Details
Posted: 03-May-26
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Categories:
Allied Health
Overview
Job Title: Social Worker - MSW / LSW
Location: Riley Hospital, Indianapolis, IN
Shift: Full Time - Night Shift
Position Overview:
The Night Shift Social Worker at IU Health provides face-to-face psychosocial assessments, crisis intervention, discharge planning, and resource coordination for patients and families during overnight hours. This role involves collaborating with healthcare teams to ensure safe, timely services, and addressing complex psychosocial needs related to child and adult abuse, neglect, domestic violence, guardianship, foster care, end-of-life, and mental health. The social worker acts as a liaison with protective agencies, law enforcement, community organizations, and hospital staff, supporting acute crisis management and safe care transitions.
Key Responsibilities:
Conduct face-to-face assessments of patients and families to evaluate psychosocial needs, prior functioning, and support systems.
Provide mental health assessments upon physician referral and deliver therapeutic interventions to facilitate discharge planning and ongoing care.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe, coordinated care and discharge processes, including placements in nursing homes, acute rehab, hospice, or community resources.
Counsel patients and families regarding emotional, social, and financial impacts of illness or disability.
Access and mobilize family and community resources to meet patients' identified needs.
Serve as the primary liaison for cases involving child abuse/neglect, elder abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence; coordinate with protective agencies and legal entities.
Support crisis intervention efforts, including de-escalation and safety planning, especially during high-risk or potentially violent situations.
Provide intervention and support for guardianship (temporary and permanent), foster care, adoption, and end-of-life decisions, ensuring compliance with standards.
Conduct interviews and assessments of victims, perpetrators, and significant others, ensuring safety and legal adherence.
Maintain accurate documentation in electronic medical records, following hospital and legal standards.
Develop and maintain strong working relationships with hospital staff, law enforcement, APS/DCS, schools, probation, and other community partners.
Respond with or in lieu of the Department of Public Safety to de-escalate violence when necessary.
Qualifications & Requirements:
Education: Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW) required.
Licensure: Must hold permanent Indiana LSW licensure.
Experience: Prior experience in healthcare, mental health, or community social work preferred.
Certifications: Certification in Crisis Prevention Intervention or an alternative de-escalation training within 6 months of hire.
Knowledge & Skills:
Evidence-based psychosocial assessment, short-term therapeutic counseling, and crisis intervention.
Knowledge of disease processes and human behavior related to health and social needs.
Complex discharge planning skills, including placements in nursing homes, acute rehab, hospice, and community services.
Familiarity with legal mandates for protective services (child and adult).
Ability to adapt services for diverse populations across geographic, cultural, and financial backgrounds.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills.
Proficiency in electronic medical records and documentation practices.
Ability to respond effectively to dangerous or potentially violent situations using principles of crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques.
Additional Details:
This is a night shift position, with scheduled on-call and holiday rotations as needed.
The role emphasizes holistic, patient-centered support, including advocacy, safety, crisis management, and complex case coordination.
Note to Applicants:
We are seeking dedicated professionals committed to providing comprehensive psychosocial support, safety, and advocacy for a diverse patient population during overnight hours. The core focus extends beyond therapy to include crisis intervention, safety planning, and legal advocacy to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
Interested? Apply now to join IU Health as a Night Shift Social Worker and make a meaningful difference in patients' lives through expert clinical and psychosocial support.
