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VCU Health
Richmond, Virginia

Psychiatric Social Worker (LCSW) - Virginia Treatment Center for Children

Social WorkerNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$69k-$106k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

The Psych Social Worker-LCSW provides direct diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic treatment services where a patient’s functioning has been affected by social issues and mental health disorders.

This job conducts clinical biopsychosocial assessments, create therapeutic treatment plans, and provide support, education, therapy, and safe discharge planning for all patients within the Department of Psychiatry.

This job also requires family meetings, family therapy, family education, and family input (as appropriate) in treatment and discharge plans.

The Psych Social Worker-LCSW provides therapeutic intervention for various mental health disorders, including, but not limited to, Cognitive Disorders, Substance-Related Disorders, Schizophrenia and other Psychotic Disorders, Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Adjustment Disorders, and Personality Disorders. This position works closely and have daily interaction with attending psychiatrist, resident psychiatrist, nurse practitioner and nurse.

Licensure, Certification, or Registration Requirements for Hire: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the State of Virginia required. Licensure, Certification, or Registration Requirements for continued employment: Current LCSW license required.

Experience REQUIRED: Minimum of five (5) years of psychiatric social work experience. Experience PREFERRED: Previous work experience providing case management and discharge planning in an acute psychiatric care setting or psychiatric outpatient.

Previous work experience providing individual, group, and/or family therapy in a an acute psychiatric care setting or psychiatric outpatient facility. One (1) year in a lead role. Education/training REQUIRED: Masters of Social Work Degree from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program.

Education/training PREFERRED: N/A Independent action(s) required: Conducting clinical biopsychosocial assessments to include mental health symptoms, substance use issues, housing concerns, financial and employment problems, abuse and domestic violence history, religious faith or spirituality, military status, medical issues, and any other psychiatric, social, or health issues.

Providing proactive development, implementation, and ongoing revision of an interdisciplinary plan of care for patients, specifically addressing the patients’ social issues and psychiatric reasons for admission such as suicidality, homicidally, psychotic disorder symptoms, and mood disorder symptoms.

Providing individual, group, and family therapy, in order to appropriately assess, diagnose, and treat patients affected by social issues and mental health disorders.

Implementing appropriate therapeutic interventions to assess, diagnose, treat, and provide resources for mental illness, substance use, housing concerns, trauma, domestic violence, sexual assault, abuse/neglect, guardianship and other complex psychiatric, social, or medical issues.

Collaborating daily with patients, their families, the interdisciplinary team, and community agencies to facilitate a safe discharge plan. Supervisory responsibilities (if applicable): Serves as a team lead for unlicensed clinical social workers who provide individual, group, or family supportive counseling.

Additional position requirements: This position works a traditional forty (40) hour week. Age Specific groups served: All Physical Requirements (includes use of assistance devices as appropriate): Physical: Lifting less than 20 lbs.

Activities: Prolonged standing, Prolonged sitting, Walking (distance) Repetitive motion: Typing Mental/Sensory: Strong recall, Reasoning, Problem solving, Hearing, Speak clearly, Write legibly, Reading, Logical thinking Emotional: Fast pace environment, Steady pace, Able to handle multiple priorities, Frequent and intense customer interactions, Noisy environment, Able to adapt to frequent, change

Compensation Range

$68,660.80 - $106,433.60

Actual salary offers will be based on several key factors to include relevant work experience, credentials, and qualifications.

EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran

Key Responsibilities

The Psychiatric Social Worker provides direct diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive services to patients, including conducting biopsychosocial assessments and developing interdisciplinary treatment plans. They also collaborate with the psychiatric team and families to facilitate safe discharge planning and provide ongoing therapeutic interventions.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program and possess a current Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license in the State of Virginia. A minimum of five years of psychiatric social work experience is required for this role.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
5+ years of experience

Key Skills

Individual therapyGroup therapyCrisis interventionMental health diagnosisSubstance use assessmentInterdisciplinary collaborationTrauma-informed careTeam leadershipPatient education

Psychiatry — Social Worker Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Virginia is 101.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$88k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $87k in an average-cost state. 61.1% of Virginia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 38 active Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) listings this role was benchmarked against, 45% are remote, 45% have no call, 71% require no weekends.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Psychiatric Social Worker (LCSW) - Virginia Treatment Center for Children at VCU Health a 6.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 35% of all Psychiatry social worker listings evaluated on our platform. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.

Top Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Jobs

23 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution21 jobs · 14 employers

9
<$105k
2
$105k-125k
7
$125k-145k
3
$145k-165k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks16 jobs · 14 employers

401k / retirement match
100%
Sign-on bonus
56%
CME allowance
56%
Loan repayment
13%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

LCSW Clinician

Crestwood Behavioral Health · San Jose, California

$65-$73.16/hr
#2

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Full Time, Day)

NorthBay Health · Fairfield, California

$58.21-$70.76/hr
#3

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Bilingual)

$70/hr
#4

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

$123k-$141k
+ 21 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 6.0
Better work-life than 50% of Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 2,010 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends

Living in Richmond

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$342k≈ 5.0× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,648/mo≈ 29% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
22 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
97.9
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Richmond, VA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.