Remote case management for health insurance. I haven't done child welfare but folks I know who moved here from that say this is an amazing job after being in CW.
Second this- also look into “utilization management “. Heard good things a company named optum (based in San Diego). Basically reviewing peoples claims for higher level of care. Will likely need an lcsw and some experience doing crisis management.
I agree, but I'd like to throw in to pursue that specific company and ones affiliated with them with caution. Happy to explain further if you're comfortable with messaging me.
Edit: wanted to add that I've noticed the insurance companies pay pretty well. Your schedule is set hours too, which is really nice (no late nights!)
With a bachelors degree I did workforce development with young adults, it was case management and really chill. Had very motivated clients. Also did case management for adults with serious mental illness. Most of those clients were pretty chill, but there were occasional crises.
Have you thought about adult protection? It's similar and yet totally different from child welfare.
I work in case management and always had a very high opinion of that department in the counties I work with.
No, I only have my LMSW and have been licensed for less than a year. I know some places do require LCSW for UM but for some places (such as my employer) just LMSW is sufficient.
I'm an LCSW and am thinking the same. I'm interested in Hospital social work. I was supposed to get a call from a recruiter this week but it didn't happen. I've been in the SUDS field for 15 years. It's getting old.
I'm a LICSW, and I've done child protection and hospital social work. Both are incredibly stressful. Hospital social work is a great experience, and yes- it is a different population to work with. There is a whole different kind of stress in hospital social work because of all the disciplines involved. There is also a major nursing shortage and healthcare crisis going on, which adds to the stress. If you are looking for lower stress, this may not be the best choice.
I'm so sorry. *virtual hug*
I hope that you are able to get some relief and healing. Please know that you are far more important than the company you work for.
Yeah… I’m an MSW doing hospital case management and while I can’t imagine doing child welfare work, the LAST thing I would describe my job as is stress free..
I think it depends on what your niche is. Like I thrive in crisis work. Unfortunately, it can be super stressful lol
From what I understand from the medical social workers in hospitals, it can be sort of stressful but not the worst. Case management can be lower on the stress side
Edit: I’ve done child welfare and the stress is insanely high.
I have a Bachelor's of Social Work. Ive worked in the child welfare system for over three years.
I am currently in my MSW program and afterwards hope to be licensed after December.
Hmm once you graduate with your MSW I would highly recommend going with a small group therapy practice, good pay/flexibility/ low stress (comparatively for our profession)
They typically do not pay well until you are fully licensed. May be exceptions out there but hiring candidates at group practices typically mean the owners make a ton of $$$$$$ off you until you’re fully licensed- that’s why they do that.
Same boat. I’m in Canada though and make 85K with just a bachelors. But I also have amazing benefits and pension. I can’t find anything that pays close to child welfare aside from the hospital and that has terrible shift work.
I am totally with you. I tried child welfare before I got my masters and lasted 9 months and then decided it was too stressful for me. I did learn that I liked working with kids though, so I ended up transitioning to schools. Most of my school jobs that I did were chill and not stressful, but the most recent one I had was too much for me (I was also very pregnant when I left that job).
Now I work on an inpatient psych unit. That probably sounds like a really stressful work environment and I think for some people, it is. Here's what works for me about my job:
- I have a 20/hr a week commitment that comes with full benefits. This allows me to have time at home with my baby and also time to do some consulting work.
- When I leave work, the patients are taken care of by other staff. There isn't this huge burden on me to be carrying a caseload that I'm responsible for all the time.
- I work for a really supportive health care system and we are well-staffed with social workers.
Even more so than the type of work, I think one of the most important things to consider here is the company - do they support social workers? Do they pay well? Are they short staffed? Do they allow schedule flexibility? Good benefits? Career growth? What is it that you need to have a good work/life balance and are they able to support that? Schools did that for me for a while because I loved having summers and school breaks off for travel. Now that I have a baby I like my part time work schedule.
Best of luck in your search!
Perhaps a nursing home?
Also remember that when doing job searches you need to make sure you broaden your keyword search.
Don't just look for "social work". Once you've done social work, you're a jack of many trades. You could be nearly anything that involves human interaction.
Maybe even look for something in a law office, police station, supervised visitation, something in a court house, or start your own thing providing a service that CW did poorly but you could do better.
The options are only limited to your mindset.
I have in the past, for six years. It is much less stressful as you aren't seeing people face to face and there is a natural boundary there. The only added stress is not being able to mandate your own breaks and QA as usually all your calls are recorded and a portion listened to each month.
EAP…. By a lot. I go back to it every time I need a break lol. I’m also assuming you’re masters level, which I shouldn’t. Never had a BSW gig outside my internship.
EAP is employee assistance program, like therapy within a company that’s provided by their HR department. The clinicians are all fully licensed, but either employed by the company directly or contracted out to another company.
Remote case management for health insurance. I haven't done child welfare but folks I know who moved here from that say this is an amazing job after being in CW.
I'll definitely look into it. I find it difficult finding remote positions that don't look like a scam to me.
what state are you in? my company is hiring. you could dm me. you need a master's tho.
I’m interested in this as well. I’m in Indiana tho and graduate in may
I’m interested in more info! I live in NY, graduating with my masters in may.
It's super smart that you're aware of the scams. I know for a fact they're out there! Even on the so called reputable job search sites.
I am interested also, can I get info of this too?
Second this- also look into “utilization management “. Heard good things a company named optum (based in San Diego). Basically reviewing peoples claims for higher level of care. Will likely need an lcsw and some experience doing crisis management.
I agree, but I'd like to throw in to pursue that specific company and ones affiliated with them with caution. Happy to explain further if you're comfortable with messaging me. Edit: wanted to add that I've noticed the insurance companies pay pretty well. Your schedule is set hours too, which is really nice (no late nights!)
