Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary: The Social Services Worker will work with residents in the nursing home by identifying their psychosocial, mental and emotional needs along with providing, developing, and/or aiding in the access of services to meet those needs. The Social Services Worker is responsible for fostering a climate, policies and routines that enable residents to maximize their individuality, independence and dignity. This climate shall provide residents with the highest practical level of physical, mental and psychosocial well-being and quality of life. Services will be provided in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations.

Duties/Responsibilities:

1. Keep up to date of current federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards, and make recommendations on changes in policies and procedures to the Social Services Director or Administrator.
2. Assist in developing and implementing policies and procedures for the identification of medically related social and emotional needs of the resident.
3. Participate in community planning related to the interests of the facility and the services and needs of the residents and family.
4. Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of social care plans and resident assessments.
5. Interview resident/families to obtain social history.
6. Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submitting such to the Director as required.
7. Involve the resident/family in planning social service programs when possible.
8. Assist in arranging transportation to other facilities when necessary.
9. Refer resident/families to appropriate social service agencies when the facility does not provide the services or needs of the resident.
10. Provide information to residents/families as to Medicare/Medicaid, and other financial assistance programs available to the residents.
11. Provide consultation to members of our staff, community agencies, etc., in efforts to solve the needs and problems of the resident through the development of social service programs.
12. In the absence of the Director assume the authority, responsibility, and accountability of operating the social service department along with the other social workers.
13. Maintain a quality working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations.
14. Coordinate social service activities with other departments as necessary.
15. Work with the facility’s consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as required.
16. Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Director concerning the operation of the social service department.
17. Assist in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished.
18. Assist in providing solutions for social and practical environmental problems including seeking financial assistance, discharge planning (including collaboration with community agencies), and referrals to other community agencies when specialized assistance is required.
19. Evaluate social and family information and assist in determining plans for social treatment.
20. Interpret social, psychological, and emotional needs of the resident/family to the medical staff, attending physician, and other resident care team members.
21. Assist in obtaining resources from community social, health and welfare agencies to meet the needs of the residents.
22. Review departmental complaints and grievances from personnel and make written reports to the Administrator of action(s) taken. Follow the facility’s established procedures.
23. Assist the Quality Assessment & Assurance Committee in developing and implementing appropriate plans of action to correct identified deficiencies.
24. Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as necessary or as may be directed.
25. Ensure that all charted progress notes are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the residents’ response to the service.
26. Involve the resident/family in planning objectives and goals for the resident.
27. Meet with administration, medical and nursing staff, as well as other related departments in planning social service programs and activities.
28. Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the facility as required, and as appointed by the Administrator.
29. Provide written and/or oral reports of the social service programs and activities as required, or as may be directed by such committee(s).
30. Participate in regularly scheduled reviews of resident discharge plans.
31. Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to social services.
32. Assist in developing preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the social service needs of each resident.
33. Assist in developing a written plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) for each resident that identifies the problems/needs of the resident and the goals to be accomplished for each problem/need identified.
34. Encourage the resident/family to participate in the development and review of his/her plan of care.
35. Ensure that social services components of the MDS are completed and signed in a timely manner.
36. Assist in the scheduling of care plans and assessments to be presented and discussed at each committee meeting.
37. Develop and maintain a good rapport with all services involved with the care plan to ensure that a team effort is achieved in developing a comprehensive plan of care.
38. Maintain professional and caring relationships with residents and families.
39. Adhere to all HIPAA guidelines.
40. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Highly detail oriented and organized in work.
• Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Ability to multitask and work independently with minimal daily direction from manager to accomplish objectives.
• Ability to meet assigned deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Knowledgeable of medical terminology.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (specifically Microsoft Outlook, Excel, and Word) or related software.
• Able and willing to deliver friendly, courteous, and prompt customer service.
• Able and willing to work cooperatively with other team members.
• Ability to handle medical and financial information with the highest degree of confidentiality and sensitivity.

Qualifications:

• An associate degree from an accredited school in social services, human services, or business administration, required.
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited school in social work, human services, or business administration, preferred.
• One (1) year supervised social work experience in a health care setting working directly with individuals, preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at times.

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