Licensed Social Worker - Acute Care /

Discharge Planning Location:

Princeton/Plainsboro, NJ Schedule:

Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM, with rotating weekend coverage

Pay:

Approximately $42.00-$48.00/hour, depending on experience

Setting:

Acute Care Hospital -

Medical/Surgical & Emergency Department Position Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Licensed Social Worker to support patients and families within a fast-paced acute care hospital environment. This position is heavily focused on discharge planning, care coordination, psychosocial assessment, and connecting patients with the appropriate post-acute services and community resources. The ideal candidate will have recent hospital-based social work experience supporting Medical/Surgical and Emergency Department populations and be comfortable managing complex discharge needs while collaborating closely with physicians, nursing, case management, patients, families, and outside providers.

Please note:

This is an acute medical hospital social work position. Candidates whose experience is primarily behavioral health, psychiatric, or substance-use treatment without recent acute-care Med/Surg or Emergency Department experience will not meet the requirements for this role. Key Responsibilities Perform comprehensive psychosocial assessments to identify patient and family needs, available support systems, barriers to discharge, and potential risks affecting continuity of care. Coordinate discharge planning for patients with complex medical and psychosocial needs to support safe and timely transitions from the hospital. Work closely with physicians, nurses, case managers, and other members of the interdisciplinary care team to develop and communicate appropriate discharge plans. Educate patients and families regarding post-acute care options, available services, and community resources. Coordinate referrals and link patients with appropriate post-discharge providers and services. Address social, financial, family, and environmental barriers that may affect a patient's ability to safely transition from the hospital. Advocate for patients and families while supporting informed healthcare decisions and patient independence. Provide counseling, education, and support to patients and families coping with illness, hospitalization, disability, treatment decisions, or changes in level of care. Assist with complex social situations that may involve guardianship, advance directives, abuse or neglect concerns, domestic violence, end-of-life issues, or limited family/community support. Maintain timely and accurate documentation of assessments, interventions, discharge plans, referrals, and follow-up activities within the patient's medical record. Communicate changes in discharge plans and barriers to appropriate members of the interdisciplinary team. Required Qualifications Active Licensed Social Worker (LSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential in the State of New Jersey required. Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) or related qualifying master's-level social work education required. Recent acute care hospital social work experience required. Direct experience supporting Medical/Surgical and Emergency Department patients required. Demonstrated experience with hospital discharge planning and transitions of care. Knowledge of post-acute care options, community resources, and healthcare support services. Strong understanding of psychosocial assessments and barriers that may affect a patient's discharge or continuity of care. Ability to manage a caseload and prioritize multiple complex discharges in a fast-paced hospital setting. Strong communication, documentation, problem-solving, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills. Schedule This is a day-shift position working Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM with a rotating weekend requirement. When scheduled to cover a weekend day, the employee will receive a corresponding day off during the week. Ideal Candidate The strongest candidate will be an experienced hospital Social Worker who can step into an acute-care environment with minimal ramp-up time. Candidates should have hands-on discharge planning experience, understand the complexities of coordinating post-hospital care, and be comfortable working directly with Med/Surg and Emergency Department patients with varying medical, social, financial, and family needs.

Pay:

$42.00 - $48.00 per hour Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Experience:

Acute hospital on Medsurg and ED units.: 1 year (Required)

License/Certification:

LSW or LCSW (Required)

Work Location:

In person