About the role#
This internship provides experience working with diverse patient populations while you build the interpersonal and professional skills needed for a career in social work. You will work under the supervision of a licensed social worker, learning through observation, demonstration, and ongoing feedback. The program runs from September 2026 through April 2027. Please note that your university field placement department must initiate the process before you submit an application, and we can only accept interns from schools with an existing affiliation agreement.
What you'll do#
- Report to the unit 2 days a week.
- Serve patients across child, adolescent, or adult service lines and day programs.
- Complete comprehensive psychosocial assessments.
- Communicate with patients, their families, and guardians.
- Coordinate with internal and external treatment team members.
- Assist with discharge planning.
- Conduct clinical groups 1-2 times a week.
- Participate in self-reflection and peer critique to support your professional growth.
What you'll need#
- Effective time management and communication skills.
- A willingness to work within a team.
- Ability to be self-motivated.
- Patience and compassion when working with people who have mental illnesses.
- A readiness to learn from all experiences.
Location & details#
- Location: Elkridge, Maryland.
- Work modality: On-site.
- Compensation: Paid internship.
- Application deadline: July 31, 2026.
About Sheppard Pratt
Sheppard Pratt operates as a private, nonprofit provider of mental health and social services. It offers care for substance use, developmental disabilities, and special education across hospital and community settings. The organization maintains a national presence with headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. It employs over 3,000 people to support its clinical and educational programs.
How to get in at Sheppard Pratt
Applying early to Sheppard Pratt gives you a distinct advantage, as recruiters review applications before the candidate pool becomes crowded. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published, helping you secure a spot at the front of the line. You will find that being among the first applicants helps your profile stand out during the initial screening process. Reaching out to the recruiters behind these roles often leads to better results than submitting to a general queue. Intern Insider surfaces the specific contacts responsible for Sheppard Pratt roles so you can reach out directly to ask about the position or a potential referral. This proactive approach often improves your response rate and provides a clearer view of the team culture.
