Social Services Assistant

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Social Services Assistant

DEPARTMENT: Social Services

REPORTS TO: Social Services Director

General Purpose:

Serves as patient liaison which includes assisting in providing social services to residents and family members. Assists in admissions process and discharge planning process.

Qualifications:

• Must have high school diploma or equivalent.

• Experience in dealing with people in crisis is preferable.

• Must be sensitive to residents physical and psychosocial needs.

• Must have ability to follow oral and written instructions.

• Must be a self-motivated, creative and positive personality, who demonstrates

willingness to learn new ideas and skills and can work as part of a team.

• Must possess patience, good organizational skills, and assertiveness and be a

conscientious person.

• Must be able to handle emotionally stressful situations day in and day out, including,

but not limited to death and dying.

• Must present a professional appearance.

• Must be flexible in working hours so that support during crisis situations may be provided on weekends or evenings and for facility sponsored events.

• Must be able to meet all local health regulations and pass pre/post-employment physical exam if required. This requirement also includes drug screening, criminal background investigation and reference inquiry.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1) Assists Social Services Director in handling resident grievances according to facility policy.

2) Works with residents and families towards adjustment to institutional living and the

crises of illness, disability and death.

3) Ensures that all required records are completed, legible and timely.

4) Maintains relationships with residents and families in order to facilitate early

identification of potential problems. Maintains close relationships with other departments to appropriately resolve grievances.

5) Assists Social Services Director in coordinating services to meet resident’s psychosocial needs and ensure those needs are met. Makes referral to community agencies, mental health services, and ancillary services.

6) Educates and assists residents in executing advanced directives/advanced care

planning. Ensures that mentally incapacitated residents have a designated health care decision maker to execute their rights.

7) Completes and maintains all Social Services documentation and records (See Social

Services Manual)

8) Assists Social Services Director with room changes; including notification and documentation of notification of residents, families and staff members. Prepares and supports resident throughout these changes.

9) Assists the Social Services Director with completing the social history, psychosocial assessment, and other required assessments (BIMS, PHQ9) within the required time frames. Participates in the MDS/Care Planning process (as needed) and documents accordingly. Documents patient progress and significant concerns/events in medical record.

10) Upon admission and throughout stay, coordinates information which will enable resident to be discharged at medically appropriate time.

11) Assists residents and family members in obtaining services needed to assure continuity of care after discharge. Issues transfer/discharge letters and Non-Coverage letters as required by Federal Regulations. Maintains a current community resource guide.

12) Educates and assists resident and family members with financial planning.

13) Be familiar with admissions process to be able to assist with tours, telephone calls, and admissions as needed.

14) Participates in the Utilization Review Process and issue denial/non-coverage letters accordingly, as needed.

15) Be aware of and follow all state, federal, company and center policies and procedures.

16) Attends facility meetings as required.

17) Keeps Social Services Director and Administrator informed and up to date on current status of social services and significant resident/family issues.

18) All other duties as assigned.

Physical and Sensory Requirements:

Walking, sitting, standing, reaching, stooping, bending, lifting, grasping, pushing and pulling, and fine-hand coordination. Ability to hear and respond to overhead pages. Ability to communicate with residents, families, personnel, vendors, and consultants. Ability to apply training and in-service education provided. Must present a neat, clean, professional appearance and demonstrate a positive approach with employees and residents.

Every effort has been made to make your job description as complete as possible. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The above statements reflect the general duties considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or is a logical assignment to the position.