License Qualification: Licensed Social Worker

Reports to: Administrator

Supervises: Social Worker and/or Social Service Assistant

Classification: Exempt Salary

Position Description

Responsible for planning, developing, organizing, evaluating and directing the overall operation of the Social Services department in accordance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics and in compliance with Federal, State, and Local guidelines and regulations, company policies and procedures, and governing agencies. Responsible for fostering a climate, policies and routines that enable residents to maximize their individuality, independence and dignity. This climate should provide residents with the highest practical level of physical, mental and psychosocial well-being and quality of life. Responsible for identifying psychosocial, mental and emotional needs along with providing, developing, and/or aiding in the access of services to meet those needs.

Principal Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, implements, evaluates, and directs a comprehensive Social Services program.
• Assist the Social Service Consultant in the planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing of the social service programs of the facility; Participates in reviewing and setting policies concerning resident care and quality of life; Participates in developing facility social work policies.
• Prepares Social Services department for annual survey.
• Works with Social Services staff, interdisciplinary team, and administration to promote and protect resident rights and the psychological well-being of all residents/residents. Prevents and addresses resident/resident abuse as mandated by law and professional licensure.
• Completes social history and psychosocial assessment for each resident that identifies social, emotional, and psychological needs; Completed relevant parts of the minimum data set (MDS); Utilizes the minimum data set to guide the care plan.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation which complies with federal/state regulations, The Company Corporate policy, and specific center practices, including, but not limited to, Advanced Directives, Minimum Data Set, Social Service History and Assessment, Raps, Care Plans, Social Service Progress Notes, Behavior Tracking, monitoring of cognitive and psychosocial changes, PASARR and Discharge Planning documentation, and psych services.
• Supports each resident’s/resident’s right to self-determination; Documents resident/resident refusal of services offered; Informs resident/resident of any therapeutic alternatives to the refused service; Involves others, as appropriate, to help educate the resident/resident about the alternatives.
• Participates in the development of a written, interdisciplinary plan of care for each resident that identifies the psychosocial needs/issues of the resident, the goals to be accomplished for those needs/issues, and the appropriate social worker interventions.
• Ensures or provides therapeutic interventions to assist residents in coping with their transition and adjustment to a long-term care facility, including their social, emotional, and psychological needs.
• Ensures or provides support and education to residents/family members/significant others to assist in their understanding of placement and facility issues in addition to referring them to the appropriate social service agencies when the facility does not provide the needed services.
• Coordinates the resident discharge planning process and make referrals for appropriate home care services prior to the resident’s return to the community.

• As part of interdisciplinary care team, identifies discharge teaching needs; Communicates with center team members the estimated discharge date and updating Point Click Care; Makes referrals as needed for post discharge care to appropriate agencies and suppliers. • Initiates and participates in completion of Discharge Transition Plan & Discharge packet materials and orienting the resident/resident and family around the process.

• Work with the interdisciplinary team and administration to promote and protect resident rights and the psychological well-being of each resident. Prevent and address resident abuse as mandated by law and professional licensure.
• Work with residents, families, significant others and staff to provide support, information and organization for taking a more proactive role in self-advocacy to improve the quality of life/care for individual resident and those who live and work within the facility and the community.
• Educate residents and families regarding the resident’s legal right to have an Advance Directive and to let the facility, physician and other healthcare providers know what the resident’s wishes are concerning medical treatment.
• Establishes relationships and maintains contact and referral flow with community-based agencies/services for discharge planning; Develop, maintain and utilize a listing of current community resources that are useful to residents and their families/significant others.
• Participate in quality assurance interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Understand and meet company and government requirements for social service documentation.
• Document progress in meeting the psychosocial needs of residents.

• Educate nursing personnel regarding the role of the social worker in the facility and the psychosocial needs of the residents and their families/significant others including the problems of aging and disability. • Educate staff regarding cultural diversity and each staff member’s importance when caring for residents. Educate staff regarding residents’ rights and how to recognize and prevent abuse, neglect and mistreatment.

