Social Worker - Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

Master of Social Work (MSW) – Case Manager

Position Summary

A healthcare organization is seeking a skilled Master of Social Work (MSW) Case Manager to play a critical role in ensuring high-quality, coordinated patient care throughout hospitalization and post-discharge. This position focuses on care coordination, discharge planning, utilization review support, and addressing psychosocial barriers to care to promote safe transitions and reduce readmissions.

The MSW Case Manager applies clinical expertise, care management principles, and interdisciplinary collaboration to support patients, families, providers, and external agencies across the continuum of care.

Position Highlights

• Full-time opportunity
• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees
• Sign-on bonus may be available for qualified candidates

Core Responsibilities

• Provide social work intervention related to hospitalization, including crisis management, discharge planning, ethical/legal concerns, illness adjustment, abuse/neglect concerns, substance use, mental health, financial challenges, and other psychosocial barriers
• Collaborate with patients, families, and the healthcare team to transition patients to the appropriate level of care using patient-centered, cost-effective strategies
• Advocate for patient self-determination while mediating and negotiating care plans and resource utilization
• Partner with physicians on capacity/competency determinations, guardianship processes, involuntary psychiatric admissions, and ethical concerns
• Complete and disseminate required legal, regulatory, and clinical documentation
• Participate in daily care coordination and utilization review activities to ensure medical necessity, appropriate length of stay, and payer compliance
• Facilitate discharge planning, including extended care placement, facility transfers, and home care arrangements
• Provide clinical data to outside agencies as required to ensure compliance
• Maintain timely, accurate, and comprehensive documentation across all systems

Additional Duties

• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial and spiritual assessments to identify barriers to care and improve patient outcomes
• Coordinate family meetings to support decision-making and care planning
• Integrate crisis intervention, strengths-based, solution-focused, and family systems approaches into daily practice
• Analyze admission and concurrent clinical data using medical necessity criteria to support appropriate patient placement
• Identify high-risk patients and implement interventions to reduce avoidable delays and readmissions
• Serve as a liaison and resource to physicians and staff regarding care management, reimbursement, and regulatory standards
• Maintain professional relationships with patients, families, community agencies, and facilities
• Participate in professional development and maintain licensure requirements
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements:
Education & Licensure

• Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) required
• Limited-license MSW candidates must be actively working toward full licensure, including completion of required supervised hours and licensing examination
• Case Management certification preferred (ACM certification recommended after two years of experience)

Experience, Training & Skills

• Demonstrated competency in social work case management, including assessment, crisis intervention, treatment planning, and care transitions
• Knowledge of community resources, public assistance programs, and entitlement services
• Experience in medical social work, healthcare, social service agencies, or community organizations preferred
• Strong communication, conflict resolution, decision-making, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills
• Adherence to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics
• Ability to analyze complex situations and communicate recommendations clearly to non-social work staff
• Proficiency with electronic documentation systems and standard computer applications

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to work in emotionally demanding environments, including exposure to trauma, grief, and death
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment
• Capability to move throughout the facility and perform essential job functions with or without accommodation
• Frequent sitting, standing, and walking; occasional lifting of up to 10 pounds
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, maintain reliable attendance, and work independently