Licensed Social Worker - Lead

Employment Type

Full time

Shift

Day Shift

Description

Loyola Medicine is seeking an experienced and compassionate Lead Social Worker to provide clinical leadership within the Care Management department. Reporting to the Director of Care Management, the Lead Social Worker oversees complex psychosocial cases, supports discharge planning initiatives, supervises social work staff, and drives departmental performance improvement efforts. This role combines advanced clinical social work practice with leadership responsibilities, including staff development, orientation, mentoring, performance management, community partnership development, and oversight of social work services that promote positive patient outcomes.

Hours: Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pm with rotating weekends every 4-6 weeks

What You'll Do

Clinical Leadership & Complex Case Management

• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments for patients experiencing complex medical, emotional, social, financial, and family challenges.
• Develop individualized plans of care and coordinate interventions that support optimal patient outcomes.
• Provide expert consultation and intervention in cases involving:
• Child abuse and neglect
• Domestic violence
• Elder abuse
• Institutional abuse
• Assault and trauma
• End-of-life decision-making
• Advocate for patient and family empowerment, autonomy, and access to healthcare services and community resources.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and resource for care management and interdisciplinary teams.

Complex Discharge Planning

• Lead discharge planning efforts for patients with complex medical, social, and family dynamics.
• Coordinate transitions to post-acute care settings, including:
• Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs)
• Rehabilitation Facilities
• Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals (LTACHs)
• Assisted Living Facilities
• Home Health Agencies
• Community-Based Residential Facilities (CBRFs)
• Collaborate with physicians, case managers, patients, families, and community partners to ensure safe and timely discharges.
• Identify and address barriers that could delay discharge or increase length of stay.
• Evaluate quality and effectiveness of community-based vendors and referral partners.

Legal, Regulatory & Community Resource Expertise

• Provide guidance regarding legal and regulatory issues impacting social work practice, including:
• HIPAA
• Advance Directives
• Healthcare Proxy
• EMTALA
• Conditions of Participation
• Workers' Compensation
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Maintain strong relationships with community agencies, state organizations, and social service providers.
• Assist patients and families with navigating complex healthcare and social service systems.

Team Leadership & Staff Development

• Recruit, interview, hire, onboard, train, and mentor social work staff and volunteers.
• Develop and implement orientation plans for newly hired team members.
• Create educational resources and training materials that support staff development.
• Serve as a preceptor and mentor for social workers pursuing LCSW licensure.
• Conduct annual performance evaluations and support employee development plans.
• Participate in corrective action and performance management processes as needed.

Quality Improvement & Operations

• Lead departmental performance improvement and process improvement initiatives.
• Monitor outcomes, collect data, and evaluate program effectiveness.
• Assist with budget planning and budget management activities.
• Develop reports and presentations for leadership, boards, and community stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, accreditation standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Promote patient safety, service excellence, and continuous quality improvement.

What You'll Need

• Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW)
• Doctorate Degree (PhD or related field) preferred
• Licensed Social Worker (LSW) – State of Illinois
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) – State of Illinois preferred
• 6–10 years of progressive social work experience in healthcare, care management, case management, or related settings
• Experience managing complex psychosocial and discharge planning cases
• 1–2 years of supervisory or leadership experience

Compensation

Salary Range: $61,942 - $101,587 annually

Actual compensation will fall within the range but may vary based on factors such as experience, qualifications, education, location, licensure, certification requirements, and comparisons to colleagues in similar roles.

Benefits

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Our Commitment

Rooted in our Mission and Core Values, we honor the dignity of every person and recognize the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents each colleague brings. By finding common ground and embracing our differences, we grow stronger together and deliver more compassionate, person-centered care. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.