Social Worker PRN

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.

Job Summary

The Social Worker provides comprehensive psychosocial assessments, counseling, education, and discharge planning services to patients and families. This role supports individuals in coping with hospitalization, illness, diagnosis, and complex life situations, while ensuring continuity of care and safe transitions post-discharge. The Social Worker collaborates across multidisciplinary teams to enhance social functioning, address barriers to care, and connect patients with appropriate community resources.

Duties And Responsibilities

Clinical Assessment & Intervention

• Conduct psychosocial assessments to identify emotional, social, and environmental strengths and needs related to patients’ illness, diagnosis, or life circumstances.
• Develop and implement individualized care plans using appropriate social work interventions.
• Provide counseling, education, and crisis intervention to patients and families to enhance or restore social functioning.
• Collaborate with patients and families to support shared decision-making regarding care and discharge planning.
  
  

• Facilitate discharge planning across the multidisciplinary continuum of care.
• Collaborate with physicians, nursing staff, third-party payers, and external providers to ensure timely and appropriate patient transitions.
• Maintain current knowledge of community resources, and provide linkages and referrals to appropriate agencies and services.
  
  

• Under the supervision of an LCSW, support screening, identification, and management of suspected abuse, neglect, domestic violence, sexual assault, and similar concerns.
• Advocate for patient rights and ensure that psychosocial factors impacting patient care are addressed.
• Serve as a resource for clinical teams regarding psychosocial and community-based issues.
  
  

• Document assessments, plans, interventions, and outcomes according to departmental guidelines.
• Maintain required records and statistical data in compliance with department policies.
• Stay current with legal, ethical, and regulatory issues impacting patient care, including advance directives and reporting requirements.
• Participate in multidisciplinary rounds, team meetings, and committees.
• Contribute to continuous quality improvement initiatives within the department and hospital.
  
  

• Provide education to healthcare professionals regarding social work roles, psychosocial issues, and community resources.
• Participate in staff development activities and maintain current knowledge of social work and healthcare developments.
• May participate in on-call or after-hours coverage as assigned.
  
  

• Strong assessment, interviewing, and counseling skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Effective interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and manage multiple responsibilities.
• Working knowledge of community resources, governmental and private agencies.
• Basic computer proficiency.
• Self-directed and able to work in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
  
  

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited school required.
• Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited institution preferred.
  
  

• One year of experience in a healthcare setting or social service agency required; social work internships may count toward this requirement.
  
  

• No specific licensure or certification required for this level.
  
  

• N/A
  
  

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.