FT Social Services Director

JOB SUMMARY:  

The primary purpose of the Social Services Director position is to plan, organize, develop and direct the overall operation of the Social Services Department.

JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Administrative Functions

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate and direct the social service programs at the facility.

• Assist in the admission process, admission contracts, PAE, and PASSAR.

• Assist in the development, administering, and coordinating of department policies and procedures.

• Keep abreast of current federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards, and make recommendations on changes in policies and procedures to the Administrator.

• Review department policies and procedures annually and participate in making recommended changes.

• Develop and implement policies and procedures for the identification of medically related social and emotional needs of the residents.

• Make arrangements for obtaining needed adaptive equipment, clothing, and personal items as necessary and appropriate.

• With resident’s permission, maintain contact with the family to report on changes in health, current goals, resident’s rights, discharge planning, and to encourage participation in care planning.

• Make referrals and obtain services from outside entities, such as talking books, absentee ballots, and community wheelchair transportation.

• Assist residents with financial and legal matters, such as applying for pensions, referrals to attorneys, and referrals to funeral homes for preplanning arrangements, as necessary.

• Assist with discharge planning services, such as helping to place residents on a waiting list for other facilities, arranging intake for home-care services for residents returning home, etc.

• Assist with transfer arrangements to other facilities.

• Complete discharge plan in accordance with discharge plan policy.

• Develop relationship with resident and family and provide or arrange for provision of needed counseling services.

• Build relationships between residents and staff and teach staff to understand and support residents’ individual needs.

• Promote actions by staff that maintain or enhance each resident’s dignity in full recognition of each resident’s individuality.

• Assist residents in the decision making process (as appropriate) concerning their own health care, and whether or not they would like anyone else to be involved in those decisions.

• Assist staff in communicating with residents and family members regarding the resident’s health status and health-care choices and their ramifications.

• Provide alternatives to drug therapy and/or restraints by understanding and communicating with nursing services why residents acts as they do, what they are attempting to communicate and what needs the staff must meet.

• Counsel residents, families, and staff in dealing with feelings about grief, depression, disability, death, dying or other emotional, mental, environmental or physical limitations.

• Find options that best meet the physical and emotional needs of the residents.

• Work with families and residents on social interaction, reality orientation, and intellectual stimulation.

• Work with families and community resources as needed to solve financial needs and promote emotional security regarding financial stability.

• Identify community services and help the resident and families utilize them when needed.

• Compile and record social histories to assist in understanding resident’s backgrounds, family problems, resources, histories of illness, interests, etc. 

• Record pertinent social data about medically related personal and family problems in resident’s medial records.

• Assist residents in utilizing individual and group activities to their best advantage.

• Observe record and notify nursing staff of changes in attitude, behavior, or personality, especially depression, anxiety, withdrawal and aggression.

• Develop and use skills of interviewing, nondirective counseling, and communicating with community resources.

Care Plan Functions

• Complete the social service portion of the MDS within 14 days of admission.

• Document the social care component of the Comprehensive Care Plan for each resident as identified by the care plan committee within 7 days of completion of the MDS. Record progress note and update care plan as resident’s condition changes.

• Document interaction with residents and/or families in the assessment and care plans as required by state standards.

• Encourage the resident/family to participate in the development and review of the care plan.

• Coordinate the scheduling of care plan meetings and assessments to presented and discussed at each meeting.

• Review nurses notes to determine if the social services care plan is being followed. Report problem areas to the DON.

• 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.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:  

Education

• Must possess, as a minimum, a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a human services field such as, social services, sociology, psychology, special education, or rehabilitative counseling.

• Member in good standing in the National Association of Social Workers a strong preference.

Experience

• Must have a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field. 

• Must have a minimum of one (1) years of experience in social work working directly with residents in a health care setting.

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