Social Worker-MSW LSW

Social Worker-MSW LSW

Position Title: Social Worker - MSW LSW

Location: Charis Center for Eating Disorders, 6640 Intech Blvd, Suite 195, Indianapolis, IN

Department: Peds Adolescent Medicine – RH

Shift: Full-Time Days, Monday–Friday

Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Position Overview: The Social Worker provides face-to-face support and intervention for patients and families dealing with eating disorders. The role involves collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to facilitate safe, timely, and comprehensive care. The ideal candidate will demonstrate experience working with eating disorders, strong knowledge of community resources, and the ability to work independently while aligning with IU Health's trauma-informed, patient-centered approach. The role requires adaptability, critical thinking, and a commitment to providing trauma-informed care.

Key Responsibilities:

• Meet face-to-face with patients and families, providing assessment, counseling, and education.
• Collaborate effectively with all members of the healthcare team to ensure patient safety and timely access to services.
• Interpret and communicate complex patient and family needs, modeling caring and professional practices.
• Conduct psychosocial risk assessments considering prior functioning, support systems, reactions to illness, and coping abilities.
• Counsel patients and families about emotional, social, and financial impacts related to illness or disability.
• Access and mobilize family and community resources to meet patient needs.
• Provide mental health assessments upon physician referral and deliver therapeutic interventions to support discharge planning.
• Serve as the primary contact for cases involving child abuse/neglect, adult/elderly abuse/neglect, institutional abuse, and domestic violence.
• Act as liaison between IU Health and protective teams, law enforcement, and community agencies.
• Provide specialized mental health services, including crisis intervention, addiction assessments, and psychiatric referrals.
• Lead clinical interventions in dangerous or potentially dangerous situations, utilizing de-escalation techniques to prevent violence.
• Support patients during acute crises, utilizing effective crisis intervention principles.
• Assist with family-centered care planning, including guardianship, foster care, and adoption.
• Respond to violence or threats in collaboration with the Department of Public Safety when necessary.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with hospital administrators, medical teams, law enforcement, APS/DCS, schools, probation, and community organizations.
• Maintain accurate, thorough documentation within electronic medical records.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited institution.
• Permanent licensure as an LSW in Indiana is required.
• Certification in Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) or an equivalent de-escalation training within 6 months of hire.
• Knowledge of evidence-based psychosocial assessment, short-term therapeutic counseling, and crisis intervention techniques for mental health and substance use disorders.
• Understanding of disease processes and human behavior related to health and social needs.
• Strong skills in complex discharge planning to ensure safe patient transitions.
• Knowledge of state and county legal mandates related to child and adult protective services.
• Familiarity with growth and development principles across the lifespan, including end-of-life care.
• Ability to identify decision-makers and facilitate goals-of-care conversations.
• Experience adapting services for diverse populations across geographic, cultural, and financial backgrounds.
• Proficiency in electronic medical record documentation and general computer literacy.
• Ability to respond effectively to violent or potentially violent situations, including de-escalation techniques.
• Flexibility to work on-call and holiday rotations if scheduled.

Why IU Health?

Join Indiana's leading healthcare system committed to delivering compassionate, patient-centered care. We offer opportunities for professional development, a collaborative team environment, and a focus on improving community health.

Benefits: Benefits Designed for You

We are an equal opportunity employer. IU Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, national origin, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.