OPT Hospital Social Worker Jobs
Hospital Social Worker jobs are available to F-1 OPT students with degrees in social work, psychology, or a related field. Most roles require a BSW or MSW and state licensure eligibility. STEM OPT does not apply here, so your 12-month standard OPT window is the primary authorization period to work with.
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Job Summary
Provides screening, assessment, planning, problem resolution, resource management, counseling, and crisis intervention as they relate to the health care and discharge planning needs of the patient/family in the Emergency Department (ED). Functions as a key member of the ED interdisciplinary team to provide emergency services within their scope of practice. Provides specialized assessments and interventions for patients with acute behavioral health, medical, and psychosocial emergencies. Additionally tasked with providing social work/case management services for patients who are currently admitted inpatient after hours, nights, and weekends.
Essential Functions
- All team members are expected to be knowledgeable and compliant with Prisma Health's purpose: Inspire health. Serve with compassion. Be the difference.
- Completes risk screenings for domestic violence, child abuse, neglect, elder abuse, sexual assault/abuse, institutional abuse, sex trafficking, and notifies applicable state and federal agencies. Completes psychosocial assessment of patient's prior functioning level, appropriateness and adequacy of support systems, reaction to illness, and ability to care for self. Identifies and refers patient/family to community resources when appropriate. Serves as a liaison between hospital, patient/family, Law Enforcement, Department of Social Services, and applicable community partners during evaluation and investigation.
- Assesses patient's behavioral health/substance abuse needs in collaboration with EM providers, psychiatrists, and EM interdisciplinary team by obtaining collateral information from a myriad of sources. Identifies and refers patients/family to community resources when appropriate. Refers and coordinates transfers to IP psychiatric hospitals/substance abuse treatment centers when indicated. Provides ongoing case management and support of this patient population and their family while pending discharge disposition.
- Coordinates and facilitates tele-psychiatry consults for appropriate patients.
- Serves as an extension of the community mental health centers by coordinating mental health pick up orders with our local probate judges when mental health centers are closed.
- Manages oversight and compliance of emergency psychiatric/chemical dependency hospitalization papers in accordance of state law. Assists Emergency Medicine Providers in the completion of Inability to Consent documentation by identifying the appropriate surrogate decision maker in compliance with the Adult Healthcare Consent Act.
- Coordinates referrals for post hospitalization services/needs: skilled and long-term nursing facilities, assisted living, group homes, homeless shelters, new dialysis, home health, hospice, palliative care, durable medical equipment, infusion services, medication assistance, transportation needs, financial assistance, medical legal partnership, and other community program/services.
- Provides intensive case management services for ED high utilizes in conjunction with EM physicians and community partners. Collaborates with EM physicians in the development of care plans for this population. Advocates for patient, family empowerment, and independence to make autonomous health care decisions and access needed services within the health care system. Maintains close communication with community care providers while being conscious of throughput directives by utilizing comprehensive discharge planning.
Supervisory/Management Responsibility
- This is a non-management job that will report to a supervisor, manager, director, or executive.
Minimum Requirements
- Education - Master's degree in Social Work
- Experience - One (1) year Social Work Experience preferred. One (1) year experience in a healthcare setting preferred
In Lieu Of
- NA
Required Certifications, Registrations, Licenses
- Currently licensed as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) by the state Board of Social Work Examiners.
- ACM, CCM, C-SWCM or ACSW certification preferred
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- NA
Work Shift
Variable (United States of America)
Location
Greenville Memorial Hospital
Facility
Greenville Memorial Hospital
Department
GMH Hospital Care Mgmt
Share your talent with us! Our vision is simple: to transform healthcare for the benefits of the communities we serve. The transformation of healthcare requires talented individuals in every role here at Prisma Health.
Inspire health. Serve with compassion. Be the difference.
Job Summary
Provides screening, assessment, planning, problem resolution, resource management, counseling, and crisis intervention as they relate to the health care and discharge planning needs of the patient/family in the Emergency Department (ED). Functions as a key member of the ED interdisciplinary team to provide emergency services within their scope of practice. Provides specialized assessments and interventions for patients with acute behavioral health, medical, and psychosocial emergencies. Additionally tasked with providing social work/case management services for patients who are currently admitted inpatient after hours, nights, and weekends.
Essential Functions
- All team members are expected to be knowledgeable and compliant with Prisma Health's purpose: Inspire health. Serve with compassion. Be the difference.
- Completes risk screenings for domestic violence, child abuse, neglect, elder abuse, sexual assault/abuse, institutional abuse, sex trafficking, and notifies applicable state and federal agencies. Completes psychosocial assessment of patient's prior functioning level, appropriateness and adequacy of support systems, reaction to illness, and ability to care for self. Identifies and refers patient/family to community resources when appropriate. Serves as a liaison between hospital, patient/family, Law Enforcement, Department of Social Services, and applicable community partners during evaluation and investigation.
- Assesses patient's behavioral health/substance abuse needs in collaboration with EM providers, psychiatrists, and EM interdisciplinary team by obtaining collateral information from a myriad of sources. Identifies and refers patients/family to community resources when appropriate. Refers and coordinates transfers to IP psychiatric hospitals/substance abuse treatment centers when indicated. Provides ongoing case management and support of this patient population and their family while pending discharge disposition.
