Duke University logo
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

Behavioral Health Case Manager PRN

Social WorkerPer Diem

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

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 Regional Hospital Pursue your passion for caring with Duke Regional Hospital in Durham, North Carolina.

With 388 beds it is the second largest of Duke Health's four hospitals and offers a comprehensive range ofmedical, surgical, and diagnostic services, including orthopedics, weight-loss surgery, women's services, and heart and vascular services.

Manage a designated caseload to coordinate and complete timely assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of discharge plans and care transitions across the continuum of care.

Ensure optimum utilization of the patient's and the Health System's resources and perform these duties within the requirements of CMS and other external review agencies.

Work Performed

Monitor daily census and assignment to assure all patients are assessed for case management needs including care coordination/transition and discharge planning, consultations, advocacy, education.

Maintain effective communication with health care team members related to assessment findings, discharge planning needs and provider orders needed to arrange Homecare, Durable Medical Equipment, Transportation, Skilled Nursing or Acute Rehab Facility placement, Substance Abuse Treatment and outpatient follow-up.

Maintain working knowledge of specific benefits and reimbursement guidelines, the discharge planning process and applicable federal, state and local regulations. Provide education and guidance on these topics to providers, patients and families as needed.

Work with Utilization Management partners to provide information and feedback that will enhance negotiations and denial prevention with payers.

Maintain timely documentation of assessment findings, discharge arrangements and actions taken according to departmental guidelines; prepare reports and maintain records as requested and/or required. Monitor daily census and assignment to assure all patients are assessed for case management needs including care coordination/transition and discharge planning, consultations, advocacy, education.

Maintain effective communication with health care team members related to assessment findings, discharge planning needs and provider orders needed to arrange Homecare, Durable Medical Equipment, Transportation, Skilled Nursing or Acute Rehab Facility placement, Substance Abuse Treatment and outpatient follow-up.

Maintain working knowledge of specific benefits and reimbursement guidelines, the discharge planning process and applicable federal, state and local regulations. Provide education and guidance on these topics to providers, patients and families as needed.

Work with Utilization Management partners to provide information and feedback that will enhance negotiations and denial prevention with payers.

Maintain timely documentation of assessment findings, discharge arrangements and actions taken according to departmental guidelines; prepare reports and maintain records as requested and/or required.

Inpatient Job Responsibilities/Activities

Complete initial assessment within 72 hours to identify psychosocial strengths, weaknesses, community living supports present and needed.

Contact with patient primary support systems to gather information regarding dynamics and needs of support system.

Conduct support system/family therapy to allow patient/support to practice skills needed to support community living and/or assist in development of functional patterns of interactions.

Conduct group sessions for patients focused on skill building/interactional skills.

Assist patient in development of safety plan to promote positive coping while living in community setting.

Facilitate discharge planning for patients, involving support systems when possible, to provide level of intervention that creates environment for crisis contacts and safe community living.

Interface with team to determine multidisciplinary assessment of discharge planning needs and provide information regarding support system/family function.

  • Update Interqual.
  • Other duties as assigned.
  • Typical case load is 10 patients.

Consult/Liason Job Responsibilities/Activities

Primnary responsbility is to complete assessments in ED and discharge planningfor patients within the hospital

Secondary responsbility is discharge planning assistance for psychiatric followup for patients being treated for a medical condition

Complete crisis assessments to determine level of care required for patient to move to safe community living including but not limited to reason for presentation, current symptoms and level of distress, ability to participate in treatment, safety assessment, past history of treament, current support systems, strengths, weaknesses and primary psychiatric diagnosis.

Facilitate discharge planning with psychiatric appointments or referrals to other facilities as determined by level of care needed.

Facilitate tracking of IVC paperwork for all patients who are awaiting transfer to another facility

Interace with team for cases covered by consult service to determine multidisciplinary assessment of discharge planning needs and provide information regarding support system/family function update Interqual for patients who are not being treated for medical condition (typically observation patients at Duke Raleigh)

Case load varies as immediate needs vary. As a guide, 3 initial assessments and discharge planning activities for up to 6 patients could be completed during 8 hour shift. Pediatric cases take longer to complete initial assessment so the total number would be reduced if patient is under 18

Provide community liaison to one mental health workgroup

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • 3 yrs. Adult/Mental health experience preferred
  • Ability to work effectively in a self-directed role
  • Ability to multi-task
  • LCSW-A or LCSW capable of daily problem-solving complex issues
  • Excellent written and verbal skills
  • Basic computer skills necessary

Lev el Characteristics

N/A

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Master's degree in social work from an accredited school of social work.

Experience

  • 3 years of relevant experience.
  • Degrees, Licensures, Certifications

Current licensure as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) by the NC Social Work Certification and Licensure Board.

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.

Key Responsibilities

The Behavioral Health Case Manager manages a designated caseload to coordinate discharge planning, care transitions, and psychosocial assessments for patients. They also provide crisis assessments in the Emergency Department and facilitate referrals to ensure safe community living.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Social Work and possess current licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in North Carolina. A minimum of 3 years of relevant adult or mental health experience is required.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Psychosocial assessmentCrisis interventionMental health advocacyInterdisciplinary communicationSafety planningPatient educationMulti-tasking

Behavioral Health — Social Worker Career Context

The cost-of-living index for North Carolina is 94.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.2% of North Carolina clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Social Worker listings this role was benchmarked against, 30% are remote, 40% have no call, 66% require no weekends.

Social Worker pay on WeekdayDoc is down 1.6% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Top contract/1099 Social Worker Jobs

40 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution40 jobs · 33 employers

18
<$85k
5
$85k-105k
9
$105k-125k
8
$125k-145k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks27 jobs

401k / retirement match
93%
Sign-on bonus
30%
CME allowance
30%
Loan repayment
26%
PSLF eligible
15%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Clinical Supervisor - CA - LPCC and LCSW

Thriveworks · San Diego, California

$57.95 - $67.22/hr
#2

Remote (LCSW) Licensed Clinical Social Worker-VirginiaContract

Adjuvant Behavior Health · Richmond, Virginia

$66/hr
#3

Licensed Clinical Social Worker / LCSW

$60-$65/hr
#4

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

$65/hr
+ 38 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 5.1this job 1.5
Below most Social Work Case Manager listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 101 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Durham

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$363k
Typical market rent
$1,659/mo
Residents’ average commute
22 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
97.6
State income tax
Up to 4.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.