Senior Social Worker - Adult Psychiatric Unit
Listed compensation
$43.41-$67.93/hr
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
The UW Medical Center-Northwest Social Work Department has an outstanding opportunity for a Senior Social Worker within the Adult Psychiatric Unit.
Work Schedule
- Full-Time / 40 hours per week
- Day Shift
Position Highlights
- As a member of a health care team, provide professional social work services in a client/patient care, research and/or teaching environment.
- Under general direction, provide social work services to clients/patients, their families, and/or others; and/or participate in health sciences research; and/or participate in health sciences teaching activities, and exercise independent decision-making authority and expertise specific to assigned area of practice.
The Senior Social Worker demonstrates a commitment to the following standards of practice:
- Collaboration: Works collaboratively with patients, families, interdisciplinary team members, consulting and referring physicians, other practitioners, caregivers and community resources and agencies.
- Communication: Communicates timely, relevant and accurate information to all parties involved with a patient’s care.
Facilitation: Facilitates the progression of care by advancing the care plan to achieve desired outcomes.
- Coordination: Integrates the work of the healthcare team by coordinating resources and services necessary to accomplish agreed-upon goals.
- Advocacy: Advocates on behalf of patients and caregivers for service access or creation, and for the protection of the patient’s health, safety and rights.
- Resource Management: Assures prudent utilization of all resources (fiscal, human, environmental, equipment and services) by evaluating the options available and balancing cost and quality to assure the optimal clinical and financial outcomes.
- Accountability: Accepts responsibility and accountability for achievement of optimal outcomes within their scope of practice.
- Professionalism: Acquires and maintains knowledge and competence related to the expectations of their position and practices within their scope.
Primary Job Responsibilities
- Provide specialty consultation to other health care staff and health care teams regarding psychosocially focused aspects of client/patient care.
- Provide psychosocial support to patients and families.
- Complete clinical assessments as per department standards.
- In collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, develop and implement safe and timely discharge plans.
- Provide care coordination for patients with complicated social and medical histories.
- Provide case management and counseling services in specialized programs.
Required Position Qualifications
A Master of Social Work Degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and one year of full-time social work experience in a health care setting or equivalent. Experience can include a practicum placement as part of a social work training program and/or employment experience.
Legal Requirement
Within 90 days of hire must hold one of the following credentials issued by the state of Washington:
- Agency Affiliated Counselor
- Licensed Social Work Associate -Advanced
- Licensed Social Work Associate - Independent Clinical
- Licensed Advance Social Worker
- Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
About UW Medical Center-Northwest
UW Medical Center is an acute care hospital located in Seattle with two campuses: Montlake and Northwest. As the No. 1 hospital in Seattle and Washington State since 2012 (U.S. News & World Report) and nationally ranked in six specialties, UW Medical Center prides itself on compassionate patient care as well as its pioneering medical advances.
The UW Medical Center–Northwest campus offers emergency and inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical, and therapeutic care. It is located in north Seattle on a beautiful, easy-to-access 44-acre campus that includes the neighboring Northwest Outpatient Medical Center and Specialty Care Meridian Pavilion.
Teamwork. Community. Opportunity.
About UW Medicine – Where Your Impact GOES Further
UW Medicine is Washington’s only health system that includes a top-rated medical school and an internationally recognized research center. UW Medicine’s mission is to improve the health of the public by advancing medical knowledge, providing outstanding primary and specialty care to the people of the region, and preparing tomorrow’s physicians, scientists and other health professionals.
All across UW Medicine, our employees collaborate to perform the highest quality work with integrity and compassion and to create a respectful, welcoming environment where every patient, family, student and colleague is valued and honored. Nearly 29,000 healthcare professionals, researchers, and educators work in the UW Medicine family of organizations that includes: Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center - Montlake, UW Medical Center - Northwest, Valley Medical Center, UW Medicine Primary Care, UW Physicians, UW School of Medicine, and Airlift Northwest.
Become part of our team. Join our mission to make life healthier for everyone in our community.
Compensation, Benefits and Position Details
Pay Range Minimum
$43.41 hourly
Pay Range Maximum
$67.93 hourly
Other Compensation
Benefits
For information about benefits for this position, visit washington.edu
Shift: First Shift (United States of America)
Temporary or Regular?
This is a regular position
FTE (Full-Time Equivalent)
100.00%
Union/Bargaining Unit
SEIU 1199NW UWMC Northwest Professional
About UW Medicine – Where Your Impact GOES Further
UW Medicine is Washington’s only health system that includes a top-rated medical school and an internationally recognized research center. UW Medicine’s mission is to improve the health of the public by advancing medical knowledge, providing outstanding primary and specialty care to the people of the region, and preparing tomorrow’s physicians, scientists and other health professionals.
All across UW Medicine, our employees collaborate to perform the highest quality work with integrity and compassion and to create a respectful, welcoming environment where every patient, family, student and colleague is valued and honored. Nearly 29,000 healthcare professionals, researchers, and educators work in the UW Medicine family of organizations that includes: Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center - Montlake, UW Medical Center - Northwest, UW Medicine Primary Care, UW Physicians, UW School of Medicine, and Airlift Northwest.
Our Commitment
The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.
Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.
Key Responsibilities
Provide clinical social work services in an adult psychiatric unit, including psychosocial assessments, support for patients and families, and consultation to healthcare staff. Coordinate care and resources, provide case management and counseling, and collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to develop safe, timely discharge plans.
Requirements
Requires a Master of Social Work degree from a Council on Social Work Education-accredited program and one year of full-time social work experience in a healthcare setting or equivalent; qualifying practicum experience may count. Within 90 days of hire, the employee must hold one of the listed Washington State counselor or social work credentials.
Key Skills
Psychiatry — Social Worker Career Context
The cost-of-living index for Washington is 107.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$116k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $108k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Washington clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Of the 50 active Psychiatry listings this role was benchmarked against, 74% are remote, 34% have no call, 74% require no weekends.
University of Washington holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 71/100, 99 active listings.
Location & Logistics
Washington has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$116k midpoint, that is roughly $5k–$8k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.
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