MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER III

Cook County Health; Illinois; On-site; USD 47,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Pension plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Cook County Health is seeking an inpatient Medical Social Worker Ill to support patients and the plan of care on a hospital unit. You will work with a nurse case manager, unit staff, and physicians to align patient needs with goals and connect families to community resources.

You will assess psychosocial needs, assist with advance directives and POA, and help coordinate safe, timely discharges while navigating insurance requirements and payer rules.

Qualifications

• Must be licensed in the State of Illinois as an LSW or LCSW, or obtain licensure before starting.
• One year of hospital social work experience is required.
• One year of experience with culturally diverse populations is required.
• Preferred: LCSW licensure.
• EMR experience is preferred.
• Experience with managed care insurance plans is preferred.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word and Outlook.
• Broad knowledge of community resources.
• Ability to organize work independently and collaborate with others.
• Ability to assist patients with insurance requirements and resolve conflicts.

Responsibilities

• Screen and evaluate patients on the mandatory list or with Length of Stay over 7 days.
• Help patients and caregivers understand treatment options and consent.
• Assist with discharge planning and identify barriers to discharge.
• Educate about Power of Attorney, advance directives, guardianship, and community programs.
• Refer to mental health or substance abuse services as needed.
• Contribute to multi-disciplinary rounds with psychosocial history and discharge planning notes.

Skills

Social work

Team collaboration

Patient advocacy

Discharge planning

Communication

Conflict resolution

Care coordination

Education

Illinois LSW/LCSW license

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Outlook

EMR systems

Job description

PLEASE BE ADVISED that this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between Cook County and the SEIU Union. Pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement, Cook County will exhaust internal eligible applicants prior to considering external applicants. Cook County is assembling a list of qualified candidates for this position that will be considered should the position not be filled with internal eligible applicants.

LOCATION:

John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital

DEPARMENT:

Care Coordination (In-Patient)

SHIFT: 8:00am-4:00pm

PAY RANGE:

$34.395- $41.539 HOURLY

Salary is commensurate with years of experience indicated at time of application submittal. Experience not disclosed or documented at the time of application will not be considered for initial step placement.

Summary

JOB SUMMARY UNION (SEIU 73)

The Medical Social Worker Ill (Inpatient) has a scope of responsibility that includes support of the patient and the plan of care. Working collaboratively with a nurse case manager, unit nursing staff, and physicians; the social worker utilizes their skills to align patient needs and patient preferences, assisting families faced with catastrophic illness or injury, identifying goals of care, and assist with unmet needs through linkages to community resources.

TYPICAL DUTIES

• Screens and evaluates patients whose conditions are on mandatory list, patients with Length of Stay (LOS) greater than 7 days and those referred by physicians and/or unit staff.
• Helps patients and their caregivers understand treatment options and consequences as well as refusal or non-compliance with treatment.
• Helps patients process impact of illness or injury (short term).
• Assists/educates patients/caregivers regarding Power of Attorney (POA), advance directives, guardianship, community based supportive programs.
• Assesses need and makes recommendation regarding mental health or substance abuse treatment. Facilitates referral based upon payer requirements.
• Positively contributes to multi-disciplinary rounds by providing a concise psychosocial history, assessment results and identified discharge barriers
• Meets with partnered Nurse Case Manager (CM) on a daily basis for 15 minutes to review upcoming discharges and previous day admissions. Develops a plan of care.
• Anticipates discharge needs (based on input from care team and nurse CM) and begins necessary paperwork e.g., Determination of Need (DON) screening, equipment etc. so that patients is ready to go when declared medically fit.
• Advises patient of community-based resources.
• Explains linkages to publicly funded insurance products.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be licensed in the State of Illinois as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW), or Licensed Clinical Social Worker, (LCSW), or must obtain licensure in the State of Illinois prior to starting employment is required
• One (1) year of hospital social work experience is required
• One (1) year of work experience with culturally diverse populations is required

Preferred Qualifications

• Licensed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) is preferred
• Experience working with electronic medical record (EMR) is preferred
• Experience working with managed care insurance plans is preferred

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, And Other Characteristics

• Knowledge of Microsoft Word and Outlook
• Broad knowledge of community resources
• Independently organizes/prioritizes work to accommodate areas of need and time sensitivity
• Provides evidence of collaboration with other disciplines to support optimal patient outcomes
• Assist patient in setting achievable goals
• Ability to assist patients with understanding requirements for insurance
• Ability to resolve conflict

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS

This position is functioning within a healthcare environment. The incumbent is responsible for adherence to all hospital and department specific safety requirements. This includes but is not limited to the following policies and procedures: complying with Personal Protective Equipment requirements, hand washing and sanitizing practices, complying with department specific engineering and work practice controls, and any other work area safety precautions as specified by hospital wide policy and departmental procedures.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the personnel so classified.

For purposes of the American with Disabilities Act, “Typical Duties” are essential job functions.

VETERAN PREFERENCE

PLEASE READ

When applying for employment with the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, preference is given to honorably discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for not less than 6 months of continuous service.

To Take Advantage Of This Preference a Veteran Must

• Meet the minimum qualifications for the position.
• Identify self as a Veteran on the employment application by answering yes to the question by answering yes to the question, “Are you a Military Veteran?”
• Attach a copy of their DD 214, DD 215 or NGB 22 (Notice of Separation at time of application filing. Please note: If you have multiple DD214s, 215s, or NGB 22S, Please submit the one with the latest date. Coast Guard must submit a certified copy of the military separation from either the Department of Transportation (Before 9/11) or the Department of Homeland Security (After 9/11). Discharge papers must list and Honorable Discharge Status. Discharge papers not listing an Honorable Discharge Status are not acceptable

OR

• A copy of a valid State ID Card or Driver’s License which identifies the holder of the ID as a Veteran, may also be attached to the application at time of filing.

If items are not attached, you will not be eligible for Veteran Preference

VETERANS MUST PROVIDE ORIGINAL APPLICABLE DISCHARGE PAPERS OR APPLICABLE STATE ID CARD OR DRIVER’S LICENSE AT TIME OF INTERVIEW.

Benefits Package

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Basic Term Life Insurance
• Pension Plan
• Deferred Compensation Program
• Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time
• You may also qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

For further information on our excellent benefits package, please click on the following link: http://www.cookcountyrisk.com/

MUST MEET ALL REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AT TIME OF APPLICATION FILING.

• Degrees awarded outside of the United States with the exception of those awarded in one of the United States’ territories and Canada, must be credentialed by an approved U. S. credential evaluation service belonging to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Original credentialing documents must be presented at time of interview.
• Please note all offers of employment are contingent upon the following conditions: satisfactory professional & employment references, healthcare and criminal background checks, appropriate licensure/certifications, and the successful completion of a physical and pre-employment drug screen.
• CCHHS is strictly prohibited from conditioning, basing, or knowingly prejudicing or affecting any term or aspect of County employment or hiring upon or because of any political reason or factor.

COOK COUNTY HEALTH & HOSPITALS SYSTEM IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

Job Posting

Sep 22, 2026, 1:42:24 PM

Collective Bargaining Unit

SEIU Local 73

Organization

Health and Hospital Systems