Social Worker Discharge Planner – Case Management

Discharge Planner – Case Management

Discharge Planner in Springfield, MA | Baystate Health Careers

Department: Care and Case Management

Location: Baystate Mercy Hospital, Springfield, Massachusetts

Job Type: Full-time

Shift: Days

Make an Impact with Baystate Health

Baystate Health is seeking a Discharge Planner to join our Care Management team at Baystate Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts. In this role, you will provide essential psychosocial support and discharge planning services to patients and families across acute care, Emergency Department, and inpatient settings.

Working collaboratively with physicians, nursing staff, case management professionals, patients, families, and community agencies, the Discharge Planner helps address the social, emotional, financial, environmental, and safety-related challenges that can affect a patient's health and ability to transition safely from the hospital.

The Discharge Planner Will:

• Conduct comprehensive, age-specific psychosocial assessments of patients, evaluating social, psychological, cultural, spiritual, environmental, and financial factors that may affect their health, treatment, and discharge readiness. Assess for potential abuse or neglect involving children, disabled adults, and older adults, and report concerns to appropriate agencies as required.
• Develop individualized psychosocial treatment plans in collaboration with patients and families, establish treatment goals, and coordinate referrals to other healthcare professionals and community resources as appropriate.
• Provide counseling and emotional support to patients and families, utilizing appropriate social work interventions to help them navigate medical conditions, hospitalization, adjustment to illness, and related psychosocial challenges.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary Care Management team to develop, coordinate, and implement timely and appropriate discharge and transition-of-care plans. Evaluate patient and family needs, coordinate referrals, document plans, and adjust interventions as necessary to support safe transitions.
• Assess patients for appropriate post-hospital behavioral health services, including referrals to inpatient psychiatric facilities and outpatient mental health services. Assist with insurance authorizations when needed and collaborate with hospital attorneys regarding legal matters such as guardianship and commitment proceedings.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in the Electronic Health Record (EHR), ensuring compliance with department documentation standards, policies, procedures, and productivity expectations.
• Collaborate with physicians, nursing staff, case management partners, and community agencies to address barriers to discharge, facilitate patient care conferences, and ensure continuity of care.
• Serve as a resource and educator for healthcare professionals by sharing expertise on psychosocial issues, community resources, and social work interventions. Participate in staff education, in-services, and interdisciplinary teaching activities.

Schedule Details

• Job Type: Full-Time
• Shift: Days
• Hours: 40 hours per week, 8-hour shifts
• Schedule: 8am-4:30pm
• Weekend Requirement: Rotating Weekends
• Other Scheduling Requirements: Rotating Holidays

Benefits That Support You

At Baystate Health, you get the best of both worlds: the resources, stability, and career opportunities of a large integrated healthcare system with the supportive culture of a community-focused organization.

Depending on eligibility, benefits may include:

• Competitive Pay & Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, including local Health New England plans.
• Tuition & Training: Tuition assistance, CEUs, and professional development opportunities.
• Career Growth: Clinical advancement, leadership development, and internal career opportunities.
• Regional Opportunities: Career options across Baystate Health hospitals, practices, and services throughout western Massachusetts.
• Sign-On Bonuses: If applicable, Sign-On bonuses are paid to external hires only and are not applicable to internal or company transfers, unless otherwise specified. Former employees are eligible after one-year post-separation from Baystate Health
• Retirement: Retirement savings and employer match.
• Paid Time Off: Generous PTO for eligible employees.

About Baystate Health

Baystate Health is an integrated healthcare system serving patients and communities throughout western Massachusetts. Our network includes Baystate Medical Center, Baystate Children's Hospital, Baystate Noble Hospital, Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Baystate Wing Hospital, Baystate Mercy Hospital, Baystate Medical Practices, and Baystate Home Health & Hospice.

Whether you provide direct patient care, clinical services, or operational support, your work at Baystate Health helps improve the health of the communities we serve.

Required Skills  

• Bachelors of Social Work
• Two years of related professional experience required. 
• Fieldwork placements may be substituted in place of one year of experience.
• Valid social work license from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, minimally at the LSW level.

Start Your Career at Baystate Health

You Belong at Baystate.

Note: The compensation range(s) in the table below represent the base salaries for all positions at a given grade across the health system. Typically, a new hire can expect a starting salary somewhere in the lower part of the range. Actual salaries may vary by position and will be determined based on the candidate's relevant experience. No employee will be paid below the minimum of the range. Pay ranges are listed as hourly for non-exempt employees and based on assumed full time commitment for exempt employees.

Minimum – Midpoint – Maximum

$31.77 – $38.00 – $46.69

Baystate Health is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.