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Naphcare
Waterloo, Iowa

Licensed Social Worker (MHP)

Social WorkerFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 4m ago · Verified live

Job Description

NaphCare is seeking to hire an experienced Licensed Social Worker Mental Health Counselor (LCSW, LCMHC, LMFT, LMHP, LMSW, LISW, LPC, or LPCC) to join our team of medical professionals in the Black Hawk County Jail in Waterloo, IA.

As a Correctional Licensed Social Worker Mental Health Counselor, you will work alongside correctional officers and other medical professionals to provide mental health care to the individuals in residence.

Working within a controlled environment, where security is top priority and the days are never dull, you will have various duties to keep you engaged. This is a unique position where you can make a difference to this diverse population of patients with complex mental health and medical needs.

Responsibilities

Job Duties / Responsibilities

The Licensed Social Worker Mental Health Counselor is responsible for assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients in residence with mental illnesses, substance use disorders, and behavioral issues ensuring they receive quality care that protects their rights, dignity and health. Duties and responsibilities may include and are not limited to:

Collaborating with medical, mental health and correctional staff to enhance quality patient care while maintaining a safe and secure work environment

Performing and documenting mental health evaluations, progress notes, individual notes, individual treatment plans, addressing criminogenic needs and promoting positive behavioral change to prepare residents for release

Participating in educational and training activities related to mental health care for patients, security personnel, and healthcare staff

Documenting and managing case files, patient progress, preparing reports.

Initiating and/or participating in patient education and treatment programs, such as developing educational materials.

Monitoring compliance with site-specific and company policies and procedures, taking appropriate corrective action, and ensuring compliance with ACA, NCCHC standards

Qualifications

Experience / Requirements / Qualifications / Skills

A minimum of 3 years’ clinical experience in a mental health care or acute care setting, with correctional healthcare experience preferred

Must have knowledge and experience in the identification and treatment of mental health and co-occurring substance abuse disorders, discharge planning, principles of social work, basic principles of individual and group behavior, and a working knowledge of psychotropic medications

Correctional counselors must be able to remain calm under pressure while assess patients’ situations, underlying causes of their behavior and be able to develop interventions and treatment plans

Effective communications skills are required for building patient rapport and relaying information and treatment plan with other medical and mental health care professionals

Strong organizational skills are needed to keep track of patient treatment plans and progress notes

Must have the ability to maintain confidentiality of all proprietary and/or confidential information and integrity, professionalism and ability to adhere to a Code of Conduct and comply with all facility(s) correctional healthcare policies, procedures, and legal requirements

Must pass the facility’s criminal background check and drug screening

Physical Capabilities

Must have the ability to stand for long periods, lift and move patients (up to 50 pounds), bend, squat, reach, push, pull, walk significant distances, and perform physically demanding tasks like CPR, all while maintaining good balance and endurance throughout a shift.

Why Join NaphCare?

NaphCare is one of the largest providers of healthcare services to correctional facilities throughout the US, and we are growing. If you have never considered a career in correctional healthcare, now may be the time. In addition to competitive salaries and generous employee benefits, we strongly support career advancement within the company.

NaphCare Benefits for Full-Time Employees Include

  • Health, dental & vision insurance that starts day one!
  • Prescriptions free of charge through our health plan, beginning day one
  • Lowest Cost Benefits!
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services
  • 401K and Roth with company contribution that starts day one!
  • Tuition Assistance
  • Referral bonuses
  • Term life insurance at no cost to the employee
  • Generous paid time off & paid holidays

Free Continuing Education and CMEs

  • Want a better idea of what it’s like to work in a jail? See what our MHPs do:
  • NaphCare - Life as a Mental Health Professional - YouTube
  • If you would like to speak with me to learn more about this position and NaphCare, apply directly to the position to initiate the application process, and I’ll be in touch.
  • Equal Opportunity Employer: disability/veteran
  • Follow Us: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Advancing Correctional Healthcare | NaphCare

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Mental health assessmentCrisis interventionTreatment planningSubstance abuse counselingCase managementClinical documentationBehavioral therapyPsychotropic medication knowledgeCommunication skillsPatient rapport buildingCompliance monitoring

Social Worker Career Context

Of the 50 active Social Work listings this role was benchmarked against, 36% are remote, 34% have no call, 66% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Iowa is 87.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.8% of Iowa clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Social Work by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedSocial Work median $76k (middle half $67k–$118k)22 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost of livingIowa index 87.8US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Social Work listings in Iowa52 active6,427 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 36% remote · 34% no call · 66% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedUS Social Worker listings: 8% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 5% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
New Social Work listings2,510 in the last 30 days1,443 the 30 days before (+74%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Social Worker Jobs

31 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

26 jobs · 23 employers
4
<$90k
8
$90k-110k
6
$110k-130k
8
$130k-150k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

23 jobs
401k / retirement match
96% this job
CME allowance
43% this job
Sign-on bonus
30%
Loan repayment
9%
Relocation assistance
9%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Full Time, Day)

NorthBay Health · Fairfield, California

$58.21-$70.76/hr
#2

FFS Clinical Supervisor - LCSW

Northeast Family Services · New York, New York

$62-$70/hr
#3

Medical Social Worker - Population Health (Full Time, Day)

$55.87-$67.96/hr
#4

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

$123k-$141k
+ 29 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 5.1this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Social Work listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 6,365 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Naphcare logo

About Naphcare

Hospitals and Health Care
Birmingham, AL
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health, dental & vision insurance starting day one
Prescriptions free of charge through health plan
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
401K and Roth with company contribution starting day one
Tuition Assistance
Referral bonuses
Term life insurance at no cost
Generous paid time off & paid holidays

Living in Waterloo

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$171k
Typical market rent
$909/mo
Residents’ average commute
16 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
87.1
State income tax
Up to 6%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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