Medical Social Consultant - UI Health, Inpatient Medical/Surgical

Medical Social Consultant - UI Health, Inpatient Medical/Surgical
Hiring Department: Continuum of Care
Location: Chicago, IL USA
Requisition ID: 1041122
FTE: 1
Work Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday, 9:00AM - 5:30PM
Shift: Days
# of Positions: 1
Workplace Type: On-Site
Posting Close Date: May 29, 2026
Salary Range (commensurate with experience): $67,329.60 - 118,747.20 / Annual Salary
About the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health)
The University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health) provides comprehensive care, education, and research to the people of Illinois and beyond. A part of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), UI Health comprises a clinical enterprise that includes a Joint Commission-accredited tertiary care hospital and outpatient clinics, and the Mile Square Health Center network of federally qualified health centers. It also includes the seven UIC health science colleges: the College of Applied Health Sciences; the College of Dentistry; the School of Public Health; the Jane Addams College of Social Work; and the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing, including regional campuses in Peoria, Quad Cities, Rockford, Springfield, and Urbana. UI Health is dedicated to the pursuit of health equity. Learn more: https://hospital.uillinois.edu/about-ui-health
This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.
Report to the Director of Health Social Work and take direction from leadership under the Department of Health Social Work. The Social Worker provides counseling, comprehensive psychosocial assessment and related functions for patients identified as needing Social Work support or intervention. Serves as collaborative partner with the members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team to facilitate an appropriate transitional care plan. A progression of responsibility is evident in this series and ranges from simple, routine, and repetitive duties performed to duties that are complex and highly diversified requiring the exercise of discretion and independent judgment performed under administrative direction.
Duties & Responsibilities:

• Meets directly with patient/family to perform a comprehensive psychosocial assessment including social, emotional, cultural, mental status, environmental and financial circumstances in conjunction with an interdisciplinary assessment of the patient. Recommends a plan of intervention based on mutually established goals.
• Conducts and documents initial psychosocial assessment, appropriate interventions, and expected transition in a comprehensive, clear, timely and legible manner, addressing:
  
  • Reactions to illness and different abilities, especially the chronically and terminally ill.
  • Adjustment to the medical setting and compliance with the treatment plan
  • Adjustment/coping with post-hospital/clinic care needs and linkage to community resources
  • Facilitates health care surrogacy and/or guardianship process, for patients deemed non-decisional by medical team, in accordance with Illinois Health Care Surrogate Act and hierarchy.
  • Leads efforts to find family and/or surrogate decision maker for patients.
  • Collaborates with complex service line and the legal department to file for Illinois state guardian when necessary
  • Coordinates groups for supportive interventions or educational opportunities
  • Addresses financial issues related to insurance coverage and payment, refers to Financial Case Management Unit
  • Conflict resolution, management of complex family dynamics impacting plan of care and discharge planning, coordination of complex clinical case conferences
  • Investigation, management and reporting of suspected abuse or neglect of minor children and vulnerable adults.
  • Facilitates involvement of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS). Facilitates involvement of Illinois Department on Aging. Identifies, reports, provides intervention, offers safety planning, and documents cases of suspected Intimate Partner Violence/Domestic Violence of adults. Facilitates involvement of Chicago Police Department when deemed necessary
  • Assesses for depression and suicidal ideation using validated tools. Addresses psychiatric symptoms and substance use disorders
  • Provides supportive care for patients considered for hospice/palliative care and participates in family meetings to discuss goals of care and end of life planning
  • Address needs for patients who are unhoused
  • Performs assessments of the physical environment and adequacy of support systems to prevent a crisis and/or hospitalization.

Social Work-related tasks:

• Quality Improvement committees and other committees where Social Work involvement is warranted

Coverage/Training/Clinical Performance Activities

• Provide Cross Coverage to other clinics and inpatient medical units as assigned
• Assist with training new staff and student interns
• Assists in the collection and reporting of financial indicators including LOS, avoidable days, resource utilization, discharge barriers, cost per case, readmission rates and denials
• Uses data to drive decisions and plan/implement performance improvement strategies related to social work for assigned patients/units, including financial, clinical, quality, and patient satisfaction data
• Collects data for discharge delays, over-utilization of resources, avoidable days, and other data for specific performance and/or outcome indicators
• Participates in the development, implementation, evaluation, and revision of tools in collaboration with healthcare team
• Assumes responsibility for professional development and social work clinical education requirements by participating in workshops, conferences and/or in-services
• Develop and lead Groups or education sessions
• Provide any functions that may be considered appropriate to the role or services as a Social Worker
• Maintains competency for Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Clinical Licensure (LCSW) and credentialing of program to allow for the ability to generate revenue under billing of services.
• Psychiatric transfers
• Other Duties as assigned

Inpatient and Ambulatory Medical Social Work

• Manages discharge planning through placement coordination and resource utilization
• Actively participates in the stages of discharge planning and ensures that the plan of care is coordinated, facilitated, and effectively communicated to the Physician, healthcare team, patient/designated caregiver(s)
• Attends daily Multidisciplinary Rounds (MDRs) or Unit/Clinic based rounds
• Utilize appropriate software to cultivate resources mapped directly from the Patient's medical, social, and cultural needs, insurance coverage, financial status, geographical preference, and physician recommendations
• Coordinates action plans when barriers are present to facilitate resolution
• Escalates to supervisor/director when barriers are present to facilitate resolution. Proactively identifies and resolves delays and obstacles to discharge. Utilizes
• Coordinates discharge planning to ensure a timely discharge (placement or return to the community) through early identification, assessment, and intervention for post-medical center care needs, to ensure that the patient is discharged, when medically ready, to:
  
  • Other Hospitals
  • Rehabilitative facilities
  • Extended care facilities
  • Sub-Acute Care or Group Homes
  • Psychiatric and Chemical Dependency Care
  • Return to home or other living arrangement
• Demonstrates knowledge of community resources and an ability to connect patients and families with these resources. Acts as an advocate on behalf of the patient who requires assistance to gain access to needed information, resources, or services
• Reviews clinically high-risk cases and submits for review at weekly Clinical High-Risk meeting, attended by Physician Advisor, Risk, Ethics and Discharge Planning
• Engages Clinic Providers and Staff through regular contact/updates and attendance at clinic/provider meetings
• Facilitates appropriate transitions of care by engaging the clinical team upon admission and discharge and referring the patient to ambulatory social work and care coordination as appropriate

Minimum Qualifications Required:

1. Master's degree from an accredited school or university in social or behavioral science or a related health specialty area.
2. Current State of IL Licensure as a Licensed Social Worker or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

To Apply: For fullest consideration click on the Apply Now button, please fully complete all sections of the onlineapplication including adding your full work history with specific details of your duties & responsibilities for each position held. Fully complete the education, licensure, certification and language sections. You may upload a resume, cover letter, certifications, licensures, transcripts and diplomas within the application.
Please note that once you have submitted your application you will not be able to make any changes. In order to revise your application you must withdraw and reapply. You will not be able to reapply after the posting close date. Please ensure the application is fully completed and all supporting documents have been uploaded before the posting close date. Illinois Residency is required within 180 days of employment.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation
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.