Location & Practice Overview

This hospital-based social work role is located at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, an academic medical center in downtown Chicago that partners with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The position is assigned to the General Medicine and Observation service line within the Northwestern Medicine integrated healthcare system.

Facility Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Address 251 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
Department General Medicine / Observation
Care Setting Inpatient hospital-based
Practice Type Academic medical center

Responsibilities

  • Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments that examine social, emotional, cultural, environmental, financial, and mental-status factors affecting treatment and recovery.
  • Coordinate discharge planning by identifying post-hospital needs early, arranging placements or home services, resolving barriers, and facilitating timely transitions in collaboration with patients, families, physicians, and payers.
  • Provide crisis intervention and coordinate protective services for situations involving suspected abuse, neglect, domestic violence, impaired decision-making capacity, or inadequate support systems.
  • Advocate for patients by connecting them with community resources, addressing insurance and financial barriers, and supporting informed decision-making including advance directives.
  • Participate in multidisciplinary rounds and case conferences while monitoring length-of-stay indicators and discharge barriers to support utilization management.

The role centers on direct patient and family interaction, care coordination across the continuum, and practical problem-solving to enable safe transitions from the hospital.

Qualifications & Requirements

Candidates must hold the required degree and active Illinois license. New graduates are eligible provided they complete the stated clinical supervision requirement.

Education
Master of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program
License
Active Illinois Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
Experience
No minimum years required; new graduates accepted
Supervision
New graduates must complete weekly LCSW clinical supervision until 3,000 supervised hours are fulfilled
Core Skills
Interpersonal communication, prioritization of caseload, independent professional judgment, and problem-solving for complex discharge barriers

Compensation & Benefits

Hourly pay is placed within the published range based on relevant experience and internal equity. Eligible full-time employees receive the system’s standard benefit package.

  • Compensation: $34.28–$47.99 per hour
  • Medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage
  • 401(k) with employer matching
  • Tuition reimbursement up to $10,000 per fiscal year and student loan repayment assistance up to $10,000 (subject to eligibility)
  • Paid time off, sick leave, paid holidays, and annual well-being fund of $250
  • Professional development reimbursement up to $1,000 annually and employee assistance program

Schedule & Work Environment

Employment Status Full-Time (0.9–1.0 FTE / 36+ hours per week)
Shift Day Shift (1st)
Work Setting On-site hospital
Coverage Details Exact daily hours, weekend rotation, and holiday expectations not specified in the posting

Patient Population & Clinical Setting

The role supports adults receiving general medical evaluation, treatment, and observation services who require psychosocial support and coordinated transitions out of the hospital.

Primary Setting General medicine and observation units
Patient Needs Adjustment to acute or chronic illness, disability, or terminal conditions
Complex Situations Psychiatric symptoms, substance dependency, homelessness, unsafe living conditions, or inadequate support systems
Protective Concerns Suspected elder or child abuse/neglect, domestic violence, or sexual/physical assault
Transition Focus Patients requiring rehabilitation, skilled nursing, home health, or alternative living arrangements

Clinical Focus & Key Services

The clinical core of this position is hospital-based psychosocial intervention and care transition support for medical patients.

Psychosocial Assessment Comprehensive evaluation of social, emotional, cultural, financial, and environmental factors
Discharge & Placement Coordination Arrangement of rehabilitation, skilled nursing, subacute, psychiatric, or chemical-dependency settings and home health services
Crisis & Protective Intervention Response to safety concerns, guardianship needs, and high-risk psychosocial situations
Resource & Advocacy Support Linkage to community services, insurance navigation, and advance-directive discussions

Role Highlights

This Northwestern Memorial Hospital position offers an opportunity to begin or develop a social work career in an academic hospital environment, with a dedicated assignment to General Medicine and Observation. Its combination of new-graduate eligibility, structured LCSW supervision, and exposure to complex inpatient medical cases makes it a distinct opportunity for Illinois-licensed social workers interested in hospital-based practice.

  • New MSW graduates are eligible to apply, with no minimum number of professional experience years specified.
  • Weekly clinical supervision by an LCSW is provided to eligible new graduates until completion of the required 3,000 supervised hours.
  • Dedicated placement within the General Medicine and Observation service line at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
  • Exposure to hospital-based social work within a major academic medical center affiliated with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
  • Full-time, on-site day-shift position combining medical social work practice with complex inpatient care transitions and psychosocial support.

About Northwestern Memorial Healthcare

Northwestern Medicine is an integrated academic health system serving the Chicago region. Its flagship is Northwestern Memorial Hospital, an academic medical center in downtown Chicago that serves as the primary teaching affiliate of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The system operates multiple hospitals and more than 200 locations across the Chicago area and Northern Illinois.

Organization Type Integrated academic health system
Flagship Facility Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Academic Partner Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Geographic Footprint 11 hospitals and more than 200 locations in the Chicago area and Northern Illinois

Frequently Asked Questions

Are new MSW graduates considered for this LSW position?
Yes. The posting explicitly states that new graduates are eligible. They must participate in weekly clinical supervision with an LCSW until a minimum of 3,000 supervised hours is completed.
Is prior hospital social work experience required?
No minimum years of professional experience or acute-care hospital experience are specified. The position is open to candidates who meet the education and Illinois LSW license requirements.
What level of clinical supervision is provided for new graduates?
New graduates receive structured weekly clinical supervision from an LCSW Social Worker until the required 3,000 supervised hours are fulfilled.
Does the role involve only discharge planning or also direct counseling?
The position includes both comprehensive psychosocial assessment and counseling support for patients and families adjusting to illness, disability, or hospitalization, in addition to discharge coordination and crisis intervention.
Is the Illinois LSW license sufficient, or is an LCSW required?
An active Illinois Licensed Social Worker (LSW) license is the stated requirement. The LCSW is needed only for the supervisor providing clinical supervision to new graduates.
How are weekend and holiday coverage handled?
The available posting identifies the role as full-time day shift but does not specify weekend rotation, holiday coverage, or exact daily hours. Candidates should confirm these details with the employer during the interview process.

Licensed Social Worker (LSW) – General Medicine/Observation in Chicago, IL

The Licensed Social Worker (LSW) – General Medicine/Observation position at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, is part of an integrated hospital-based social work service within Northwestern Medicine. The role is situated in a general medical and observation environment, serving adult patients whose hospital stays may involve medical evaluation, treatment, and decisions about the appropriate next level of care. Unlike positions centered on a single medical specialty, this assignment provides exposure to a broad range of inpatient psychosocial needs within an academic medical center. Its connection to Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine also places the position within a healthcare environment that combines clinical services with medical education and research. This opportunity is particularly relevant to social workers pursuing experience in acute-care hospital practice.

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