Social Worker II - Emergency Department

University of Mississippi Medical Center; Jackson (MS); On-site; USD 30,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS seeks a Social Worker II in the Emergency Department to provide psychosocial support, crisis intervention, and coordinated care for patients and families. The role includes supervising students and contributing to performance improvement initiatives.

Education requires a MSW and MS licensure; the position emphasizes advocacy, biopsychosocial assessments, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe, comprehensive care.

Qualifications

• MSW degree and MS Social Worker licensure in Mississippi.
• Licensed Master Social Worker by the MS State Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists.
• Clinical work with diverse populations and groups; biopsychosocial assessments.

Responsibilities

• Completes psychosocial assessments and crisis intervention for ED patients and families.
• Coordinate referrals, resources, and post-discharge planning.
• Supervise social work students and contribute to performance improvement initiatives.
• Advocate for patients and participate in education and coordination with multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Clinical work

Biopsychosocial assessments

Advocacy

Crisis intervention

Education

MSW degree

MS licensure

Job description

Job Requisition ID: R00054700

Job Category: Allied Health

Organization: Children's Social Work

Location/s: Main Campus Jackson

Job Title: Social Worker II - Emergency Department

Job Summary:

To provide patients and family members with psychosocial support and counseling needed to cope with issues which arise from various emotional or physical problems. To coordinate a variety of services including group therapy, crisis intervention, bereavement, client advocacy, referrals, prevention, education and implementation, and psychosocial assessments. To supervise undergraduate and graduate students and collaborate in the development and implementation of performance improvement initiatives.

Education & Experience

Education and Experience Required: Master's Degree or higher in Social Work (MSW) and Licensed Social Worker in the State of Mississippi.

Certifications, Licenses, or Registration required: Licensed Master Social Worker from the MS State Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Clinical work with diverse populations and groups; formulating biopsychosocial assessments; Understands the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination with the ability to apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice; Be able to use theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence to understand individuals' development and behaviors across the lifespan and the interactions among individuals, and between individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities; critical thinking and communication skills to evaluate and form professional judgments in practice; serves as Social Work Expert surrounding medical and behavioral health social work needs;

Assessments:

Completes assessments and provides crisis intervention for patients and family members presenting to the Emergency Room. Conducts, gathers, and documents detailed psychosocial and/or biopsychosocial assessments to identify social, environmental, and medical needs of patients and families at all stages of development, and develops intervention and treatment strategies. Meets the needs of transplant applicants and donors by preparing reports and recommendations for the multidisciplinary treatment team. Completes Pre-admission Screenings (PAS) for skilled nursing facilities and assesses patients to determine the need for Level II Preadmission Screen/Resident Review.

Treatment and Goal Planning:

Implements interventions and treatment plans that promote patient and family well-being and ensure continuity of care. Provides or supervises plan-of-care interventions, including resource and referral assistance, prevention, education, patient advocacy, bereavement support, therapy, and other services as appropriate.

Discharge Planning:

Arranges referrals to appropriate community services and resources while coordinating post-discharge care. Identifies high-risk populations and promotes coordination to prevent readmission. Ensures patients have a safe discharge plan and facilitates transitions to alternative levels of care when necessary, including referrals for mental health and substance use treatment for children, adolescents, and adults.

Psychosocial Intervention:

Identifies high-risk social situations and coordinates interventions and referrals for individuals with disabilities, substance use/abuse, suspected or confirmed cases of child or vulnerable adult abuse, neglect, exploitation, or domestic violence. Complies with mandatory reporting requirements and collaborates with local, state, and federal agencies, school districts, and other community entities as required.

Crisis Intervention:

Assists patients and families in crisis situations to restore biopsychosocial equilibrium and minimize psychological trauma. Provides brief counseling and support for issues related to crisis, death, and dying.

Financial Resource Management:

Acts as a liaison to connect uninsured or underinsured clients with appropriate health benefits programs and assists with completion of program applications as needed.

