Medical Social Worker, IMPACT

Department Overview

The Addiction Social Work Counselor provides a professional continuum of services to address the bio-psychosocial needs of patients and families affected by addiction.

The Social Work Counselor partners closely with the Improving Addiction Care Team (IMPACT) and entire interdisciplinary team to initiate and implement addiction treatment planning for patients. Treatment planning is individualized based on the patient’s needs and preferences to support recovery and empowerment.

It may include medication and behavioral therapies as well as harm reduction strategies. This trauma-informed care includes: substance use disorder assessment (such as ASAM when needed) and diagnosis, crisis stabilization, motivational interviewing, addiction counseling, and resource referrals.

Further, in partnership with Case Management, the Social Work Counselor establishes addiction-specific plans for discharge to the most appropriate levels of care.

The Social Work Counselor holds advanced knowledge of substance use disorder issues and provides both consultation and educational programming to OHSU staff and the community.

As part of the position, the Social Work Counselor will actively participate in continuous quality improvement efforts and seek empanelment with appropriate insurers.

Function/Duties of Position

Conducts psychosocial evaluations of patients/families and significant others including but not limited to the following: adjustment to medical or health condition; care coordination; mental health status; adjustment/compliance to treatment process; substance usage; child and elder abuse/neglect assessments; domestic violence issues; cognitive status (including potential guardian issues); and patient/family resources.

Provides crisis intervention and supportive short-term counseling to patients/families and significant others as necessary to meet immediate psycho-social needs including, but not limited to: Trauma/Emergency Department/ On Call/ Family Notification, CODE Response (family intervention); unanticipated change in health conditions/suicidal ideation; teenage pregnancy; single parent pregnancy/parenthood, domestic violence, child and elder abuse/neglect.

Provides grief/loss counseling and education regarding fetal demise; actual/pending death of patient/family member; complicated pregnancies; pregnancy termination support, postpartum depression; chronic/acute stress associated with life circumstances; divorce/separation; loss of independence associated with illness or disability.

Provides brief psychotherapy including individual short-term psychotherapy; group work including information/support groups, family support, patient therapy); regarding but not limited to issues of adoption, abortion, domestic violence, family of origin, sexual/gender, substance abuse, parenting, relationship adjustment to disabilities and chronic or acute illness.

Provides patient advocacy and associated services to patient/family and other involved agencies/parties regarding decision-making; advance directives; ethics consultations; court holds; guardianship/conservatorship; citizenship cases; and social cultural factors.

Assess patient/family support needs regarding: transportation, housing, clothing and educational/patient vocational rehabilitation and training materials and refer to appropriate resources.

Other Duties as Assigned

Required Qualifications

A Master’s Social Work (MSW) required.

Certificate of Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) required for employees who practice clinical social work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Health care experience preferred.
• 1 year hospital experience,
• 5 years of experience working in Addictions related field
• Bilingual language skill are strongly preferred
• Additional Details
• Requires prioritization.
• Frequent interruptions in an environment of frequent change and fluctuations.
• For inpatient units accepts accountability and responsibility.
• May be exposed to body fluids, tissue, possible radiation exposure, and infectious processes.
• Subject to computer work for several hours, as needed.
• Able to utilize office equipment within work area.
• Posted 11/05/2026 11:43am

Why Apply to OHSU?

We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals.

As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations.

We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact askhr@ohsu.edu