Psychiatric Social Worker Jobs & Career Guide 2024

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By psychologyjobs.com Staff Writer

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What Is a Psychiatric Social Worker?

Psychiatric social work is a subset of social work. These specialized social workers work with people with severe mental illnesses, addictions, and neurological problems. Their patients are often in emotional distress while struggling with complicated, difficult disorders. Psychiatric Social Workers are often caring for individuals with major traumas and emotional distress who may be a danger to themselves or others in their community.

A Psychiatric Social Worker can support, therapize, or coordinate care for the individuals they’re treating. Their patients often require hospitalization or other psychiatric interventions. Their ultimate job function is getting people with severe mental health issues the support they need to function.

What Is a Psychiatric Social Worker Responsible For?

Generally, a Psychiatric Social Worker will complete a detailed intake of their patient to assess their mental state. This may involve an entire team of professionals, like psychiatrists and neuropsychologists, depending on their patient’s condition. Their information, along with the rest of the group’s, helps determine an appropriate treatment plan for the person.

After the treatment plan is developed, the Psychiatric Social Worker ensure their patient follows through with it. They may even be a part of the plan. For instance, their role could be providing therapy to the individual.

Outside of patient interaction, Psychiatric Social Workers are often speaking to the person’s family members. They give updates about their patient’s condition, their progress within the treatment plan, and provide education about what the person is experiencing with their condition. They may also run support groups for the patient’s family.

If their patient is hospitalized, a Psychiatric Social Worker will likely be involved with their discharge and transition to reenter society.

There are a multitude of tasks a Psychiatric Social Worker could be responsible for completing. Depending on where they work, they might be specialized in one of these functionalities or all of them.

On the job, a Psychiatric Social Worker can expect to”

  • Complete patient assessments and use these to help develop treatment plans.
  • Communicate with an interdisciplinary team about the patient’s care and how they are functioning within their treatment plan.
  • Document a person’s psychiatric care.
  • Meet with the patient’s family (likely alongside another member of their medical team) to discuss their progress.
  • Lead educational classes about medical wellness and mental health.

Where Does a Psychiatric Social Worker Work?

With this career, there are plenty of options of where to work.  Psychiatric Social Workers are most commonly found in some kind of care setting: hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers (both inpatient and outpatient), government settings (local and state), substance abuse clinics, jails, and outpatient healthcare locations.

What Other Career Options Are Available to a Psychiatric Social Worker?

Being a Psychiatric Social Worker means having a choice in two important factors: the population they want to work with and the type of facility where they’d like to practice. The job can be focused on a singular issue or on a larger set of problems. It depends on their preference.

A Psychiatric Social Worker can expect to find a career in the following areas:

  • Inpatient Psychiatric Social Workers: These social workers are often employed by a psychiatric department within a hospital system. They treat hospitalized patients with psychosis, addictions, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or other severe psychological or behavior problems. Their work includes completing assessments about a patient’s well-being and health needs, providing therapy, and cooperating with other members of the patient’s care team. They’re advocates for their patients.
  • Psychiatric Emergency Services and Crisis Response Social Workers: In this social work niche, patients are in active crisis. Crisis Response Social Workers give assessments, provide short-term support, and coordinate care. After determining their patient’s needs, they may recommend an involuntary hospitalization. It depends on the severity of the individual. They are often working with people who are a danger to themselves or others.
  • Outpatient Psychiatric Social Workers: When a person with severe mental illness doesn’t currently need to be hospitalized, they work with an Outpatient Psychiatric Social Worker. These social workers have patients with a range of issues who are either at risk for hospitalization or were recently released from an inpatient program.

What Degree Is Required to Become a Psychiatric Social Worker? What Do They Study?

Getting into psychiatric social work will require earning a college degree — both undergrad and graduate. Prospective students normally major in psychology or social work for their bachelor’s degree. Then, they’ll earn a master’s in a subject like mental health or psychiatric social work.

With their two degrees in hand, the next step is getting their social work license. This requires an internship and thousands of hours of supervised social work activities. Once they’ve earned their license, they’ll need to keep it current. These rules vary by state, but Psychiatric Social Workers can expect to attend a certain number of classes that cover social work issues.

