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Sutter Health
Sacramento, California

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Mental Health Therapist III) (SCP NUHW)

Social WorkerIncludes weekendsNo nightsPer Diem

Listed compensation

$50.13-$64.17/hr

The week · per this posting

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

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

We are so glad you are interested in joining Sutter Health!

Organization

SCP-Sutter Center for Psychiatry

Position Overview

The Licensed Clinical Social Worker provides psychosocial assessment, individual/group treatment, family therapy, discharge and aftercare planning to patient and their families.

The incumbent will have competency in delivering services and treatments based of recovery-oriented services, family systems, and evidenced based treatments. Incumbent provides consultation and training on psychosocial aspects of human behavior and complex environments.

The incumbent is the primary contact for involving and educating patients, families, and significant others in the process of treatment and mental health recovery. Serves as a liaison to community programs and develops strategic partnerships to enhance aftercare plans of patients and their families. Participates on Committees as required. Other duties may be required or assigned.

Job Description

  • EDUCATION
  • HS Diploma or equivalent education/experience
  • Master's: Social work from an accredited university by the Council on Social Work Education

LCSW who provides clinical supervision will have completed 15 contact hours of supervision training according to BBSE guidelines required.

Certification & Licensure

  • MSW-Masters Social Worker
  • LCSW-Licensed Clinical Social Worker within 1 year of hire

Preferred Experience as Typically Acquired In

Prior work experience in an acute psychiatric setting which has included assessment of psychiatric patients, individual and group treatment, family treatment and discharge planning, and utilization review.

Skills and Knowledge

Strong clinical skills in psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, counseling, interdisciplinary collaboration and linkage with resources.

Knowledgeable in child, adolescent, adult and geriatric psychopathology as well as psychiatric interventions.

Must be knowledgeable with psychiatric, psychosocial and legal issues and substance misuse/abuse and chemical dependency assessment and treatment, understanding of current insurance benefits and restrictions in the area of mental health, knowledgeable of DSM-IV-TR, family systems therapy and crisis intervention models.

Knowledge of child, elder and dependent adult abuse and domestic violence reporting requirements and other significant regulations affecting clinical social work practice (e. g. Tarasoff, patient-psychotherapist privilege).

Knowledge of suicidal behavior and homicidal, and the skills necessary to assess lethality, and to develop appropriate treatment plans.

Knowledge and understanding of human behavior and communication, psychotherapy, case management, and the influence of cultural and spiritual values in social work practice.

Knowledge and skills necessary to provide psychosocial care appropriate to the age-specific needs of children, adolescents, adults and elders.

  • Knowledge of individual and family development over the life spans.
  • Knowledge of substance misuse and abuse and co-occurring disorders
  • Knowledge of recovery-oriented services, family systems, and evidenced based treatments (e. g., Cognitive and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interview, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention, etc.)
  • Demonstrate ability to plan, organize, set and accomplish objectives.
  • Demonstrate sound clinical judgment, problem solving and decision making skills.
  • Must exhibit excellent communication skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing.
  • Work is performed with many interruptions.
  • Must demonstrate strong interpersonal and organizational skills, to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with rapidly changing priorities and competing demands.
  • Must be able to occasionally flex time to handle emergencies.

These Principal Accountabilities, Requirements and Qualifications are not exhaustive, but are merely the most descriptive of the current job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, staff changes, workload, or technical development).

Job Shift

Days

Schedule: Full Time

Shift Hours

8

Days of the Week

Friday, Monday, Thursday, Tuesday

Weekend Requirements

Saturday

Benefits

No

Unions

Yes

Position Status: Non-Exempt

Weekly Hours

0

Employee Status

Per Diem/Casual

  • Sutter Health is an equal opportunity employer EOE/M/F/Disability/Veterans.
  • Pay Range is $50.13 to $64.17 / hour

The compensation range may vary based on the geographic location where the position is filled. Total compensation considers multiple factors, including, but not limited to a candidate’s experience, education, skills, licensure, certifications, departmental equity, training, and organizational needs. Base pay is only one component of Sutter Health’s comprehensive total rewards program. Eligible positions also include a comprehensive benefits package.

Key Responsibilities

The Licensed Clinical Social Worker provides psychosocial assessments, individual and group therapy, and family treatment to patients in an acute psychiatric setting. They also serve as a primary liaison for discharge planning and coordinate with community programs to ensure effective aftercare.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master's degree in Social Work and possess an LCSW license or be eligible to obtain one within one year. Prior experience in an acute psychiatric setting involving assessment, treatment, and discharge planning is preferred.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Substance abuse assessmentCognitive behavioral therapyMotivational interviewingLethality assessmentTreatment planning

Social Worker Career Context

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$119k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $107k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$107k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Social Work listings in California711 active—live on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
All licensed clinical social worker (lcsw) listings in California757 active6,974 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedCalifornia social worker listings (all specialties): 8% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 5% offer loan repayment757 active listings, Nov 2026
New Social Work listings2,592 in the last 30 days1,395 the 30 days before (+86%)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. California figures use all licensed clinical social worker (lcsw)s: too few California Social Work postings state pay.

Top contract/1099 Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Jobs

23 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

19 jobs · 16 employers
5
<$100k
2
$100k-120k
8
$120k-140k
4
$140k-160k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

17 jobs · 16 employers
401k / retirement match
94%
Sign-on bonus
35%
CME allowance
29%
PSLF eligible
24%
Loan repayment
18%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Part-Time LCSW, Children & Adolescents (Remote, California)

Handspring · California

$90-$110/hr
#2

LCSW III

Sutter Health · Davis, California

$53.36-$74.7/hr
#3

Social Worker LCSW - Behavioral Health Per Diem/On Call

$43.39-$67.37/hr
#4

LCSW SW Clinician III - Must be BBS Supervisor for ACSWs and AMFTs - Remote - Mental Health #346

$36.03-$44.5/hr
+ 21 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 5.1
Better work-life than 40% 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 nights
  • Includes weekends

Living in Sacramento

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$452k
Typical market rent
$2,045/mo
Residents’ average commute
25 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
106.7
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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