• Educate residents and families/significant others regarding their rights and responsibilities, effective problem solving and the extent of community, health and social services that are available to them, including those necessary for effective discharge planning.
• Ability to exercise professional judgement in carrying out a variety of activities that maximize the well-being and quality of life of residents.
• Provide clinical interventions to address catastrophic events that occur during the resident’s stay in the facility.
• Collaborate with healthcare and social service coordinators of other agencies and hospitals to maximize the use of community services.
• Refer to APS any suspected cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
• Maintain and update a resource file on service providers and vendors; Assist with locating new providers and evaluating old service providers; Communicate regularly with service providers to assure satisfactory service delivery.
• Works with Director of Nursing and Administration to prepare for inspection surveys; ability to engage in interviews by inspectors, assist in immediate corrections of problems noted by surveyors, etc. Reviews and reinforces important standards previously cited.
• Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or assigned at any time with or without notice.

Management Responsibilities

• Develops organizational strategies by contributing information, analysis, and recommendations to strategic thinking and direction; establishing functional objectives in line with organization objectives.
• Establishes operational strategies by evaluating trends, establishing critical measurements; determining production, productivity, quality, and customer-service strategies; designing systems; accumulating resources; resolving problems; implementing change.
• Develops financial strategies by estimating, forecasting, and anticipating requirements, trends, and variances; aligning monetary resources; developing action plans; measuring and analyzing results; initiating corrective action; minimizing the impact of variances. Human Resource Responsibility
• Accomplishes human resources strategies by determining accountabilities; communicating and enforcing policy and procedures; implementing recruitment, selection, orientation., training, coaching, counseling, disciplinary, and communication programs; planning, monitoring appraising, and reviewing job contributions; planning and reviewing compensation strategies.
• Conducts continuing education programs and special in-service training to direct reports.
• Recruits, interviews, hires, and trains facility personnel.
• Completes evaluation of performance of direct reports at least once annually and makes recommendations for performance improvement plans for employees who fail to meet company expectations.
• Promotes and maintains pro-active, positive employee relations programs.
• Maintains frequent, daily, informal interaction and provides positive feedback to staff while they are working; Maintains open door policy in dealing with staff.
• Communicates and enforces company standards on counseling, disciplinary action, granting time-off, calling off-duty employees and/or transferring employees to cover staffing, assigning employees to specific work tasks, training, orienting, interviewing and screening prospective employees, disciplining employees who violate policies, adjusting complaints, evaluating performance, rewarding, approving time off and overtime, and attending to other supervisory duties as required.
• Manages the performance management process within the facility; coordinates with human resources department on employee compensation for merit within Company pay guidelines.
• Coordinates terminations of staff for performance related issues or for unethical behavior.
• Follows-up on all complaints of sexual harassment, as appropriate.
• Attends and participates in all Human Resources Workshop. General Responsibilities
• Attends and participates in scheduled training, educational classes, and meetings to maintain current certification as applicable; Attends and participates in in-service training as mandated by regulatory agencies and company policy.
• Adheres to work schedules in completing and performing assigned tasks; completes all assigned tasks in a timely manner as instructed by the direct supervisor.
• Meets acceptable center attendance requirements; notifies facility before late arrival to or absence from work according to established center policy.
• Cooperates with other facility personnel to ensure that services can be adequately maintained to meet the needs of residents; creates and maintains an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest, and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment.
• Adheres to established employee policies.
• Adheres to established dress code. Customer Service Responsibilities
• Models customer service principals throughout the center and promotes appreciation of our customer’s needs.
• Treats residents, residents’ family members, visitors and fellow employees with courtesy, respect, and dignity.
• Presents professional image through appearance, behavior and speech.
• Explains procedures to residents before administering services.

Residents Rights

Staff Development

• Attends and participates in scheduled in-service training, educational classes and meetings to maintain current certification as applicable and as managed by regulatory agencies and company policies.
• Ensures that small group meetings are held per company policy.
• Communicates new Policy & Procedures and regulations to staff to ensure compliance.

Qualifications

• Certified, licensed, or registered in the state of practice, required.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services field, including but not limited to Sociology, Special Education, Rehabilitation Counseling and Psychology from an accredited school of social work, required.
• One year of supervisory social work experience in a healthcare setting working directly with geriatric individuals.
• Minimum of 2 years of nursing experience in a Skilled Nursing Facility preferred.

Travel

• Minimal. May escort residents to outside appointments.

Principal Contacts

• Works closely with residents, families, interdisciplinary team, nursing personnel and department heads. Works with community agencies including other nursing homes, hospice, hospitals, outpatient programs, etc.; and vendors.