Medical Social Worker - Social Services Non-Union, Non-Exempt

Medical Social Worker - Social Services - Full Time Days (7:30 AM to 4:00 PM) (Non-Union, Non-Exempt)

Apply for the Medical Social Worker - Social Services - Full Time Days (7:30 AM to 4:00 PM) (Non-Union, Non-Exempt) role at Keck Medicine of USC.

The hourly rate range for this position is $30.70 - $40.29. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California Arcadia Hospital considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, State, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

• Advocates for patient and family empowerment and independence to make autonomous healthcare decisions and access needed services within the healthcare system.
• Attendance at discharge planning meetings when appropriate; assists the patient and family in understanding and coping with the psychosocial aspects of illness.
• Communicates with other medical personnel regarding the patient’s psychosocial status, needs, and progress.
• Documents psychosocial assessment and interventions in the medical chart, including information regarding the discharge plan.
• Incorporates performance improvement findings into clinical practice as indicated through review.
• Intervenes with patients and families regarding emotional, social, and financial consequences of illness and/or disability; accesses and mobilizes family/community resources to meet identified needs.
• Assesses patients and families’ psychosocial risk factors through evaluation of prior functioning levels, appropriateness and adequacy of support systems, reaction to illness, and ability to cope.
• Coordinates the discharge plan with the patient, family and hospital staff on units designated by the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and performs related discharge planning activities.
• Participates as an active member of the multidisciplinary team.
• Participates in discharge planning activities for complex patients to ensure a timely discharge and appropriate linkage with post-discharge care providers.
• Performs a psychosocial assessment interview with the patient and/or family, documenting this information according to department policy and standards, and demonstrates the ability to identify issues specific to age, diagnosis, and disability of the patient population served.
• Provides counseling and intervention to the patient and/or family based on psychosocial assessment.
• Provides information on community resources, and as indicated, makes referrals to community resources to meet the patient’s needs for follow-up care; all referrals are documented in the medical record with the name of the agency, telephone number, and when indicated, the name of the contact person.
• Provides intervention in cases involving child abuse, neglect, domestic violence, elderly abuse, institutional abuse, sexual assault, guardianship, temporary/permanent foster care, adoption, mental health placement, advance directives, adult/elder abuse, child protection, and sexual assault.
• Recognizes psychosocial issues from a developmental perspective, developmental tasks, cultural norms and boundaries, and spiritual beliefs.
• Provides counseling and intervention related to treatment decisions and end-of-life issues as a resource person.

The Social Worker intervenes with patients who have complex psychosocial needs, assists with eligibility determination for social programs and funding sources, and qualifies for community assistance from a variety of special funds and agencies. The role also offers crisis intervention to patients and families and coordinates the development of a discharge plan of care for high-risk patient populations, receiving referrals from interdisciplinary team members.

• Minimum:
  Master’s degree from an accredited school of social work.

• Ability to work with people of all social, economic, and cultural backgrounds; be flexible, open-minded, and adaptable to change.
• For neonatal positions, prior experience and/or specialized training are preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and negotiation skills with patients, families, physicians, and healthcare team colleagues.
• Strong analytical and PC skills.
• Prior experience or supervised fieldwork in a hospital or related setting providing substantial experience in hospital social work.
• Strong interview, assessment, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Minimum:
  Must successfully complete and maintain BLS certification.
• Minimum:
  Must successfully complete and maintain MAB certification within 6 months of hire.

• Entry level

• Full‑time

• Other

• Hospitals and Health Care

Job  | Posted Date: 11/24/2025