The Medical Social Worker, as a member of a multi-disciplinary team, provides biopsychosocial assessment, brief counseling, care coordination, information/referral, crisis intervention, patient advocacy and associated services to patients, families, significant others and other community agencies who may be involved in the patient's care.

 

The Medical Social Worker directs efforts towards assisting patients and their families with adjusting to new diagnoses, changes in physical functioning, challenges of hospitalization, and eventual readjustment to the community. The Social Work Department has corresponding teaching and research functions related to health and healthcare delivery practices.

 

The Pediatric Float Social Worker’s role is to primarily support needs within our Pediatric services. This service will support needs within the Pediatric hospital on the weekends, and float to support needs during the weekdays based on staffing. This position requires the ability to work across various Pediatric service lines. This position also will be used to provide other hospital coverage needs as necessary.

• Conducts psychosocial evaluations of patients/families and significant others including, but not limited to the following: adjustment to medical or health condition; care coordination; mental health status; adjustment/compliance to treatment process; substance usage; child and elder abuse/neglect assessments; domestic violence issues; cognitive status (including potential guardian issues); and patient/family resources. 
• Provides crisis intervention and supportive short-term counseling to patients/families and significant others as necessary to meet immediate psycho-social needs including, but not limited to: Trauma/Emergency Department/ On Call/ Family Notification, CODE Response (family intervention); unanticipated change in health conditions/suicidal ideation; teenage pregnancy; single parent pregnancy/parenthood, domestic violence, child and elder abuse/neglect. 
• Provides grief/loss counseling and education regarding: fetal demise; actual/pending death of patient/family member; complicated pregnancies; pregnancy termination support, postpartum depression; chronic/acute stress associated with life circumstances; divorce/separation; loss of independence associated with illness or disability. 
• Provides brief psychotherapy including: individual short-term psychotherapy; group work including information/support groups, family support, patient therapy); regarding but not limited to issues of adoption, abortion, domestic violence, family of origin, sexual/gender, substance abuse, parenting, relationship adjustment to disabilities and chronic or acute illness. 
• Provides patient advocacy and associated services to patient/family and other involved agencies/parties regarding decision-making; advance directives; ethics consultations; court holds; guardianship/conservatorship; citizenship cases; and social cultural factors.

• A Master’s Social Work (MSW) required.  Health care experience preferred. Effective January 1, 2011, Certificate of Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) required for employees who practice clinical social work.

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

• Assessment Proficiency
• Short-term Counseling 
• Crisis Intervention
• Excellent task Prioritization 
• Effective Communication Skills
• Proficiency and skill in providing social work services in a healthcare setting 
• Time Management
• Organization
• Patient Advocacy 
• Problem Solving 
• Creativity
• Adaptability 
• Critical thinking 
• Conflict Resolution
• Task Reprioritization

• 1 year hospital experience
• Bilingual language skill are strongly preferred

• Requires prioritization.
• Frequent interruptions in an environment of frequent change and fluctuations.
• For inpatient units accepts accountability and responsibility.
• May be exposed to body fluids, tissue, possible radiation exposure, and infectious processes.
• Subject to computer work for several hours, as needed.
• Able to utilize office equipment within work area.

Posted 4/30/2025 1:10pm

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.