Social Worker LCSW

Req #: 0000261360 | Full-Time | Day Shift | Jersey City Medical Center – Case Management

About the role

At RWJBarnabas Health, Social Work Case Managers play a vital role in advancing patient-centered care by addressing the psychosocial, behavioral, and social needs that impact health outcomes across the continuum of care. This role offers the opportunity to partner with physicians, nurses, case management colleagues, and interdisciplinary teams to support safe transitions of care, improve patient outcomes, and enhance the overall patient experience.

As a Social Work Case Manager, you will provide comprehensive psychosocial assessments, evidence-based clinical interventions, discharge planning, and care coordination while promoting regulatory compliance, quality improvement, and efficient patient flow. Joining RWJBarnabas Health means becoming part of an organization committed to compassionate care, collaboration, innovation, and delivering the highest standard of service for every patient and family.

Responsibilities

• Conducting comprehensive psychosocial and clinical assessments in the electronic health record to identify patient strengths, barriers, healthcare-related social needs, and discharge planning requirements
• Developing and implementing individualized care plans that support safe transitions of care, reduce avoidable readmissions, and promote continuity across healthcare settings
• Collaborating with physicians, nurses, care management teams, and other interdisciplinary partners during interdisciplinary rounds to communicate patient progress, discharge planning updates, and care coordination needs
• Identifying patients at risk through health risk assessments and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) screenings and coordinating appropriate community resources, financial assistance, and supportive services
• Coordinating timely referrals for post-acute care services, including home health, durable medical equipment (DME), rehabilitation, skilled nursing facilities, hospice, behavioral health, and other community-based resources using electronic referral systems
• Providing evidence-based clinical social work interventions, including supportive counseling, crisis intervention, grief and bereavement support, trauma-informed care, and psychotherapeutic approaches that address psychosocial distress related to illness, life transitions, and end-of-life care
• Conducting specialized psychosocial assessments, as indicated, for patient populations including transplant, hemodialysis, oncology, perinatal, and other medically complex populations
• Demonstrating knowledge of utilization management, healthcare financing, insurance authorization processes, level of care criteria, revenue cycle principles, and regulatory requirements to support efficient care delivery
• Proactively identifying discharge barriers, managing patient flow, and escalating complex issues to leadership to improve length of stay, throughput, and organizational performance
• Ensuring compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation, HIPAA regulations, state licensure standards, and organizational policies while maintaining accurate and timely documentation
• Participating in quality improvement initiatives, professional development activities, and department projects that advance patient outcomes, operational excellence, and employee engagement

Qualifications

To be considered for this Social Work Case Manager opportunity, you must meet the following qualifications:

• Master of Social Work (MSW) from an accredited program
• Current New Jersey licensure as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• EARC certification required within six months of hire (arranged by RWJBarnabas Health)
• Certification in Case Management (ACM or CCM) preferred
• Two or more years of post-licensure experience in healthcare, including acute care, home health, or post-acute settings, preferred

You bring working knowledge of case management principles, psychosocial assessment, discharge planning, utilization management, healthcare financing, regulatory compliance, patient flow, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), and interdisciplinary care coordination, along with strong communication, critical thinking, and documentation skills to support high-quality patient care.

Skills

This role might be for you if you:

• Are passionate about helping patients and families navigate complex healthcare systems while addressing psychosocial, behavioral, and social needs that impact health outcomes
• Enjoy collaborating with physicians, nurses, case managers, and interdisciplinary teams to develop patient-centered care plans and ensure safe transitions of care
• Have strong assessment, care coordination, and clinical decision-making skills that allow you to manage complex patient situations effectively
• Are comfortable balancing multiple priorities while coordinating discharge planning, community resources, and regulatory requirements
• Possess strong communication, relationship-building, and counseling skills that allow you to advocate for patients while fostering collaboration across multidisciplinary teams
• Thrive in fast-paced healthcare environments focused on quality outcomes, patient flow, and operational excellence
• Value continuous learning, evidence-based practice, and contributing to quality improvement initiatives that enhance patient care
• Remain organized, compassionate, and solution-oriented while managing competing priorities and supporting patients through challenging life events

Benefits

At RWJBarnabas Health, our market-competitive Total Rewards package provides comprehensive benefits and resources to support employees' physical, emotional, social, and financial health.

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Medical and Prescription Drug Insurance
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Retirement Plans
• Short & Long Term Disability
• Life & Accidental Death Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Wellness Programs
• Voluntary Benefits (e.g., Pet Insurance)
• Discounts through partners such as NJ Devils, NJ PAC, Verizon, and more

Pay

The anticipated annual salary range for this position is $89,062.00 - $114,104.00 per year. The compensation offered to the selected candidate will depend on several factors, including educational background, skills, and professional experience.