Social Worker (MSW) - Allegheny County

Job Description

Job Description

Social Worker (MSW)

Summary:

Are you passionate about supporting the psychosocial wellbeing of others while also drawing on your own lived or professional experience to connect authentically? As a Social Worker (MSW), you'll provide compassionate services, psychosocial assessment, and crisis intervention to residents and their families — while also serving in a peer support capacity, helping residents build self-help skills, strengthen support networks, and connect with community resources. This hybrid role makes a real difference every day, combining social work expertise with the recovery-oriented, relationship-based support that comes from genuine human connection.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance (FT only)

• Dental & Vision Insurance (FT only)

• 401k with Match

• Paid Time Off

• Referral Bonus

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program

• Active LSW (Licensed Social Worker) licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (issued by the PA State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors) preferred but not required, as Pennsylvania generally exempts social workers employed by health care institutions from LSW/LCSW licensure requirements

• Minimum of 1–2 years' experience in a long-term care, skilled nursing, or geriatric healthcare setting preferred

• Working knowledge of OBRA regulations and PA Department of Health nursing home regulations

• Strong understanding of Medicare/Medicaid psychosocial documentation requirements

• Comfort drawing on relevant lived or professional experience (e.g., aging, chronic illness, caregiving, or personal recovery) to connect authentically with residents in a peer support role, where applicable to the position

• Completion of (or willingness to complete) a peer support training curriculum recognized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, if required by the specific facility or program

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and crisis-intervention skills

• Ability to work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team, and independently when engaging residents directly

• Ability to establish trusting, respectful relationships with residents and maintain confidentiality

• Must pass all required clearances: Criminal, FBI, and Child Abuse background checks

Responsibilities — Peer Support Capacity:

• Serve as a peer support resource for residents, drawing on relevant personal or professional experience to help normalize residents' emotional and psychosocial challenges

• Assist residents in setting, revising, and attaining personal recovery- and wellness-oriented goals

• Act as a support system for residents transitioning into the facility, recovering from a health crisis, or adjusting to a significant change in condition

• Provide outreach and re-engagement to residents who withdraw from programming, appear to need additional support, or experience isolation

• Assist residents in having their voices heard within care planning and daily facility life, and help them communicate needs directly to staff

• Help residents identify barriers to their emotional wellbeing and independence, and develop strategies to work through them

• Assist residents in developing and utilizing natural supports (e.g., family, friends, spiritual support, peer groups) and facility or community resources

• Support residents in building or maintaining skills that promote independence and active engagement (e.g., social skills, leisure activities, coping strategies)

• Encourage and support residents in keeping scheduled appointments, therapies, and activities

• Provide crisis support as needed, and de-escalate in coordination with clinical and nursing staff

• Provide education to residents, families, and staff that promotes awareness of mental health and reduces stigma and misconceptions

What is a Social Worker (MSW):

• Provides psychosocial assessment, care planning, and crisis intervention for residents and their families within a skilled nursing facility

• Combines clinical social work with recovery-oriented, relationship-based peer support to help residents build self-help skills and strengthen support networks

• Ensures compliance with federal and state regulations, including PA Department of Health licensing requirements, CMS/OBRA guidelines, and applicable Pennsylvania peer support program standards

• Promotes resident-centered care, dignity, and quality of life

About Peerstar:

PeerStar is Pennsylvania's largest and most established peer support provider, operating exclusively in the peer support space since 2008. We employ Certified Peer Specialists (CPS), Certified Recovery Specialists (CRS), and licensed clinical staff — individuals with lived experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges and relevant professional training — who work together to support others on their recovery and wellness journey.

Our services are:

• Goal-oriented and structured, with individualized recovery and care plans focused on specific, achievable objectives

• Medicaid-funded, making them accessible to those who need them most

• Home, community, and facility-based, meeting residents literally where they are

• Complementary to clinical treatment, working alongside therapists, nursing staff, and doctors

• Culturally responsive, adapting to diverse backgrounds and needs

• Available statewide, serving 35 counties across Pennsylvania