Clinical Social Worker

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At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

About Duke University Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. The largest of the four Duke Healthhospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

The Clinical Social Worker provides comprehensive psychosocial assessments, diagnosis, treatment, and discharge planning services to support patients and families coping with hospitalization, illness, treatment, and complex life situations. Clinicians address emotional, behavioral, mental health, and substance use concerns while collaborating closely with the multidisciplinary healthcare team.

Level I clinicians function as independent practitioners providing assessment, intervention, counseling, crisis response, and care coordination.

Level II clinicians perform all Level I duties plus serve as team leaders, providing clinical and administrative supervision, supporting team operations, and participating in performance management.

Duties and Responsibilities

Level I Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments of patients and families to identify emotional, social, and environmental strengths and needs.
• Develop and implement individualized psychosocial treatment plans using appropriate interventions, including:
• Crisis intervention
• Short- and long-term individual, family, marital, and group therapy
• Grief, loss, and bereavement counseling
• Screen, diagnose (using DSM criteria), and provide therapeutic interventions for mental health and/or substance use disorders.
• Assist with identification, assessment, and management of cases involving abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and sexual assault; provide related training to healthcare professionals.
• Deliver patient and family education on coping with illness, treatment, hospitalization, and life changes.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings; serve as a liaison providing clinical social work expertise.
• Provide consultation to healthcare team members within scope of practice.
• Maintain knowledge of medical/legal issues affecting patient care (e.g., advance directives, elder/child abuse laws).
• Coordinate patient and family needs for pre- and post-hospital services, including community resources.
• Document assessments, treatment plans, interventions, and encounters according to departmental and health system standards.
• Participate in teaching, training, research, committee work, and other academic activities supporting the institution’s mission.
• Maintain accurate records, statistics, and required reports.
• Attend staff meetings and participate in continuous quality improvement initiatives.
• Stay current with trends in clinical social work and healthcare through supervision and continuing education.
• May participate in on-call or after-hours coverage as required.

Level II (In Addition to Level I)

• Provide clinical and administrative supervision for social workers and clinical social workers.
• Lead team meetings, coordinate staffing coverage, and support workflow management.
• Assist with hiring, onboarding, and performance evaluation processes.
• Help implement departmental, hospital, and health system initiatives.
• Model advanced clinical practice, conflict resolution, and leadership behaviors.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Level I

• Adherence to NASW ethical standards and NC licensure regulations.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Solid knowledge of clinical social work practices.
• Proficiency in assessment, interviewing, counseling, and crisis intervention.
• Working knowledge of mental health and substance use disorders and related interventions.
• Ability to practice autonomously and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong interpersonal and team-building skills.
• Ability to prioritize, manage multiple tasks, and navigate change effectively.
• Basic computer skills.

Level II

• All Level I competencies, plus:
• Strong supervisory, leadership, and team‑building skills.
• Ability to resolve conflict and support team performance.
• Ability to guide and implement organizational initiatives at the unit or department level.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Level I & Level II: Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited school of social work.

Experience

• Level I:
• Two years of post-internship social work experience in a healthcare or social service setting required.
• Two years of recent post-master’s clinical experience preferred.
• Level II:
• All Level I requirements plus five years post-master’s experience in a healthcare or social service setting.
• Demonstrated experience in leadership and staff supervision.

Licensure / Certification

• Current Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential from the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board.

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions:

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Nearest Major Market: Durham
Nearest Secondary Market: Raleigh

Read more about Duke’s commitment to affirmative action and nondiscrimination at hr.duke.edu/eeo.