Medical Social Worker - Night Pediatric Psychiatric and Emergency Department

Overview

This Medical Social Worker position primarily works in the Emergency Department with a heavy focus on addressing the mental health needs of patients. There is an emphasis on assessing and disposition planning for pediatric mental health patients that present to the Emergency Department overnight. Emergency Department Social Workers will regularly complete mental health assessments on patients in a mental health crisis.

They will make level of care recommendations including inpatient or outpatient, safety plan with patients and their loved ones, plan for mental health follow-up, and adhere to all relevant statutes related to mental health discharges.

OHSU is a Level One Trauma Center, and the Emergency Department Social Workers support patients and their loved ones during mild, moderate, and severe trauma-related admissions. The Social Worker will review the POLST registry, surrogate decision-making documents, and notify next of kin or surrogate decision maker of admission. The Social Workers provide support to the loved ones of patients that are critically ill or die.

The Emergency Department is a 24/7 service. There are times when the Medical Social Worker may be required to work outside their normal schedule, including overnight or during the day when that is not their normal schedule. There are also last-minute staffing needs sent out via text message at varying hours.

• Conduct psychosocial evaluations of patients/families and significant others including, but not limited to: adjustment to medical or health condition; care coordination; mental health status; adjustment/compliance to treatment process; substance usage; child and elder abuse/neglect assessments; domestic violence issues; cognitive status (including potential guardian issues); and patient/family resources.
• Provide crisis intervention and supportive short-term counseling to patients/families and significant others as necessary to meet immediate psychosocial needs, including trauma/emergency department/on-call/family notification; CODE response (family intervention); changes in health conditions; suicidal ideation; teenage pregnancy; single parent pregnancy/parenthood; domestic violence; child and elder abuse/neglect.
• Provide grief/loss counseling and education regarding fetal demise; actual/pending death of patient/family member; complicated pregnancies; pregnancy termination support; postpartum depression; stress related to life circumstances; divorce/separation; loss of independence due to illness or disability.
• Provide brief psychotherapy including individual short-term psychotherapy and group work (information/support groups, family support, patient therapy) addressing issues such as adoption, abortion, domestic violence, family of origin, sexual/gender issues, substance abuse, parenting, and relationship adjustment to disabilities and chronic or acute illness.
• Provide patient advocacy and related services to patient/family and other involved agencies/parties regarding decision-making; advance directives; ethics consultations; court holds; guardianship/conservatorship; citizenship cases; and social and cultural factors.

• A Master’s Social Work (MSW) required. Health care experience preferred.
• Certificate of Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) required for employees who practice clinical social work.

Job Related Knowledge,

Skills and Abilities

(Competencies):

• Assessment Proficiency
• Short-term Counseling
• Crisis Intervention
• Excellent task prioritization
• Effective Communication Skills
• Proficiency and skill in providing social work services in a healthcare setting
• Time Management
• Organization
• Patient Advocacy
• Problem Solving
• Creativity
• Adaptability
• Critical thinking
• Conflict Resolution
• Task Reprioritization

• 1 year hospital experience
• Additional
  
  Skills:
  • Bilingual language skills are strongly preferred

• Requires prioritization.
• Frequent interruptions in an environment of frequent change and fluctuations.
• For inpatient units accepts accountability and responsibility.
• May be exposed to body fluids, tissue, possible radiation exposure, and infectious processes.
• Subject to computer work for several hours, as needed.
• Able to utilize office equipment within work area.

Posted 1/30/2026 1:17pm

All are welcome. Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply.

To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at  or aaeo.