Medical Social Worker, Pediatric Psychiatry

Department Overview

The Pediatric Mental Health Social Worker provides a professional continuum of services to address the psychosocial needs of patients and families affected by mental health emergencies. The social worker partners closely with the Psychiatric Consultation Service to initiate and implement mental health care to patients in the Emergency Department as well as those admitted to inpatient units. This trauma-informed care includes acute mental health assessments, crisis stabilization, treatment planning, counseling, and resource referrals. Further, the social worker establishes plans for discharge to the most appropriate levels of care. The Pediatric Mental Health Social Worker is an identified expert in pediatric mental health issues and provides both consultation and educational programming to OHSU staff and the community. As part of the position, the social worker will actively participate in program evaluation efforts. Specific programmatic goals include improving the quality of care provided to patients and families, decreasing inpatient length of stay, decreasing sitter hours, decreasing ED boarding hours, increasing the competency of staff in responding to patients with mental health needs, and improving the patient and family experience of care.

Function/Duties of Position

• Conducts psychosocial evaluations of patients and families experiencing mental health emergencies. 

• Participates in treatment planning and goal-setting with patients and families during the hospital encounters. Provide brief mental health counseling and intervention. 

• Leads discharge planning efforts to determine the most appropriate level of care and makes indicated resource referrals. 

• Provides education regarding pediatric mental health issues to OHSU staff and community members.

• Maintains accurate and timely documentation of patient care activities an efficient manner per departmental policies. Participates in staff meetings, Meets in regularly scheduled supervisory sessions. Participates in patient rounds as appropriate. Complete all OHSU/Joint Commission mandatory education requirements and activities within established time lines. Yearly competencies as identified by department

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 3 years of mental health counseling experience with pediatric patients and families.
• 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 7/30/2026 10:53am

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 [email protected]