Social Work LCSW-C-PRN

About This Role

This PRN role supports Emergency Department operations by ensuring safe, appropriate dispositions for patients experiencing mental health crises. The Emergency Department Psychiatric Evaluator provides timely psychiatric evaluations, crisis intervention, and level-of-care recommendations for adult and adolescent patients.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations for patients presenting with suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, psychosis, mood disorders, substance-related crises, and behavioral disturbances
• Perform suicide and violence risk assessments, including evaluation of intent, plan, means, protective factors, and acuity
• Complete mental status examinations and assess psychosocial stressors, capacity, and safety risks
• Evaluate adult and adolescent patients for appropriateness of inpatient admission, crisis stabilization, or outpatient disposition
• Provide immediate crisis intervention and brief therapeutic support in a high-acuity Emergency Department environment
• Assist ED staff with de-escalation strategies and safety planning when clinically appropriate
• Recommend appropriate level of care, including inpatient psychiatric admission, crisis bed placement, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient treatment, or outpatient follow-up
• Complete evaluations related to voluntary and involuntary psychiatric admissions, including Emergency Evaluations/Emergency Petitions as applicable under Maryland law
• Maintain compliance with EMTALA, COMAR regulations, hospital policies, and Joint Commission standards
• Communicate evaluation findings and recommendations clearly to ED providers, psychiatry, nursing, and social work

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling, or related behavioral health field from an accredited program
• Eligibility for Maryland licensure
• Strong psychiatric assessment and clinical decision-making skills
• Expertise in suicide risk assessment and crisis intervention
• Ability to make timely, defensible level-of-care recommendations
• Knowledge of community resources, crisis systems, and inpatient placement processes

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling, or related behavioral health field from an accredited program

Nice to Have

• LCSW-C strongly preferred
• LCPC considered with emergency or psychiatric experience
• Prior experience in emergency psychiatry, crisis services, or inpatient behavioral health preferred

Benefits

Certifications