- Coordinates and facilitates tele-psychiatry consults for appropriate patients.
- Serves as an extension of the community mental health centers by coordinating mental health pick up orders with our local probate judges when mental health centers are closed.
- Manages oversight and compliance of emergency psychiatric/chemical dependency hospitalization papers in accordance of state law. Assists Emergency Medicine Providers in the completion of Inability to Consent documentation by identifying the appropriate surrogate decision maker in compliance with the Adult Healthcare Consent Act.
- Coordinates referrals for post hospitalization services/needs: skilled and long-term nursing facilities, assisted living, group homes, homeless shelters, new dialysis, home health, hospice, palliative care, durable medical equipment, infusion services, medication assistance, transportation needs, financial assistance, medical legal partnership, and other community program/services.
- Provides intensive case management services for ED high utilizes in conjunction with EM physicians and community partners. Collaborates with EM physicians in the development of care plans for this population. Advocates for patient, family empowerment, and independence to make autonomous health care decisions and access needed services within the health care system. Maintains close communication with community care providers while being conscious of throughput directives by utilizing comprehensive discharge planning.
Supervisory/Management Responsibility
- This is a non-management job that will report to a supervisor, manager, director, or executive.
Minimum Requirements
- Education - Master's degree in Social Work
- Experience - One (1) year Social Work Experience preferred. One (1) year experience in a healthcare setting preferred
In Lieu Of
- NA
Required Certifications, Registrations, Licenses
- Currently licensed as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) by the state Board of Social Work Examiners.
- ACM, CCM, C-SWCM or ACSW certification preferred
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- NA
Work Shift
Variable (United States of America)
Location
Greenville Memorial Hospital
Facility
Greenville Memorial Hospital
Department
GMH Hospital Care Mgmt
Share your talent with us! Our vision is simple: to transform healthcare for the benefits of the communities we serve. The transformation of healthcare requires talented individuals in every role here at Prisma Health.
See all OPT Hospital Social Worker Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Hospital Social Worker Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Hospital Social Worker
Lead with your MSW and licensure status
Hiring managers in hospital settings prioritize licensure eligibility above almost everything else. State clearly in your application whether you're eligible to sit for the LMSW or LCSW exam, and note your current license status if you've already passed.
Target hospitals with established HR infrastructure
Large hospital systems and academic medical centers employ dedicated HR and compliance teams familiar with OPT work authorization. They're significantly more likely to have processed EAD-based hires before than smaller community clinics or private practices.
Address your OPT timeline early in the process
Hospital social work roles often involve 60-to-90-day onboarding timelines. Proactively tell recruiters your OPT start date and expiration date so they can assess fit before extending an offer, avoiding surprises late in the process.
Frame field placements as direct clinical experience
MSW field placements in hospital or healthcare settings are directly equivalent to paid clinical experience. Describe your placement hours, patient population, and interdisciplinary team involvement using the same language you'd use for a professional role.
Understand which employers can support H-1B after OPT
Social work qualifies as a specialty occupation for H-1B visa purposes when the role requires an MSW. Prioritize employers who have sponsored H-1B visas for social workers before, as this signals willingness to continue your authorization beyond OPT.
Get your EAD card situation squared away before applying
Apply for your EAD as early as USCIS allows, ideally 90 days before your program end date. Hospital HR departments need to verify work authorization before your start date, and delays in EAD receipt can cost you an offer.
Hospital Social Worker OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Hospital Social Worker on F-1 OPT?
Yes, provided your degree is in social work, psychology, counseling, or a closely related field and the role aligns with your area of study. Hospital social work roles typically require a BSW or MSW, which maps cleanly to OPT eligibility requirements. You'll work using your Employment Authorization Document as proof of authorization.
Does Hospital Social Work qualify for STEM OPT extension?
No. Social work is not a STEM-designated field under the Department of Homeland Security's STEM OPT list, so the 24-month STEM extension is not available. You'll have the standard 12-month OPT period. If you want to remain in the U.S. after that, your employer would need to sponsor an H-1B or another nonimmigrant visa.
Do hospitals typically sponsor OPT students for H-1B visas after OPT ends?
Large hospital systems and academic medical centers are among the more consistent H-1B sponsors in the social work field, particularly for MSW-level roles. Social work qualifies as a specialty occupation when an MSW is a genuine requirement of the position. Search Migrate Mate to find hospital employers with a track record of visa sponsorship for social workers.
Is state licensure required to work as a Hospital Social Worker on OPT?
It depends on the state and the specific role. Many hospital positions require you to be licensed or license-eligible at the time of hire. Some entry-level or unlicensed associate roles exist, but clinical positions with direct patient contact almost always require at minimum an LMSW. Check your state's licensing board requirements before applying, as they vary significantly.
How much of my OPT period is typically consumed by a hospital hiring process?
Hospital hiring processes are slower than most industries. From application to start date, expect 60 to 90 days on average, and sometimes longer for roles requiring credentialing or background checks. If your OPT window is 12 months, beginning your search at least four to five months before your ideal start date gives you a realistic runway.