Social Worker LCSW

Job Title: Social Worker LCSW

Location: Cooperman Barnabas Medical Ctr

Department Name: Case Management

Req #: 0000255296

Status: Salaried

Shift: Day

Pay Range: $89,000.00 - $114,100.00 per year

Pay Transparency:

The above reflects the anticipated annual salary 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.
Social Work LCSW - RWJBarnabas Health

At RWJBarnabas Health, Social Work Case Managers play an essential role in providing patient-centered care by addressing the psychosocial, behavioral, and healthcare-related social needs that can affect patient outcomes and successful transitions of care. This position provides the opportunity to collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, utilization management, care management colleagues, post-acute providers, community agencies, and other interdisciplinary partners to coordinate safe and effective care. As a Social Work Case Manager, you will conduct comprehensive assessments, provide evidence-based clinical social work interventions, coordinate discharge planning and transitions of care, address barriers to discharge, and support efficient patient flow while maintaining regulatory and organizational compliance. You will also contribute to quality improvement and professional development initiatives that support RWJBarnabas Health System goals and the delivery of compassionate, high-quality care to patients and families.
A typical day for a Social Work LCSW may include:

• Conducting comprehensive psychosocial and clinical assessments in the electronic health record to identify patient needs, strengths, barriers to discharge, healthcare-related social needs, and appropriate transition-of-care plans
• Developing and implementing individualized clinical interventions and care plans that support safe discharge, continuity of care, and reduction of avoidable readmissions
• Participating in interdisciplinary rounds (IDR), presenting patient cases, communicating discharge planning updates, and collaborating with physicians, nurses, and other members of the interdisciplinary team
• Utilizing health risk assessments and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) screenings to identify patients at risk and coordinate appropriate referrals and community-based resources
• Coordinating timely referrals for post-acute services, including durable medical equipment (DME), home care, rehabilitation, skilled nursing or other facility placement, and community services through electronic referral systems
• Identifying and addressing barriers to discharge while proactively managing patient flow, escalating complex issues when appropriate, and supporting length-of-stay and throughput goals
• Providing evidence-based clinical social work interventions, including supportive counseling, crisis intervention, and psychotherapeutic approaches to address psychosocial distress related to illness, grief and loss, trauma, life transitions, survivorship, and end-of-life care
• Assessing and supporting patients' and families' psychosocial responses to illness, including coping, adjustment, family dynamics, identity and role changes, and other factors that may affect care planning and transitions
• Conducting specialized psychosocial assessments, when indicated, for medically complex populations, including hemodialysis, transplant, perinatal, and oncology patients
• Collaborating with the Utilization Review team to support insurance authorization and clinical documentation needs while applying knowledge of utilization management, medical necessity, level-of-care criteria, and healthcare reimbursement models
• Applying working knowledge of healthcare financing, including Medicare fee-for-service, managed care, bundled and value-based payment arrangements, capitated structures, and other reimbursement considerations that affect care coordination
• Maintaining accurate, timely, and compliant documentation in the electronic health record and other referral or care coordination systems
• Ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory and legal requirements, including CMS Conditions of Participation, HIPAA, patient rights, Medicare Beneficiary Notices, state licensure requirements, and organizational policies
• Engaging patients and families from diverse backgrounds with cultural sensitivity, respect, and a patient-centered approach
• Participating in professional development, quality improvement, and department-wide initiatives focused on length-of-stay reduction, patient flow, performance, engagement, and continuity of care

This role might be for you if:

• You are passionate about helping patients and families navigate complex healthcare situations while addressing psychosocial needs and healthcare-related social barriers
• You enjoy collaborating with physicians, nurses, utilization management professionals, case management colleagues, post-acute providers, and interdisciplinary teams
• You have strong psychosocial assessment, clinical intervention, care coordination, discharge planning, and critical-thinking skills
• You are comfortable analyzing complex patient situations, identifying barriers to discharge, developing patient-centered solutions, and managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• You understand the importance of coordinating care across acute, post-acute, and community settings
• You are confident using electronic health records, referral platforms, and care coordination systems while maintaining accurate and timely documentation
• You have an understanding of utilization management, medical necessity, healthcare reimbursement, insurance authorization, level-of-care criteria, and patient flow
• You are skilled at supporting patients and families experiencing illness, grief and loss, trauma, difficult transitions, family conflict, or other psychosocial stressors
• You communicate effectively with interdisciplinary professionals and can navigate difficult conversations involving discharge planning, family dynamics, and barriers to care
• You value culturally responsive, compassionate, and respectful engagement with diverse patient populations
• You are organized, adaptable, and able to manage multiple patients, timelines, referrals, and competing priorities in a fast-paced healthcare environment
• You are committed to professional development, evidence-based practice, regulatory compliance, and quality improvement

To be considered for this Social Work Case Manager opportunity,

You have earned a Master of Social Work (MSW) and maintain current New Jersey licensure as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) as required by the New Jersey State Board of Social Work Examiners. EARC certification is required within six months of hire and will be arranged by RWJBarnabas Health. Certification in Case Management, such as ACM or CCM , is preferred.

Candidates with two or more years of post-licensure experience in healthcare , including home health and post-acute services, are preferred. You bring knowledge of clinical social work practice, comprehensive psychosocial assessment, discharge planning, transitions of care, interdisciplinary collaboration, utilization management, healthcare financing, patient flow, Social Determinants of Health, community resources, regulatory compliance, and electronic documentation.