Hackensack Meridian Health·Hackensack, New Jersey
The Trauma Social Worker coordinates clinical progression and discharge planning for trauma patients while providing emotional support and crisis intervention. They collaborate with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to ensure patients transition to the appropriate next level of care.
Overview Our team members are the heart of what makes us better.
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Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning.
It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community.
Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.
The Trauma Social Worker is a member of the healthcare team and is responsible for coordinating, communicating and facilitating the clinical progression of the patient's treatment and discharge plan.
Accountable for a designated patient caseload.
The Trauma Social Worker assesses, plans, and facilitates, with patients/families and healthcare professionals involved in the patients care to meet treatment goals, expected length of stay, and arrange for the appropriate next level of care.
Oversees Inter facility transitions and hand-off between acute & post-acute services, in collaboration with the Care Coordination team.
Follows State of New Jersey regulation for Social Work.
A day in the life of a Trauma Social Worker at Hackensack Meridian Health includes: Assesses all patients who are admitted for medical care to the trauma service, screens for mental health needs and potential discharge needs regardless of race, age, sex, religion, diagnosis and ability to pay. Meets directly with patient/family to assess needs, develop and implement an individualized plan in collaboration with the physician and other members of the health care team. Facilitates communication and coordination between members of the health care team and involves the patient/family in the decision-making process, in order to minimize fragmentation of services, manage resources and remove barriers to the plan of care. Provides social work intervention to patients and families to assist their ability to cope with traumatic injury and stress. Maintains current and up to date information of community resources and refers patients to those community resources which will enhance the patient's life. Consults with other community agencies and committees to identify potential resources to support patients and their families. Works collaboratively with all team members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team to effect timely and appropriate transitions to the next appropriate level of care and to ensure maximum benefit for each patient in the least restrictive environment that best meets the continuing care needs of the patient. Ensures provisions of continued care at home or in an appropriate extended care facility based upon the patient needs. Confirms the patient has a primary care provider upon discharge or refers appropriately to an ACO or FQHC Provides crisis intervention and emotional support to patients/families, including individual, group, and family counseling sessions in both the inpatient and outpatient setting (under the supervision of an LCSW, if applicable)\ Responds to trauma codes to assist in the patient and family's support. Assists in gathering and proper notifications of family and community resources. Documents and communicates information to the Multidisciplinary Team in order to coordinate and maximize care. Coordinates with the Care Coordination team to ensure that the EMR reflects the education, coordination of home care services, and placement in an extended care facility, durable medical equipment, and referral to complex care management team, ACO navigators and authorizations from providers. Participates actively on appropriate committee (i.e. Trauma Systems committee), workgroup, and/or meetings. Is responsible for trauma quality and ACS social services related metrics (i.e.: CAGE screening, smoking cessation, PTSD counseling, and referrals, etc.). Is a positive problem solver. Identifies and refers quality issues for review to the Quality Management Program. Participates in Multidisciplinary Team Rounds, specific to trauma. Brings forth issues which impact on discharge as well as LOS to the team, in a timely manner, for discussion and resolution. Reassesses periodically and evaluates against care goals and the plan of care and, when indicated, the plan or goals are revised. Medical records reflect that each patient's discharge plan is re-assessed no less than weekly in response to change in medical situation. Provides patients and families with resources. Educates about risks and benefits of discharge options and how to obtain services and available health care benefits. Participates in research as it relates to trauma and utilizes pertinent research for managing patient care issues. Provides in-service education to the trauma service and other departments as requested. Demonstrates current knowledge of trauma care through the lifespan via literature, trauma rounds and conferences. Regularly attends and participates in Trauma Conferences, team rounds, multidisciplinary rounds, Trauma Committee, and other conferences/meetings as appropriate. Collaborates with all members of the multidisciplinary team to support the following functions: crisis intervention, counseling support and referrals, abuse/neglect, guardianship, and psychosocial assessment. Liaises with the Care Coordination team to receive updates regarding discharge planning efforts. Other duties and/or projects as assigned. Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.
Qualifications: Education,
Required: Master's of Social Work Two years of experience as a social worker in a health care setting. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Proficient computer skills that include but are not limited to Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite platforms. Licenses and Certifications Required: NJ Licensed Social Worker. Trauma Certification in Social Work required within 1 year from date of hire. Licenses and Certifications Preferred: NJ Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Certified Case Manager or Accredited Case Manager Certification.
Regular contact with Medical Center personnel, patients and visitors.
Working
Conditions: Lifts a minimum of 2 lbs., pushes and pulls a minimum of 2 lbs., and stand a minimum of 4 hours a day. If you feel the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today! Starting Minimum Rate Minimum rate of $73,153.60 Annually Job Posting Disclosure HMH is committed to pay equity and transparency for our team members. The posted rate of pay in this job posting is a reasonable good faith estimate of the minimum base pay for this role at the time of posting in accordance with the New Jersey Pay Transparency Act and does not reflect the full value of our market-competitive total rewards package. The starting rate of pay is provided for informational purposes only and is not a guarantee of a specific offer. Posted hourly rates may be stated as an annual salary in the offer and posted annual salaries may be stated as an hourly rate in the offer, depending on the level and nature of the job duties and credentials of the candidate. The base compensation determined at the time of the offer may be different than the posted rate of pay based on a number of non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to:
Labor
Market
Data: Compensation is benchmarked against market data to ensure competitiveness.
Candidates must hold a Master's of Social Work and a New Jersey Social Worker license, with at least two years of healthcare experience. Trauma Certification in Social Work is required within one year of hire.
Market context
Operations roles in New Jersey often see steady demand in settings that support daily service delivery, especially when reliability, scheduling, and compliance matter. These positions can be competitive because employers often look for candidates who already hold CPR/First Aid certification, have a high school diploma or GED, and can work well with seniors. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your certifications and highlight any senior-care experience before applying.