Advocacy and Education:

Educates patients, families, the community, and multidisciplinary team members about disease prevention, illness impact, health maintenance, benefits advocacy, and treatment adherence. Identifies quality or risk management issues and ensures appropriate notification or referral. Serves as a cultural liaison to gather vital information on a patient's background, culture, norms, and beliefs to ensure optimal care.

Performance Improvement & Continuing Education:

Participates in ongoing evaluation of social work and coordinated care practices to assess service quality, improve practice, and ensure professional competence. Maintains continuing education and professional development in accordance with the National Association of Social Workers at the state and national levels.

Clarification of Legal and Ethical Issues:

Provides counseling and education on advance directives as needed. Assists in establishing kinship, legal next of kin, guardianship, and conservatorship. Identifies ethical dilemmas and applies ethical principles to resolve conflicts.

Field Instruction and Supervision:

Serves as a field instructor for baccalaureate and/or master’s-level social work students and provides supervision to LMSWs pursuing LCSW licensure.

The duties listed are general in nature and are examples of the duties and responsibilities performed and are not meant to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Management retains the right to add or change duties at any time

Physical and Environmental Demands:

Requires occasional exposure to unpleasant or disagreeable physical environment such as high noise level and exposure to heat and cold, occasional handling or working with potentially dangerous equipment, occasional exposure to biohazardous conditions such as risk of radiation exposure, blood borne pathogens, fumes or airborne particles, and/or toxic or caustic chemicals which mandate attention to safety considerations, occasional working hours significantly beyond regularly scheduled hours, occasional travelling to offsite locations, occasional activities subject to significant volume changes of a seasonal/clinical nature, occasional work produced subject to precise measures of quantity and quality, frequent bending, occasional lifting and carrying up to 75 pounds, frequent climbing, frequent crouching/stooping, occasional driving, occasional kneeling, frequent pushing/pulling, frequent reaching, frequent sitting, frequent standing, frequent twisting, and frequent walking. (occasional-up to 20%, frequent-from 21% to 50%, constant-51% or more)

Time Type:

Full time FLSA Designation/Job Exempt: No Pay Class: Hourly FTE %: 100 Work Shift: Evening

Benefits Eligibility:

Grant Funded: No Job Posting Date: 10/30/2026

Job Closing Date (open until filled if no date specified):

The University of Mississippi Medical Center is committed to educating the next generation of health professionals, discovering new cures and treatments and providing the highest quality health care. We foster environments that support respect, compassion and belonging for all faculty, staff and students as well as patients and visitors. Our employment, academic, research and clinical care practices reflect these commitments. UMMC is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), disability, age, sex (as that term is defined in applicable laws such as 45 CFR § 92.101(a)(2) and binding court decisions), religion, genetic information, veteran’s status and any other status protected by applicable law. UMMC also prohibits retaliation against those who report discrimination or harassment and against those who participate in the Medical Center’s investigation and handling of such reports. Further, UMMC complies with all applicable statutes, regulations and executive orders regarding sex discrimination, sexual harassment, domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, including but not limited to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and its implementing regulations which prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity UMMC operates including in admission and employment, the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistic Act (“Clery Act”) and the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (“SaVE Act”). UMMC’s commitment to nondiscrimination applies to all of its programs, services, opportunities and activities, including but not limited to all employment, academic, research and clinical care practices and extends to all students, applicants for admission, employees, applicants for employment, affiliates, subcontractors, on-site contractual staff, third party or community members, visitors to any of our campuses and others participating in UMMC programs or receiving UMMC services. With respect to employment in particular, this commitment applies to all employment decisions including but not limited to recruitment, employment, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions and termination. UMMC maintains an affirmative action program in accordance with applicable laws. Consistent with these laws, UMMC takes affirmative action to recruit, employ, advance and prevent discrimination against qualified individuals.

2026 Benefits at a Glance - University of Mississippi Medical Center