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Denver Health
Denver, Colorado

Social Worker MSW - Adolescent Inpatient Unit

Social WorkerPer Diem

Listed compensation

$31.34-$47.01/hr

The week · per this posting

Schedule not stated in this posting — no days, weekends, call or nights given.

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 45m ago · Verified live

Job Description

We are recruiting for a mission-driven Social Worker MSW - Adolescent Inpatient Unit to join our team!

We're with you for life’s journey. At Denver Health, purpose isn’t just something we believe in—it’s something we live every day, for life’s journey.

Our Values

Respect | Belonging | Accountability | Transparency

Department: Adult Psychiatrists

With over 700 employees, Behavioral Health Services (BHS) at Denver Health is a large and rapidly expanding department that provides psychiatric care for patients in community, emergency, inpatient, justice, medical, mobile, and outpatient settings.

As a non-profit committed to meeting community needs and promoting health equity, Denver Health offers psychiatrists a practice full of meaning and purpose. All physicians at Denver Health have an academic appointment at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

As such, Denver Health is an excellent place to work for physicians with an interest in clinical education.

Job Summary

Under general supervision, plans, organizes and implements social work treatment for Emergency Department/hospitalized patients and their families.

Assesses the biopsychosocial needs of patients and families and creates an individual plan of care, as it relates to the patient's current health concerns and ongoing access to care outside of the hospital.

Provides clinical interventions that help meet identified needs by utilizing personal, family and community resources. Provides crisis intervention, supportive counseling, case consultation and care coordination services.

Essential Functions

Conducts comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments that are thorough, individualized, objective and complete. Provides intervention appropriate to the presenting problem. Utilizes key case management components including assessment/reassessment, care planning, coordination of care, and documentation.

Evaluates emotional components, impact of health issues and assists patient to identify strengths, dysfunctional factors and to establish detailed discharge/transition of care plans. Provides care coordination throughout the continuum of care and/or hospitalization from case referral to case closure. (35%)

Applies knowledge of individual, group and family functioning to ensure appropriateness of treatment methods to assist patient in achieving care plan goals. Demonstrates the ability to develop effective brief interventions that are socio-culturally sensitive. (20%)

Routinely consults, negotiates, and coordinates with internal and external resources to assure collaborative efforts to maximize patient outcomes. (15%)

Facilitates multi-disciplinary communications and patient care meetings (i. e. case conferences/family meetings, rounding) and utilizes information to assess and reassess care needs. Demonstrates and educates staff as to the scope of function of the Social Work role in the health care team.

Ensures patient involvement in care planning and goal setting with informed consent documented.

Demonstrates knowledge and applicability of the principles of growth and development over the life span, as well as demonstrating the ability to assess the patient’s status and interpreting appropriate cultural information of the patient(s) to whom care/service is being delivered/provided.

Demonstrates knowledge of major concepts principles and theories of normal and abnormal human development, and its application to specific age groups. Utilizes knowledge of patient populations’ cultural, religious, ethnic and social systems in interactions, care planning and education.

Demonstrates comprehensive effective knowledge of programs, eligibility, and skill in obtaining appropriate resource/services; is able to educate others, to identify gaps and suggest alternatives. (15%)

Assists clients to maximize adjustment to illness/disability/trauma by addressing biopsychosocial issues and enhancing problem solving and coping skills. Evaluates emotional components, impact of health issues and assists client to identify disruptive factors to establish treatment goals. (15%)

Education

Master's Degree From an CSWE accredited college or university Required

Work Experience

1-3 years Typically, one-year full time post master’s degree Social Work practice under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Required

Licenses

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Knowledge of coordination of care/discharge planning, crisis intervention and supportive counseling.
  • Knowledge of medical/behavioral health terms, abbreviations, diagnosis, and demonstrates this knowledge verbally and in writing.
  • Skill in problem solving and use of critical thinking skills.
  • Skill in providing care appropriate to the age of the patients served within the healthcare setting.
  • Skill in establishing a treatment alliance and engaging the patient in goal setting and prioritizing.
  • Ability to manage the professional relationship including termination and/or transition of care.
  • Ability to respond to crisis situations and provide support.
  • Ability to advocate in a professional manner as appropriate.

Shift: Days (United States of America)

  • Work Type
  • PRN/Intermittent

Salary

$31.34 - $47.01 / hr

Benefits

At Denver Health, we take care of the people who take care of our community. Our benefits are built to support your life, your family, and your future — with exceptional retirement contributions, and nationally recognized well-being programs.

We invest in your growth through tuition assistance, career advancement pathways, and professional development — while also offering meaningful financial advantages through loan forgiveness eligibility and employer contributions.

When you join Denver Health, you’re joining a mission-driven organization that invests in you.

  • Here is a small list of our benefit programs:
  • Social security replacement retirement plan with employer contribution of 3%
  • On-site employee fitness center and wellness classes
  • Community resource navigation support
  • Childcare discount programs & exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more
  • Education & development opportunities including career pathways and coaching

About Denver Health

Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic healthcare system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denver’s 911 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 19 school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, the Public Health Institute at Denver Health, Denver Health Medical Plan and Denver Health Foundation.

As Colorado’s primary, and essential, safety-net healthcare system, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided millions in uncompensated care for the uninsured each year.

Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer.

Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We value the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community. All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Applicants will be considered until the position is filled.

Key Responsibilities

The social worker will conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments and develop individualized care plans for hospitalized patients. They will also provide crisis intervention, supportive counseling, and coordinate care transitions to ensure effective patient outcomes.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master's degree from a CSWE accredited institution. Additionally, 1-3 years of post-master's social work experience under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker is required.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Biopsychosocial assessmentPatient advocacyClinical documentationInterdisciplinary communicationTreatment planningCultural competence

Social Worker Career Context

Of the 40 active Social Work listings this role was benchmarked against, 50% are remote, 15% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Colorado is 103.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$81k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $79k in an average-cost state. 60.9% of Colorado clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top contract/1099 Social Worker Jobs

40 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution16 jobs

5
<$110k
2
$110k-125k
9
$125k-140k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks16 jobs

401k / retirement match
88% this job
CME allowance
44%
Loan repayment
19% this job
PSLF eligible
19% this job
Sign-on bonus
13%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Psychotherapist | Psychologist, LCSW, LPC, and/or LMFT

Colorado Center for Clinical Excellence · Denver, Colorado

$105-$135/hr
#2

Fully Licensed Therapist (Anxiety & Depression) – Remote California – 1099 (LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, Psychologist)1099

Open Mind Health · San Diego, California

$70-$80/hr
#3

Licensed Therapist (LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, Psychologist) – Remote California – 1099

$70-$80/hr
#4

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - NBMC (Per Diem, Day)

$64.03-$77.83/hr
+ 38 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Social Work listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 6,558 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Denver

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$560k
Typical market rent
$1,881/mo
Residents’ average commute
25 min
State income tax
Up to 4.4%
Sources & methodology

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

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

Denver Health logo

About Denver Health

Hospitals and Health Care
Denver, CO
5,001-10,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Social security replacement retirement plan with 3% employer contribution
On-site employee fitness center and wellness classes
Community resource navigation support
Childcare discount programs
Education & development opportunities
Loan forgiveness eligibility
PSLF eligible employer