Social Worker I

About the Role

Houston Methodist West Hospital seeks a Social Worker I (SW I) to provide comprehensive, compassionate clinical social work and discharge planning to patients and their families on designated unit(s). The role collaborates with physicians and the interprofessional health‑care team, sensitizing providers to the social and emotional aspects of illness to facilitate efficient, quality care and desired treatment outcomes. The SW I shares joint accountability with the Case Manager for discharge planning and continuity of care, ensuring psychosocial issues are addressed across the continuum.

Qualifications

• Education: Master's degree in social work from an accredited university.
• Experience: 0 years required; new graduate with hospital internship preferred; one year hospital social work experience preferred.
• Licenses and Certifications: Required LCSW or LMSW state license.
• FLSA Status: Exempt.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates required competencies through ongoing assessments and performance evaluations.
• Proficient in spoken, written, and reading English, especially for safety‑critical activities.
• Effective communication with patients, physicians, families, and co‑workers using a customer‑service focus and positive language.
• Knowledge of community resources, health‑care financial and payer issues, and eligibility for state, local, and federal programs (acquired within 6 months of hire).
• Collaboration, negotiation, and mediation skills.
• Strong time‑management and prioritization abilities.
• Critical thinking skills applied consistently.
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite (Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word).
• Maintains competencies in social work functions, including payor rules, psychosocial assessments, and discharge planning methods.

Essential Functions

• People:
  • Communicates actively and positively with the health‑care team, reporting unbiased patient and family data.
  • Uses therapeutic communication to establish relationships, convey discharge plans, and facilitate transitions.
  • Supports patients and families on clinical or ethical issues using a patient‑ and family‑centered approach.
  • Facilitates discharge planning in collaboration with case managers and the interprofessional team, maintaining ownership of psychosocial assessments, diagnoses, and treatment.
• Service:
  • Participates in unit‑based case management, assessing patients, identifying at‑risk individuals, and attending daily Care Coordination Rounds.
  • Develops and implements comprehensive psychosocial treatment plans, including crisis intervention, brief therapies, and group sessions.
  • Assists with screening, identification, and treatment of abuse, neglect, domestic violence, mental health, and substance‑use issues.
  • Completes full assessments using interviews, medical records, and clinical tools to determine need for case management or social work intervention.
  • Establishes educational goals with patients/families, provides resources, and plans post‑discharge care.
  • Ensures appropriate discharge disposition and facilitates transfers.
  • Provides brief, goal‑directed counseling to aid coping during transitions.
• Quality & Safety:
  • Modifies care based on continuous evaluation, employing problem‑solving, critical thinking, and evidence‑based analysis.
  • Documents comprehensive screening, assessment, and reassessment throughout admission.
  • Considers emotional, social, and environmental factors influencing treatment plans.
  • Continuously reviews patients for care facilitation and discharge planning opportunities.
  • Works with case managers to anticipate, prevent, and manage emergent situations affecting discharge.
  • Collaborates on safety data to improve outcomes and ensure safe patient handoffs.
• Finance:
  • Completes timely assessments of unfunded patients to identify community resources and alternative options.
  • Maintains an effective knowledge base of community resources and coordinates referrals to regulatory agencies (e.g., CPS/APS).
  • Provides pertinent patient information to the health‑care team when intensive resources are needed, supporting efficient discharge and reduced length of stay.
• Growth & Innovation:
  • Educates unit‑based physicians, nurses, and staff on community resources and psychosocial impacts on care.
  • Identifies improvement areas based on evidence‑based practice literature.
  • Participates in performance‑improvement projects, offering solutions and contributing to unit initiatives.

Supplemental Requirements

• Work Attire: Uniform – No Scrubs; Business professional – Yes; Other (department approved) – No.
• On‑Call: Employees may be required to be on‑call during emergencies (e.g., disaster, severe weather events).
• Travel:
  • May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area.
  • May require travel outside the Houston Metropolitan area.