Psych Social Worker Flex-Partial Hospitalization Casual Days

northwesternmedicine

Orland Park, IL, United States · Orland Park · United States

Posted Apr 22, 2026

Part-time
On-site
Associate

Job description

Company Description At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better? Job Description The Psych Social Worker, Flex reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. Responsibilities: IMPLEMENTATION/INTERVENTION Demonstrates an understanding of the trans theoretical model, including stages of change and motivational interviewing. Consistently maintains the spirit of motivational interviewing when interviewing the patients. Demonstrates an understanding of Recovery Based Services and attends to the four major dimensions that support recovery: Health, Home, Purpose and Community Provides and/or supervises crisis intervention to the family of the psychiatric patient. Maintains knowledge of community resources and acts as resource person to these community agencies. Provides psychosocial consultation to hospital personnel in dealing with psychiatric patients and to the psychiatric patient in the general hospital as is necessary. COMMUNICATION Appropriately communicates with public, co-workers and psychiatrists to promote a harmonious work environment. Communicates in a courteous and professional manner with staff, patients and families in various hospital departments. Develops good public relations with agencies outside the hospital. HUMAN WORTH Maintains confidentiality of patient information. Seeks resolutions to identified problems and acts as the patient advocate. ADMINISTRATION Adheres to dress code Reports for duty at appointed time. Available to work scheduled days. Assists in maintaining a neat and organized department. Able to maintain an organized unit when relieving the Clinical Nurse Manager or Charge Therapist. SAFETY Attends annual safety, infection control and hospital exposure control plan related to bloodborne pathogens. Avoids hazardous situation by using proper body mechanics. Appropriately identifies and reports all unsafe situations. EDUCATION/PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES Seeks to expand knowledge of resources available to mental health/chemical dependency services. Attends seminars and in services. Seeks opportunities to learn new therapy skills. Maintains CPR Certification. Maintains an awareness of department performance improvement activities and participates appropriately. Keeps abreast of current trends in the field of psychiatric social work. COMPETENCY VALIDATION Maintains ability and knowledge in performing skills within a defined area as listed on competency checklist. Demonstrates skills at the acceptable standard as evaluated in this performance appraisal. Demonstrates skills at the acceptable standard of care. ASSESSMENT/PLANNING/IMPLEMENTATION/EVALUATION Assesses and summarizes the psychosocial needs and strengths of the psychiatric patient, and his/her family and community; develops plan of care to meet these needs and maximize these strengths in conjunction with the treatment plan; and provides psychosocial care to the patient, family and community. Facilitates and/or supervises the multidisciplinary treatment planning and discharge planning process to assure coordination of care and to provide appropriate follow-up and linkage with outside agencies. Assesses the psychosocial needs of the psychiatric group and participates in development of programs designed to meet these needs. Participates in orientation programs, in-services, continuing education programs and supervision provided for psychiatric staff. ASSESSMENT/PLANNING/IMPLEMENTATION/ EVALUATION Provides screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment services to patients identified as possibly engaged in high risk drinking or alcohol abuse. Facilitates the appropriate disposition of patients in need of mental health/chemical dependency services Organizes intake data in an appropriate manner Provides comprehensive shift to shift reporting on the status of intake. Reports all significant concerns/patient issues to the 2 North Director of Nursing/Assistant Vice President of Nursing. Consults with the physicians in order to obtain the appropriate disposition for mental health/chemical dependency patients. Maintains good public relations with the community by providing appropriate referral information. Communicates with Insurance Coordinator/Insurance Nurse to provide appropriate disposition of mental health/chemical dependency patients. Assesses appropriateness of admissions for patients in need of mental health/chemical dependency services. ASSESSMENT/PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION Assesses and records patient status, identifying the psychological and emotional needs of the patient and family/support system. Organizes the assessment data so that they are accurate, complete and accessible. Collaborates with the patient to develop the Comprehensive Problem List. Collaborates with the registered nurse to assure that the patient's nursing medical needs are addressed. Assesses discharge planning needs including identification of needed referrals and initiates the discharge planning process Completes intake assessments and assesses the treatment needs of callers seeking psychiatric/chemical dependency treatment. GOAL SETTING/PLANNING Primarily responsible for the development of the Phased Treatment Plan, recommends updates of treatment plans, and contributes to the discharge planning for program patients. Incorporates principles of age-specific care into the Phased Treatment Plan. Collaborates with the patient to identify treatment goals and methods during each phase of treatment. Begins plans for discharge at time of admission; consults with physician, registered nurse, patient and family regarding the discharge plan. Identifies patient/family teaching needs on admission and throughout treatment. Arranges conferences with family or other members of health team when indicated to plan care. IMPLEMENTATION/INTERVENTION Provides group therapy sessions and educational seminars for psychiatric and/or chemically dependent patients and their families. Provides individual and family counseling to primary patients and other patients in the outpatient programs as needed. Provides outpatient psychotherapy in various modalities including individual, family/marital and groups. Utilizes evidence-based interventions for each phase of treatment. Utilizes self-report or behavioral measures to evaluate patient's progress towards goals. documents all assessments, interventions and patient response. Maintains clinical records in accordance with department policy. Provides referral to the appropriate level of care for intakes. Participates in annual screening events or community education presentations. EVALUATION Evaluates care each session, changes Phased treatment Plan as needed and communicates changes to other members of the multidisciplinary team. Consults with the attending psychiatrist and other physicians as needed, regarding patient's progress. Discusses the patient at multidisciplinary conferences for feedback from peers. Reassesses treatment interventions for effectiveness in achieving desired outcomes. Transitions patient to a new phase of treatment based on response to significant changes in patient's primary concerns and within policy time frames. Therapist routinely seeks patient evaluations of therapy sessions and/or the therapeutic relationship Qualifications Required: Master's Degree from accredited school of social work; must be registered in the State of Illinois. Additional Information Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more. Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position): Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.