Medical Social Worker - PRN Status (Multiple Openings) - Bronson Methodist Hospital Up to $500 Sign-on Bonus Available!

Up to $500 sign-on bonus available for PRN roles.

About the Role

PRN Medical Social Workers provide essential social work services across all medical areas of the hospital, supporting patients from infant to geriatric populations. This role requires strong clinical judgment, crisis intervention skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams. PRN staff support Inpatient (IP) and Emergency Department (ED) units with variable shifts, including weekends and holidays. An every-other-weekend assignment in the ER is standard, with opportunities to pick up additional shifts.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct intervention in areas such as mental health, suicide risk, domestic violence, sexual assault, child/adult abuse or neglect, grief, crisis intervention, adjustment to illness, advocacy, and substance abuse.
• Partner with the multidisciplinary team to proactively support behavior management and patient safety.
• Conduct assessments, provide clinical interventions, and coordinate care to support safe and timely discharge planning.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to determine the most appropriate plan of care for each patient.
• Coordinate and manage systems to ensure timely discharge to psychiatric facilities, substance abuse treatment programs, outpatient services, and other community resources.
• Work variable shifts (1st, 2nd, 3rd; 8- or 12-hour), including holidays and weekends.
• Respond to call downs and support acute care codes (trauma, stroke, AMI, Code Blue).
• Cover multiple units (ICU, med/surg, specialty units) and prioritize based on acuity.
• Communicate effectively with distressed individuals under adverse conditions.
• Collaborate with security, Risk, nursing, and police to reduce workplace violence.
• Assist with crisis de-escalation and behavior plans.
• Support cases involving violent injuries to reduce risk to patients, staff, and community.
• Utilize empathy, crisis assessment, and counseling techniques.
• Assess social/emotional needs of patients, families, and staff.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of mental health, suicide risk, and DSM-V criteria.
• Complete mental health assessments and coordinate with Psychiatry Consult services.
• Facilitate psychiatric transfers or develop safe discharge plans.
• Identify when complex care meetings are needed and escalate appropriately.
• Develop creative interventions when placement options are limited.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (psych, child life, nursing, PT, etc.).
• Make referrals to community agencies and specialists.
• Ensure safe discharge planning with appropriate follow-up resources.
• Complete legal paperwork for involuntary psychiatric hospitalization and guardianship.
• Collaborate with hospital attorneys and testify when required.
• Document all cases in the EMR accurately and promptly.
• Participate in policy, procedure, and protocol development.
• Maintain required competencies, in-services, and professional development.
• Support departmental quality improvement and a positive team environment.
• Assist with orientation of new MSW hires when assigned.
• Demonstrate commitment to Bronson’s mission, values, and customer service standards.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Social Work required.
• 1–2 years of professional experience in healthcare or mental health preferred.
• LMSW or LLMSW in good standing with the State of Michigan (LMSW preferred).

Work Environment

• Clean, well-lit, temperature-controlled hospital setting.
• Possible exposure to infectious diseases and emotionally charged situations, including threatening behavior or violence.
• Moderate noise level.

Physical Demands

• Regular standing, walking, talking, and hearing.
• Occasional sitting and use of hands for documentation.
• Ability to lift/move up to 10 pounds occasionally.
• Requires close and distance vision with the ability to adjust focus.

Interpersonal Requirements

• Strong verbal and written communication.
• Problem-solving and critical thinking.
• Advocacy, crisis intervention, and empathy.
• Motivational interviewing.
• Negotiation and conflict resolution.

Regular Communication With

• Internal teams: physicians, interdisciplinary staff, finance, management.
• External stakeholders: patients, families, third-party payers, community agencies.

Pay

Up to $500 sign-on bonus available for PRN roles.

Schedule

• Part-time, PRN (as needed) with variable shifts.
• Scheduled weekly hours: 10.
• Shifts may include weekends, holidays, and variable hours (1st, 2nd, 3rd; 8- or 12-hour).
• ER every-other-weekend assignment with opportunities to pick up additional shifts.