Psychiatric Social Worker

Job Title: PD, Psychiatric Social Worker

Location: Monmouth Medical Center

Department Name: Short Term Care (STC)

Req #: 0000272174

Status: Hourly

Shift: Day

Pay Range: $45.50 - $45.50 per hour

Pay Transparency:

The above reflects the anticipated hourly wage range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.

The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.

Psychiatric Social Worker (Per Diem, Day Shift) – RWJBarnabas Health

At RWJBarnabas Health , our Case Management and Behavioral Health teams work collaboratively to provide high-quality, compassionate care coordination and comprehensive treatment planning when our communities need it most. The Psychiatric Social Worker works within a multidisciplinary treatment team to provide evaluative and inpatient mental health services to patients and their families. This role facilitates therapeutic relationships, assists in developing improved coping skills, and serves as a vital connection to community providers and educational systems. We view our Social Workers as a crucial component of our care plan, redefining patient experience through teamwork, empathy, and excellence.

As a Psychiatric Social Worker, a typical day might include the following:

• Provide evaluative and inpatient mental health services to patients and families, complete accurate patient intakes (demographics and history), and develop therapeutic relationships to help patients build improved coping skills.
• Act as a group facilitator or co-facilitator for psychoeducational groups, Family Program groups, community meetings, and assist with exercise, recreation, and art groups.
• Participate as an integral part of the milieu to ensure a safe and secure treatment environment, perform room and contraband checks, and promptly report identified safety issues such as hazardous environments (e.g., damaged floors, walls, ceiling tiles, unsecured areas) and medical errors.
• Use appropriate verbal de-escalation techniques, set limits on patient behaviors, and intervene during crises involving behavioral escalation, suicidal behavior, or elopement risks under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. Safely participate in physical restraints and seclusion when required.
• Assist with unit orientation for new patients, monitor patient phone calls, visiting hours, and common areas, and facilitate smooth admission and discharge procedures. Transport patients for off-unit recreation, ECT, EEG, X-ray, and external clinics.
• Provide direct coordination of educational services for patients on the CCIS unit, secure educational records from home districts, maintain a positive relationship with the Monmouth/Ocean Educational Services Commission, and serve as a liaison to patients' home school districts.
• Author accurate, timely, and legible medical records, incident reports, and shift data that strictly meet internal policy guidelines, nursing standards of practice, ethical codes, and regulatory submission deadlines.
• Function as an active member of the multidisciplinary treatment team, participate in Treatment Team meetings and care plan updates, and report ongoing patient observations and status changes to licensed staff.
• Participate in unit PI/QA programs and hospital-wide quality improvement efforts to assess and measure department functions.
• Attend mandatory ongoing training, participate in continuing education, and facilitate ongoing unit-specific competencies for staff.

This Role Might Be For You If

• You provide a compassionate and supportive environment with prompt and consistent service.
• You adhere strictly to patient rights, providing for the total confidential treatment of all communications and records.
• You demonstrate professional conduct governed by ethical codes, maintaining boundaries with families, visitors, physicians, co-workers, and supervisors.
• You listen and communicate effectively, utilizing strong observation skills to assist licensed staff in data collection.
• You support teamwork through cooperative problem-solving and active participation in meetings and projects.
• You utilize principles of continuous quality improvement in all work situations to optimize organizational functions.
• You organize your own work and set priorities with a minimum of supervision while seeking guidance appropriately.
• You make timely decisions consistent with department objectives, demonstrate sound judgment, and accept and benefit from constructive criticism.
• You are capable of working with a psychiatric population with the potential for assaultive behavior, and you have the physical and emotional stamina to participate in crisis interventions and restraint procedures.

To be considered for this opportunity, you must have:

• Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) required; Master's degree in Social Work or related field preferred.
• Licensed Social Worker (LSW) OR Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) required.
• 1 to 12 months of prior experience in a related human services field required; prior experience in a psychiatric inpatient setting is highly preferred.
• Proven theoretical knowledge of psychology across the lifespan, including Child/Adolescent and Adult/Geriatric populations.
• Demonstrated ability to physically participate in crisis intervention techniques.
• Scheduling Requirements : Per Diem, Day Shift (12-hour shifts, 7:00 AM – 7:30 PM).
• Rotating weekend and holidays required.