Psychiatric Social Worker - Per Diem

NYU Langone Hospital—Suffolk is a 306-bed medical center providing care to residents of eastern Long Island. The facility includes the Knapp Cardiac Care Center, a modern ambulatory surgical pavilion with specialized services such as women's imaging, a sleep laboratory, and bariatric surgery. It operates a Provisional Level 2 Trauma Center, a Primary Stroke Center designated by the New York State Department of Health, and multiple outpatient sites including a wound care center, hemodialysis center, and various primary care and specialty offices.

About the role

The Psychiatric Social Worker is responsible for delivering high-quality patient care, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, group and individual therapy, family treatment, and discharge planning for patients with psychiatric and/or co-occurring substance use disorders. This role is an integral part of the multidisciplinary team, conducting insurance authorizations and serving as a clinical resource for the department and hospital.

Responsibilities

• Provide patient care while ensuring dignity, respect, and adherence to ethical standards.
• Assess and reassess patient needs according to regulatory guidelines and communicate findings with the treatment team.
• Complete timely psychosocial evaluations, displaying strong interviewing, diagnostic, and report-writing skills.
• Conduct individual, family, and group psychotherapy sessions with a solid understanding of psychopathology and effective treatment techniques.
• Engage in efficient discharge planning within 24 hours of admission, collaborating with patients, families, nursing staff, and attending physicians.
• Demonstrate knowledge of referral/placement processes and available community resources.
• Lead educational group sessions with effective communication and theoretical knowledge.
• Ensure confidentiality of patient information and obtain necessary consents for release.
• Complete progress notes, treatment plans, and discharge plans in a timely, high-quality manner according to department standards.
• Document all patient encounters consistently and maintain organized charts for easy access.
• Conduct and document ongoing insurance certifications as required.
• Actively participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and provide feedback to supervisors on concerns or improvements.
• Identify areas for improvement and engage in the facility’s performance improvement process.
• Serve as a resource for Behavioral Health information to other departments, customers, and agencies.
• Manage time effectively, set priorities, and reduce non-essential interruptions to complete tasks within allocated time.
• Promote a positive, cooperative work environment through professional interactions and communication.
• Demonstrate initiative, enthusiasm, and flexibility in adjusting to workload fluctuations.
• Maintain composure and professionalism during difficult situations.
• Provide excellent customer service to all stakeholders, including patients, visitors, physicians, and employees.
• Voluntarily assist other Behavioral Health staff to foster teamwork.
• Maintain a neat, clean, and organized work environment.
• Attend scheduled meetings and perform additional duties as assigned by the Behavioral Health Administrative Team.
• Assist the Emergency Department or other hospital departments with patients in acute behavioral health crisis when patient care is not compromised.
• Accept assignments to other areas of the Behavioral Health department or other departments as requested.
• Work effectively with other hospital departments and demonstrate willingness to cross-train as needed.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Social Work.
• Current New York State license to practice social work.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations related to Behavioral Health.
• Familiarity with health-related and community resources for Behavioral Health patients.
• Ability to work effectively in a chaotic crisis environment.
• Two years of experience working with psychiatric patients preferred.
• Knowledge of non-violent crisis intervention techniques or ability to complete mandatory Secure Training.
• Understanding of restraint policies.

Skills

• Positive attitude and professional demeanor, including verbal and nonverbal communication.
• Ability to adapt to change and manage its challenges effectively.
• Strong customer service skills and experience managing customer experiences.
• Collaborative teamwork and ability to work toward mutual goals.
• Initiative to identify and act on tasks to achieve high job performance.
• Effective time management and organizational skills.
• Accountability for personal actions and responsibilities.
• Strong interpersonal skills to maintain positive work relationships.
• Clear and effective communication of ideas and information.
• Ability to accept and integrate constructive feedback into performance.
• Flexibility to redirect activities based on departmental or organizational needs.
• Problem-solving skills and ability to offer solutions when appropriate.

Pay

The salary range for this role is $60.49 per hour. Actual salaries depend on factors such as experience, specialty, education, and hospital need. This range does not include bonuses, incentive pay, differential pay, or other forms of compensation or benefits.

Schedule

Per diem position with variable days and evening shifts.