qualifications

WORKING ENVIRONMENT/EQUIPMENT

• Standard office equipment and clinic environment.
• Repetitive use of a keyboard and computer systems.
• May be exposed to such occupational hazards as communicable diseases, bloodborne pathogens, ionizing and non‑ionizing radiation, hazardous medications, and disoriented or combative patients, or others.

Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University‑Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.