What Skills are Required in Psychiatric Social Work?

This subset of psychology is known for its difficult patients and challenging, yet depressing, situations. Being a Psychiatric Social Worker requires an individual who has patience, empathy (within boundaries), and a strong sense of resolve.

Choosing this career path also means choosing to be tolerant of others’ situations. Psychiatric Social Workers must be able to meet people where they are with a nonjudgmental attitude.

Practicing in this niche requires plenty of critical thinking and rationality as well. This is the type of career where workers learn much more in the field than they do in school. College is only a jumping off point — the environment is the real classroom.

How Much Money Does a Psychiatric Social Worker Earn?

On average, a Psychiatric Social Worker can expect to make $52,891. Based on location and experience level, their salaries can vary from $30,000 for entry level positions to $90,000 for senior positions.

The social work field is expected to expand by 12 percent — which is faster compared to other job sectors. This growth is influenced by the United States’ ever-growing need for healthcare and social services. See also: Psychology jobs salary guide

Latest Psychiatric Social Worker Job Listings

PositionCompanyLocationPosted
Behavioral Health ConsultantUndisclosed Broad Top, Pennsylvania US07/24/2024
We’re hiring! Broad Top Area Medical Center, operating 12 medical offices in Huntingdon County, PA, is seeking a full-time Behavioral Health Consultant to perform the following job duties: Provide mental health screenings and initial assessments to medically-referred and other clients. Provide short-term, structured, evidence-based psychotherapy as part of an appropriate care plan. Coordinate and collaborate … More
Clinical Services Director – Behavioral Health ServicesBehavioral Health Services Yakima, Washington US07/23/2024
Position Title:Clinical Services Director – Behavioral Health ServicesCity:YakimaState/Territory:US-WAEmployment Duration:Full timeOffer Relocation:YesExcempt Status:ExemptID:13258Description: … More
Mental Health Therapist (Maternity Case Management)Salud Medical Center Woodburn, Oregon US07/23/2024
Join our team as aMental Health Therapist (Maternity Case Management)atSalud Medical Center in Woodburn, OR. In this role, you will work in collaboration with a care team to assess risk level and develop a care plan with the goal of promoting healthy birth outcomes. If you’re a compassionate, caring therapist who understands social determinants of health, have the desire to work with maternal clients, and are passionate … More
Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Mental Health CounselorUCP of Western Massachusetts North Adams, Massachusetts US07/23/2024
Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Licensed Mental Health Counselor Job Type: Full Time Schedule: 37.5 hrs/wk Location: North Adams, MA $2,500 Sign-on Bonus Position Description This position provides … More
Staff Mental Health TherapistTeladoc Health, Inc. Virtual, US07/22/2024
Help more people find their healthier ever after! Want to be part of one of the most innovative healthcare experiences in the world? Enjoy building a better world through connections? If you answered yes to both, Teladoc Health Medical Group may be the right place for you! Here, all kinds of clinicians work to connect everyone, everywhere with high-quality care. As an employed Staff Clinician at Teladoc Health, you will have the opportunity to lend your expertise … More
Vet TechHire Power Consulting East Syracuse, New York US07/22/2024
Life is short. Work somewhere awesome!The Veterinary Medical Center is a well-established, thriving 24-hr emergency and specialty referral practice located in the Syracuse area of upstate New York. We offer a collaborative work environment with board certified specialists in Surgery, Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Oncology, Cardiology, Anesthesiology, and Radiology. We also offer certified professionals in Physical Rehabilitation, Pain Management, Acupuncture, and Chiropractic care. … More
Licensed Mental Health Professional – Clinic ServicesDoor County Medical Center Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin US07/17/2024
Licensed Mental Health Professional – Clinic Services Door County Medical Center, a critical access facility in northeast Wisconsin, has served … More
Join a Well-Established Women’s Behavioral Health Practice in South Central PennsylvaniaWomens Behavioral Health Specialists – 39345 Camp Hill, Pennsylvania US07/15/2024
