Lead Social Worker MSW

About the Role

Join our team as a day shift, full-time Lead Social Worker MSW in Tyler, TX. UT Health Tyler is the flagship hospital of the system, serving hundreds of thousands annually. Specializing in advanced acute care medicine, our midtown location features a Level 1 trauma center, comprehensive stroke center, the region’s only EMCO program, and a Level III NICU. Our medical staff includes over 500 physicians and a full complement of subspecialty groups.

Why Join Us

Thrive in a people-first environment where we empower our team with career growth opportunities, tuition assistance, and resources that support your wellness, education, and financial well-being. We prioritize your well-being with paid time off, comprehensive health benefits, and a supportive, inclusive culture where you are valued and cared for. Make healthcare better by using advanced technology to enhance patient care.

Responsibilities

• Promotes a positive work environment and leads the team to be a dynamic, team-focused work unit that helps achieve optimal department results.
• Collaborates with all members of the patient care team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information and data in a comprehensive manner.
• Serves as a primary information resource for case management staff, physicians, and other healthcare team members and patients for the facility and the system.
• Acts as a formal preceptor/coach for new social worker employees.
• Develops skills of team members and continually assists with improving skills, performance, and outcomes.
• Provides feedback to management on team member performance and conduct.
• Continuously reviews the total picture of the patient for opportunities for care facilitation and needs for discharge planning.
• Independently handles resolution of complex problems and issues for the department.
• Serves as escalation support for less experienced staff.
• Implements and leads initiatives to improve patient and family satisfaction related to discharge questions.
• Identifies need for case management and/or social worker intervention and implements strategies that improve care coordination metrics (LOS reduction, discharges before 11 a.m., and readmission reduction).
• Oversees the management of specific patient populations across the continuum, focusing on high-risk, high-cost patients.
• Takes a leadership role in collaborating with employees to secure reimbursement for hospital services.
• Collaborates with case management leadership on cost-reduction strategies for the department.
• Leads efforts to ensure appropriate capture of avoidable and excess days.
• Collaborates with leadership on efforts to reduce length of stay (LOS), including serving as the resource to staff on proactively identifying and assessing difficult discharges, timely escalation to leadership, and progressive care coordination for next-level care arrangement and transition.
• Expands own knowledge and serves as an instructor in continuing education or formal programs and expert consultation; coaches staff to grow in knowledge, abilities, skills, and attitudes.
• Identifies, plans, and implements education for the service line in collaboration with team members and interdisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work
• Minimum of three years of acute care case management experience
• Licensed by the State of Texas at the minimum level Social Worker (LSW) or MSW if appropriate

Job Preferred Requirements:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work preferred

Benefits

• Paid time off
• Comprehensive health benefits
• Tuition assistance
• Career growth opportunities
• Resources supporting wellness, education, and financial well-being