Social Services Associate - Inpatient (Days)

Mercy; Fort Smith (AR); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Paid time off

Tuition support

Retirement matching

Job summary

Mercy is seeking a compassionate Social Worker - Inpatient Care Management to partner with patients, families, physicians, nurses, and care teams to coordinate care and address psychosocial needs throughout the continuum of care.

The role emphasizes discharge planning, community resources, and ensuring safe transitions while contributing to quality improvement and patient outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Sociology, Social Science, or related field.
• Minimum of two years of experience in a clinical or healthcare setting.
• Strong assessment, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Effective time management and organizational skills.
• Advanced computer proficiency.
• Knowledge of human behavior and the clinical aspects of medical social work.
• Ability to work collaboratively with patients, families, physicians, and interdisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments of patients and families.
• Identify barriers to care and develop intervention strategies to improve outcomes.
• Coordinate discharge planning, including referrals for home health, durable medical equipment, transportation, medication assistance, and community resources.
• Collaborate with physicians, nursing staff, care managers, and external agencies to support safe and timely patient transitions.
• Assist with crisis intervention, guardianship, power of attorney, and other legal or ethical concerns when appropriate.
• Support initiatives focused on reducing length of stay, improving patient satisfaction, and enhancing care management outcomes.
• Document assessments, interventions, and care plans within the electronic medical record.
• Provide education and guidance to patients, families, and healthcare team members regarding available resources and discharge expectations.
• Participate in quality improvement activities and performance initiatives that support exceptional patient care.

Skills

Assessment skills

Critical thinking

Communication skills

Time management

Organizational skills

Advanced computer proficiency

Collaborative teamwork

Knowledge of human behavior

Education

Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Sociology, Social Science, or related field

Job description

Find your calling at Mercy!

Are you passionate about helping patients navigate complex healthcare needs and ensuring they receive the support and resources necessary for successful outcomes? Mercy is seeking a compassionate and collaborative Social Worker - Inpatient Care Management to join our team.

In this role, you will partner with patients, families, physicians, nurses, and interdisciplinary healthcare teams to coordinate care, address psychosocial needs, facilitate discharge planning, and support positive patient outcomes throughout the continuum of care.

Position Details:

What You'll Do

• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments of patients and families.

• Identify barriers to care and develop intervention strategies to improve outcomes.

• Coordinate discharge planning, including referrals for home health, durable medical equipment, transportation, medication assistance, and community resources.

• Collaborate with physicians, nursing staff, care managers, and external agencies to support safe and timely patient transitions.

• Assist with crisis intervention, guardianship, power of attorney, and other legal or ethical concerns when appropriate.

• Support initiatives focused on reducing length of stay, improving patient satisfaction, and enhancing care management outcomes.

• Document assessments, interventions, and care plans within the electronic medical record.

• Provide education and guidance to patients, families, and healthcare team members regarding available resources and discharge expectations.

• Participate in quality improvement activities and performance initiatives that support exceptional patient care.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Sociology, Social Science, or a related field.

• Minimum of two years of experience in a clinical or healthcare setting.

• Strong assessment, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Effective time management and organizational skills.

• Advanced computer proficiency.

• Knowledge of human behavior and the clinical aspects of medical social work.

• Ability to work collaboratively with patients, families, physicians, and interdisciplinary teams.

Preferred

• Previous experience in hospital-based care management, case management, discharge planning, or medical social work.

• Experience working with community resources and post-acute care services.

Why Mercy?

From day one, Mercy offers outstanding benefits - including medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, tuition support, and matched retirement plans for team members working 32+ hours per pay period.

Join a caring, collaborative team where your voice matters. At Mercy, you'll help shape the future of healthcare through innovation, technology, and compassion. As we grow, you'll grow with us.