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Cayuga Health System
Ithaca, New York

Psychiatric Social Worker - Adolescents

Social WorkerFull-Time

Listed compensation

$32.39-$40.55/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

Psychiatric Social Worker

Cayuga Health and its affiliates are the region's leading healthcare system and most trusted providers of integrated health services, empowering our people in our mission to equitably improve the well-being of the communities we serve.

Our commitment to providing extraordinary healthcare begins with our team of extraordinary professionals who are continuously discovering clinical innovations and enhancing access to the most up-to-date facilities, equipment, technologies, and research protocols.

Cayuga Health's commitment to our employees includes competitive compensation, comprehensive employee benefits programs, and the opportunity to explore and build a career in healthcare through our many professional development programs.

Roles and Responsibilities

Conducts interviews with patients, clients, family members, and other relevant persons to gather comprehensive case histories.

Collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to assign cases to appropriate staff, ensuring effective service delivery and providing technical guidance in a psychiatric setting.

Trains and orients new staff while maintaining a caseload and providing therapeutic treatment to clients and families.

Assists staff in crisis situations, directly handles explosive situations, and consults on interventions.

Analyzes operations and makes recommendations for improving policies and procedures within the division or department.

Prepares necessary documents, including narrative, statistical, and court reports, benefits or services forms, and treatment plans, ensuring they are comprehensive and meet required standards.

Acts as a liaison for outpatient agencies and providers, coordinating discharge plans with the multidisciplinary team, patient, family, primary care, and receiving outpatient provider.

Required Skills and Experience

  • Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university.
  • Successful completion of TCI Training within three months of hire.
  • Familiarity with community resources as applicable to patients' needs for services and placement.
  • Previous experience in mental health field, preferably in an acute care inpatient psychiatric setting.

Preferred Skills and Experience

LMSW/LCSW preferred.

Physical Requirements

Audio/visual acuity and physical dexterity to interact appropriately with patients, peers, visitors, staff, and outside customers/agencies.

Ability to do long periods of standing, walking, bending and stretching, and ability to change position and body motion quickly.

Ability to lift and assist in lifting, utilizing appropriate body mechanics, without weight restriction.

Ability to participate as a member of the team trained to physically subdue and restrain individuals in behavioral dyscontrol, of all sizes and strengths. This activity includes, but is not limited to, lifting, holding, straining and running.

Mental Requirements

Emotional stability and organizational skills necessary to meet the demands of a stressful environment and emergency situations.

Good interpersonal skills to interact in appropriate manner with various personalities, relating to patients, peers, supervisors, physicians, other hospital staff and outside agencies.

Knowledge of regulatory requirements regarding risks involved in exposure to blood-borne and hazardous toxic substances.

  • Self-motivation to effectively manage social work/case management for often time's heavy caseload.
  • Confidence and flexibility to function as a team player.
  • Willingness to provide patient care for all patients within the Behavioral Health Department.

Location and Travel Requirements

Onsite - CMXC Main Campus

Pay Disclosure

  • Exempt
  • $32.39 to $40.55 per hour

Cayuga Health System and its affiliates are committed to treating all patients, providers, staff and volunteers equitably and with dignity, ensuring the highest levels of safety, care and respect, and striving to recognize and overcome biases and policies that contribute to disparities in healthcare access, equitable care and positive health outcomes for all.

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, supporting the growth and health of our employees and community by embracing the rich diversity, needs and circumstances of all peoples and prioritizing opportunities to build a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable protected characteristics.

If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, a job interview or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact the Cayuga Health Talent Acquisition team at talentacquisition@cayugahealth.org.

Key Responsibilities

The Psychiatric Social Worker conducts comprehensive patient interviews, develops treatment plans, and provides therapeutic care within a multidisciplinary team. They also manage crisis situations, coordinate discharge planning, and contribute to policy improvements within the department.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Social Work and complete TCI training within three months of hire. Previous experience in an acute care inpatient psychiatric setting is preferred, along with LMSW or LCSW licensure.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Psychiatric social workCrisis interventionMultidisciplinary collaborationMental health assessmentReport writingPatient advocacyClinical documentationCrisis managementPolicy analysis

Psychiatry — Social Worker Career Context

The cost-of-living index for New York is 107.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$76k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $70k in an average-cost state. 64.6% of New York clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Psychiatry listings this role was benchmarked against, 48% are remote, 40% have no call, 68% require no weekends.

What does the Psychiatry market look like in New York?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$67k–$84kPsychiatry median $56k (middle half $49k–$75k)36 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$70k in purchasing powerNew York index 107.9 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Psychiatry listings in New York13 active59 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 48% remote · 40% no call · 68% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedNew York Social Worker listings: 5% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 6% offer loan repayment683 active listings, Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Social Worker Jobs

41 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

41 jobs · 27 employers
21
<$85k
9
$85k-100k
0
$100k-115k
8
$115k-130k
3
$130k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

30 jobs · 27 employers
401k / retirement match
100%
Sign-on bonus
37%
CME allowance
20%
Loan repayment
10%
PSLF eligible
10%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)

LifeStance Health · Vancouver, Washington

$123k-$141k
#2

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

LifeStance Health · West Linn, Oregon

$123k-$141k
#3

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)

$117k-$134k
#4

LICSW - Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

$73k-$126k
+ 39 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 3.0
Below most Psychiatry (Social Work) listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 57 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site

Living in Ithaca

Typical market rent
$2,038/mo
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
103.3
State income tax
Up to 10.9%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Ithaca, NY metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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