LTACH Social Worker, Joplin

LTACH Social Worker, Joplin

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

A 28-bed long term acute care hospital in Joplin, Missouri is seeking a full-time temporary social worker for approximately one month. The LTACH Social Worker serves as the essential bridge between clinical care, family support, and community resources. The social worker will provide critical psychosocial assessments, emotional support, and meticulous discharge planning to ensure safe, seamless continuums of care.

Key Responsibilities

• Psychosocial Assessments & Support: Conduct comprehensive initial assessments to identify cultural, social, financial, and emotional barriers to recovery. Provide supportive counseling and crisis intervention to patients and families navigating prolonged illnesses.
• Discharge Planning & Care Coordination: Lead the development and execution of safe, complex discharge plans. Coordinate transfers to acute rehabilitation, skilled nursing facilities (SNF), long-term care, or home health services, securing necessary durable medical equipment (DME).
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Act as a core member of the interdisciplinary team. Facilitate and participate heavily in weekly patient care conferences alongside physicians, nursing staff, physical therapists, and respiratory therapists to align care goals.
• Utilization Review & Advocacy: Partner with insurance providers to facilitate utilization review, ensure appropriate authorization, and advocate fiercely for the resources and lengths of stay necessary for patient success.
• Resource Navigation: Assist patients and families with advanced directives, Medicaid/Medicare navigation, community resource applications, and guardianship or fiduciary matters when necessary.

Education: BSW or MSW

Experience: Medical experience in an acute care, hospital, or rehabilitation setting preferred. Familiarity with Joplin-area community resources is highly valued.

Key Traits: A warm, empathetic listener with strong organizational and complex problem-solving skills. Ability to build rapid rapport with diverse populations during stressful life transitions.

This position is currently accepting applications.