Social Worker-MSW LSW

Job Title: Social Worker – MSW / LSW (Full-Time)
Location: West Hospital, Indianapolis, IN
Schedule: Full-Time, with on-call and holiday rotation possible

Position Overview:

The Social Worker provides face-to-face assessments, counseling, and resource coordination for patients and families. This role involves collaborating with all members of the healthcare team to ensure patients receive timely, safe, and effective services, while also providing necessary resources and education to patients and families. The Social Worker serves as a key contact and resource in cases involving child abuse/neglect, elder/elderly abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence. Additionally, this position supports complex discharge planning, crisis intervention, and specialized mental health services.

Key Responsibilities:

• Meet face-to-face with patients and families to assess psychosocial needs and provide counseling.

• Collaborate with the healthcare team to facilitate comprehensive, safe, and timely care.

• Interpret and communicate complex patient and family needs; role model caring practices to other caregivers.

• Assess psychosocial risk factors, including prior functioning, support systems, reactions to illness, and coping skills.

• Counsel patients and families regarding emotional, social, and financial impacts of illness or disability.

• Access and mobilize family and community resources to meet patient needs.

• Conduct mental health assessments upon physician referral.

• Facilitate complex discharge planning through therapeutic interventions.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for cases involving child abuse/neglect, elder abuse, institutional abuse, and domestic violence.

• Act as liaison between Indiana University Health and local protective teams (APS/DCS).

• Maintain principles and techniques of crisis intervention and de-escalation.

• Provide intervention in guardianship, foster care, adoption, and mental health Level II placements.

• Offer specialized mental health services, including crisis intervention, addiction assessments, and psychiatric referrals.

• Support individuals in dangerous or potentially dangerous situations with clinical leadership.

• Utilize de-escalation techniques to support those in acute crisis and prevent violence.

• Conduct interviews with victims, perpetrators, families, and significant others.

• Provide intervention for end-of-life, guardianship, foster care, and adoption cases.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Education: Master’s Degree in Social Work from an accredited institution.

• Licensure: Permanent Indiana LSW license required.

• Certifications:

  • Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) or an alternative de-escalation training required within 6 months of hire.

• Experience: Relevant healthcare, mental health, or community-based experience preferred.

• Knowledge & Skills:

  • Evidence-based psychosocial assessment, short-term therapeutic counseling, and crisis intervention for mental health and substance use disorders.

  • Knowledge of disease processes and human behavior related to health-related social needs.

  • Complex discharge planning skills for safe patient transitions.

  • Knowledge of state and county protective legal mandates.

  • Principles of growth and development across the lifespan, including end-of-life care.

  • Ability to identify decision-makers and facilitate goals-of-care conversations.

  • Experience working with diverse populations across geographic, cultural, and financial backgrounds.

  • Proficiency in electronic medical records and documentation.

Core Competencies:

• Strong communication and active listening skills.

• Crisis management and de-escalation techniques.

• Ability to work independently and within a multidisciplinary team.

• Commitment to