Masters Psychotherapist – UPMC Women’s Behavioral Health Specialists UPMC Central Pa. – a growing multi-site health system is seeking a Masters Psychotherapist to join our growing team at Women’s Behavioral Health Specialists (WBHS). This provider will play an integral role in helping to provide high-quality, compassionate care to patients. The WBHS office specifically treats women experiencing anxiety and/or depression related to pregnancy and postpartum. About the Position: … More
Position
Behavioral Health Consultant
We’re hiring! Broad Top Area Medical Center, operating 12 medical offices in Huntingdon County, PA, is seeking a full-time Behavioral Health Consultant to perform the following job duties: Provide mental health screenings and initial assessments to medically-referred and other clients. Provide short-term, structured, evidence-based psychotherapy as part of an appropriate care plan. Coordinate and collaborate … More
Company
Undisclosed
Location
Broad Top, Pennsylvania US
Posted
07/24/2024
Position
Clinical Services Director – Behavioral Health Services
Position Title:Clinical Services Director – Behavioral Health ServicesCity:YakimaState/Territory:US-WAEmployment Duration:Full timeOffer Relocation:YesExcempt Status:ExemptID:13258Description: … More
Company
Behavioral Health Services
Location
Yakima, Washington US
Posted
07/23/2024
Position
Mental Health Therapist (Maternity Case Management)
Join our team as aMental Health Therapist (Maternity Case Management)atSalud Medical Center in Woodburn, OR. In this role, you will work in collaboration with a care team to assess risk level and develop a care plan with the goal of promoting healthy birth outcomes. If you’re a compassionate, caring therapist who understands social determinants of health, have the desire to work with maternal clients, and are passionate … More
Company
Salud Medical Center
Location
Woodburn, Oregon US
Posted
07/23/2024
Position
Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Mental Health Counselor
Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Licensed Mental Health Counselor Job Type: Full Time Schedule: 37.5 hrs/wk Location: North Adams, MA $2,500 Sign-on Bonus Position Description This position provides … More
Company
UCP of Western Massachusetts
Location
North Adams, Massachusetts US
Posted
07/23/2024
Position
Staff Mental Health Therapist
Help more people find their healthier ever after! Want to be part of one of the most innovative healthcare experiences in the world? Enjoy building a better world through connections? If you answered yes to both, Teladoc Health Medical Group may be the right place for you! Here, all kinds of clinicians work to connect everyone, everywhere with high-quality care. As an employed Staff Clinician at Teladoc Health, you will have the opportunity to lend your expertise … More
Company
Teladoc Health, Inc.
Location
Virtual, US
Posted
07/22/2024
Position
Vet Tech
Life is short. Work somewhere awesome!The Veterinary Medical Center is a well-established, thriving 24-hr emergency and specialty referral practice located in the Syracuse area of upstate New York. We offer a collaborative work environment with board certified specialists in Surgery, Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Oncology, Cardiology, Anesthesiology, and Radiology. We also offer certified professionals in Physical Rehabilitation, Pain Management, Acupuncture, and Chiropractic care. … More
Company
Hire Power Consulting
Location
East Syracuse, New York US
Posted
07/22/2024
Position
Licensed Mental Health Professional – Clinic Services
Licensed Mental Health Professional – Clinic Services Door County Medical Center, a critical access facility in northeast Wisconsin, has served … More
Company
Door County Medical Center
Location
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin US
Posted
07/17/2024
Position
Join a Well-Established Women’s Behavioral Health Practice in South Central Pennsylvania
Masters Psychotherapist – UPMC Women’s Behavioral Health Specialists UPMC Central Pa. – a growing multi-site health system is seeking a Masters Psychotherapist to join our growing team at Women’s Behavioral Health Specialists (WBHS). This provider will play an integral role in helping to provide high-quality, compassionate care to patients. The WBHS office specifically treats women experiencing anxiety and/or depression related to pregnancy and postpartum. About the Position: … More
Company
Womens Behavioral Health Specialists – 39345
Location
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania US
Posted
07/15/2024