Social Worker-MSW LSW-Nights

Job Title: Social Worker – MSW / LSW (Night Shift)
Location: Riley Hospital, Indianapolis, IN
Schedule: Night Shift (Hours to be specified, e.g., 7:00 PM – 7:30 AM)
Status: Full-Time
Additional: May include on-call and holiday rotations

Position Overview:

The Night Shift Social Worker MSW / LSW provides direct, face-to-face psychosocial assessment, counseling, and intervention for patients and families during overnight hours. This role involves collaborating with the healthcare team to facilitate safe, timely, and resource-rich care, while addressing complex psychosocial, legal, and safety needs. The social worker serves as a key resource for abuse/neglect cases, guardianship, foster care, and mental health placements, utilizing crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques to support patients in acute situations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Meet face-to-face with patients and families, conducting psychosocial assessments and providing counseling.

• Collaborate with all members of the healthcare team to coordinate care, ensuring patients and families receive necessary education and resources.

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

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

• Counsel patients and families regarding emotional, social, and financial consequences of health conditions or disability.

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

• Conduct mental health assessments upon physician referral.

• Facilitate complex discharge planning and therapeutic interventions.

• Serve as a primary contact and resource in cases of child abuse/neglect, elder abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence.

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

• Maintain principles of crisis intervention and de-escalation to support safety during critical situations.

• Provide clinical intervention support for guardianship (temporary and permanent), foster care, adoption, and mental health Level II placements.

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

• Assist with dangerous or potentially violent situations, utilizing de-escalation techniques to prevent harm.

• Conduct effective interviews with victims, perpetrators, and family members.

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

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with hospital leadership, law enforcement, community agencies, schools, probation, and other partners.

Qualifications & Requirements:

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

• Licensure: Permanent Indiana LSW license required.

• Experience: Prior experience in healthcare, mental health, or community settings preferred.

• Certifications:

  • Certification in Crisis Prevention Intervention or an equivalent de-escalation training required within 6 months of hire.

• Knowledge & Skills:

  • Evidence-based psychosocial assessment, short-term therapeutic counseling, and crisis intervention.

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

  • Complex discharge planning skills.

  • Knowledge of legal mandates for child and adult protective services at the state and county levels.

  • 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 adapting services to diverse populations across geographic, cultural, and financial backgrounds.