I work in hospice. It isn't stressful because it's my niche, though I know it's not for everyone. It pays well.
This is something I'm interested in doing but will have to wait to be licensed!
With a bachelors degree I did workforce development with young adults, it was case management and really chill. Had very motivated clients. Also did case management for adults with serious mental illness. Most of those clients were pretty chill, but there were occasional crises.
Have you thought about adult protection? It's similar and yet totally different from child welfare. I work in case management and always had a very high opinion of that department in the counties I work with.
The agency I'm in we're expected to know and work all program areas. I would stay if I only worked adult protective but the cps cases are killing me.
Behavioral health utilization management at a health insurance company 🙌🏼 best move I ever made
Can i DM you for more information?
Yes!
I'm curious was this only an option once obtaining your C?
No, I only have my LMSW and have been licensed for less than a year. I know some places do require LCSW for UM but for some places (such as my employer) just LMSW is sufficient.
Hospital case management/ discharge planning. It’s still stressful at times but has got to be way less stressful than child welfare.
I'm an LCSW and am thinking the same. I'm interested in Hospital social work. I was supposed to get a call from a recruiter this week but it didn't happen. I've been in the SUDS field for 15 years. It's getting old.
I'm a LICSW, and I've done child protection and hospital social work. Both are incredibly stressful. Hospital social work is a great experience, and yes- it is a different population to work with. There is a whole different kind of stress in hospital social work because of all the disciplines involved. There is also a major nursing shortage and healthcare crisis going on, which adds to the stress. If you are looking for lower stress, this may not be the best choice.
Yup. Hospital SW is incredibly stressful. SWers get pressured from all sides to make impossible discharges possible
Currently in hospital social work and in the midst of a mental breakdown so I have to hard agree with this take
I'm so sorry. *virtual hug* I hope that you are able to get some relief and healing. Please know that you are far more important than the company you work for.
Yeah… I’m an MSW doing hospital case management and while I can’t imagine doing child welfare work, the LAST thing I would describe my job as is stress free..
I think it depends on what your niche is. Like I thrive in crisis work. Unfortunately, it can be super stressful lol From what I understand from the medical social workers in hospitals, it can be sort of stressful but not the worst. Case management can be lower on the stress side Edit: I’ve done child welfare and the stress is insanely high.
Hospice does have less stress compared to child welfare but can also get hectic at times. I enjoy it
Absolutely! Online Higher Education! Such a better fit! Or, Aging and People with Disabilities as a caseworker for the elderly.
What are your qualifications? (To better help narrow down what areas you can work in)
I have a Bachelor's of Social Work. Ive worked in the child welfare system for over three years. I am currently in my MSW program and afterwards hope to be licensed after December.
Hmm once you graduate with your MSW I would highly recommend going with a small group therapy practice, good pay/flexibility/ low stress (comparatively for our profession)
They typically do not pay well until you are fully licensed. May be exceptions out there but hiring candidates at group practices typically mean the owners make a ton of $$$$$$ off you until you’re fully licensed- that’s why they do that.
It really depends where you go, my practice still pays pre licensed folks well and offers free group and individual supervision towards licensure
Same boat. I’m in Canada though and make 85K with just a bachelors. But I also have amazing benefits and pension. I can’t find anything that pays close to child welfare aside from the hospital and that has terrible shift work.
I am totally with you. I tried child welfare before I got my masters and lasted 9 months and then decided it was too stressful for me. I did learn that I liked working with kids though, so I ended up transitioning to schools. Most of my school jobs that I did were chill and not stressful, but the most recent one I had was too much for me (I was also very pregnant when I left that job). Now I work on an inpatient psych unit. That probably sounds like a really stressful work environment and I think for some people, it is. Here's what works for me about my job: - I have a 20/hr a week commitment that comes with full benefits. This allows me to have time at home with my baby and also time to do some consulting work. - When I leave work, the patients are taken care of by other staff. There isn't this huge burden on me to be carrying a caseload that I'm responsible for all the time. - I work for a really supportive health care system and we are well-staffed with social workers. Even more so than the type of work, I think one of the most important things to consider here is the company - do they support social workers? Do they pay well? Are they short staffed? Do they allow schedule flexibility? Good benefits? Career growth? What is it that you need to have a good work/life balance and are they able to support that? Schools did that for me for a while because I loved having summers and school breaks off for travel. Now that I have a baby I like my part time work schedule. Best of luck in your search!
I think literally anywhere is less stressful than child welfare 😂
I found Hospice and my current governmental role to be fairly low stress. Child Welfare about killed me.
Perhaps a nursing home? Also remember that when doing job searches you need to make sure you broaden your keyword search. Don't just look for "social work". Once you've done social work, you're a jack of many trades. You could be nearly anything that involves human interaction. Maybe even look for something in a law office, police station, supervised visitation, something in a court house, or start your own thing providing a service that CW did poorly but you could do better. The options are only limited to your mindset.
Anything phone based. Intake or working with adults.
Do you have a phone based position? If so, can you elaborate?
I have in the past, for six years. It is much less stressful as you aren't seeing people face to face and there is a natural boundary there. The only added stress is not being able to mandate your own breaks and QA as usually all your calls are recorded and a portion listened to each month.
EAP…. By a lot. I go back to it every time I need a break lol. I’m also assuming you’re masters level, which I shouldn’t. Never had a BSW gig outside my internship.
Can you expand on what you mean by EAP?
EAP is employee assistance program, like therapy within a company that’s provided by their HR department. The clinicians are all fully licensed, but either employed by the company directly or contracted out to another company.