Social Worker I

denverhealth; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Denver Health is seeking a Social Worker I to join the Adult Psychiatrists team in a mission-driven environment. You will plan, organize, and implement social work treatment for ED/hospitalized patients and families, assessing biopsychosocial needs and creating individual care plans.

The role emphasizes crisis intervention, care coordination, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to support discharge planning and access to community resources.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work from CSWE-accredited program.
• 1–3 years of post-master's experience under supervision.
• Knowledge of coordination of care and crisis intervention.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments.
• Provide crisis intervention and supportive counseling.
• Coordinate care across hospital and community resources.
• Facilitate multidisciplinary communications and family meetings.

Skills

Biopsychosocial assessment

Crisis intervention

Care coordination

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

Master's degree in Social Work (CSWE accredited)

Job description

We are recruiting for a mission-driven Social Worker I to join our team! We're with you for life's journey. At Denver Health, purpose isn't just something we believe in-it's something we live every day, for life's journey.

Our Values

Respect | Belonging | Accountability | Transparency

Department

Adult Psychiatrists

With over 700 employees, Behavioral Health Services (BHS) at Denver Health is a large and rapidly expanding department that provides psychiatric care for patients in community, emergency, inpatient, justice, medical, mobile, and outpatient settings.

As a non-profit committed to meeting community needs and promoting health equity, Denver Health offers psychiatrists a practice full of meaning and purpose. All physicians at Denver Health have an academic appointment at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. As such, Denver Health is an excellent place to work for physicians with an interest in clinical education.

Job Summary

Under general supervision, plans, organizes and implements social work treatment for Emergency Department/hospitalized patients and their families. Assesses the biopsychosocial needs of patients and families and creates an individual plan of care, as it relates to the patient's current health concerns and ongoing access to care outside of the hospital. Provides clinical interventions that help meet identified needs by utilizing personal, family and community resources. Provides crisis intervention, supportive counseling, case consultation and care coordination services.

Essential Functions

• Conducts comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments that are thorough, individualized, objective and complete. Provides intervention appropriate to the presenting problem. Utilizes key case management components including assessment/reassessment, care planning, coordination of care, and documentation. Evaluates emotional components, impact of health issues and assists patient to identify strengths, dysfunctional factors and to establish detailed discharge/transition of care plans. Provides care coordination throughout the continuum of care and/or hospitalization from case referral to case closure. (35%)
• Applies knowledge of individual, group and family functioning to ensure appropriateness of treatment methods to assist patient in achieving care plan goals. Demonstrates the ability to develop effective brief interventions that are socio-culturally sensitive. (20%)
• Routinely consults, negotiates, and coordinates with internal and external resources to assure collaborative efforts to maximize patient outcomes. (15%)
• Facilitates multi-disciplinary communications and patient care meetings (i.e. case conferences/family meetings, rounding) and utilizes information to assess and reassess care needs. Demonstrates and educates staff as to the scope of function of the Social Work role in the health care team. Ensures patient involvement in care planning and goal setting with informed consent documented. Demonstrates knowledge and applicability of the principles of growth and development over the life span, as well as demonstrating the ability to assess the patient's status and interpreting appropriate cultural information of the patient(s) to whom care/service is being delivered/provided. Demonstrates knowledge of major concepts principles and theories of normal and abnormal human development, and its application to specific age groups. Utilizes knowledge of patient populations' cultural, religious, ethnic and social systems in interactions, care planning and education. Demonstrates comprehensive effective knowledge of programs, eligibility, and skill in obtaining appropriate resource/services; is able to educate others, to identify gaps and suggest alternatives. (15%)
• Assists clients to maximize adjustment to illness/disability/trauma by addressing biopsychosocial issues and enhancing problem solving and coping skills. Evaluates emotional components, impact of health issues and assists client to identify disruptive factors to establish treatment goals. (15%)

Education

Master's Degree From an CSWE accredited college or university Required

Work Experience

1-3 years Typically, one-year full time post master's degree Social Work practice under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of coordination of care/discharge planning, crisis intervention and supportive counseling.
• Knowledge of medical/behavioral health terms, abbreviations, diagnosis, and demonstrates this knowledge verbally and in writing.
• Skill in problem solving and use of critical thinking skills.
• Skill in providing care appropriate to the age of the patients served within the healthcare setting.
• Skill in establishing a treatment alliance and engaging the patient in goal setting and prioritizing.
• Ability to manage the professional relationship including termination and/or transition of care.
• Ability to respond to crisis situations and provide