Social Worker III (LCSW)

SUMMARY

The Social Worker III (LCSW) is an advanced clinical member of the Care Management Department responsible for providing comprehensive psychosocial assessment, behavioral health intervention, crisis intervention, brief therapeutic counseling, care coordination, and complex discharge planning for patients whose behavioral health, substance use, psychosocial, or other complex needs impact treatment, recovery, or transition of care. 

This position serves inpatient, observation, and outpatient-in-a-bed patients requiring advanced clinical social work services within the scope of the Care Management Department, primarily for patients who do not meet criteria for management by the Emergency Department Crisis Intervention Team or inpatient Behavioral Health Unit. The Social Worker III partners with the assigned Case Manager and the interdisciplinary healthcare team to address complex behavioral health needs and facilitate individualized, patient-centered discharge planning, address complex behavioral health factors contributing to readmission risk, and promote safe transitions of care. 

The Social Worker III serves as the behavioral health subject matter expert for the Care Management Department, providing clinical consultation, mentorship, education, and support to Social Worker I, Social Worker II, RN Case Managers, and the interdisciplinary healthcare team while promoting patient advocacy, regulatory compliance, and evidence-based behavioral health practice. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

The duties and responsibilities listed below represent the primary functions of this position. Additional duties may be assigned as needed to support departmental and organizational operations. 

Clinical Assessment and Intervention 

• Responds to consults for behavioral health, mental health, substance use, psychosocial concerns, crisis intervention, and other complex patient needs by performing comprehensive psychosocial, behavioral health, and risk assessments; developing individualized intervention plans; and providing crisis intervention, brief therapeutic counseling, motivational interviewing, emotional support, and other evidence-based clinical interventions within the scope of LCSW licensure.  

• Assesses suicide risk, self-harm, violence risk, substance use disorders, and other behavioral health concerns, communicating urgent findings and coordinating appropriate evaluations, referrals, and interventions.  

• Serves as the behavioral health resource for inpatient, observation, and outpatient-in-a-bed patients within the scope of the Care Management Department by coordinating behavioral health evaluations, psychiatric consultations, ECO/TDO processes, and psychiatric placement in collaboration with physicians, psychiatry, Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Healthcare (CIBH), Community Services Boards (CSBs), and other internal and community partners in accordance with Virginia law and organizational policy.  

• Documents assessments, interventions, recommendations, and patient progress in the electronic medical record in accordance with departmental and organizational standards. 

Care Coordination and Discharge Planning 

• Coordinates and facilitates referrals to appropriate behavioral health, substance use, psychosocial, community, and post-acute resources to support continuity of care and successful transitions.  

• Educates patients and families regarding treatment options, available services, community resources, and follow-up care to support recovery and reduce barriers following discharge.  

• Identifies behavioral health, substance use, psychosocial, and other complex factors contributing to readmission risk and collaborates with the assigned Case Manager and interdisciplinary team to develop interventions that promote successful transitions and reduce avoidable readmissions. 

• Functions as the lead clinical social worker for consulted patients with complex behavioral health, psychosocial, and transition-of-care needs, collaborating with the assigned RN Case Manager and interdisciplinary team to develop and facilitate individualized, patient-centered discharge plans.  

Interdisciplinary Collaboration 

• Participates in multidisciplinary rounds, care conferences, family meetings, and complex behavioral case reviews.

• Collaborates with physicians, nursing, Case Management, behavioral health providers, community agencies, and post-acute partners to promote coordinated, patient-centered care and safe transitions across the continuum.

Leadership and Professional Practice 

• Serves as a mentor, preceptor, and clinical resource for Social Worker I, Social Worker II through consultation, education, and competency development.

• Participates in quality improvement, regulatory readiness, policy development, and process improvement initiatives while promoting compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation, DNV accreditation standards, HIPAA, Virginia regulations, and organizational policies.

• Promotes patient advocacy, ethical practice, health equity, culturally responsive and trauma-informed care, and evidence-based clinical social work practice while serving as the department's behavioral health subject matter expert.