Big Meadows • Frontier Hollow • Lyndon Play and Learn Center • Lyndon Progress Center • Pinnacle Place • S.T.R.I.V.E. • Winning Wheels.

PURPOSE OF YOUR JOB POSITION

The primary purpose of your job position is to plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of the Social Services Department in accordance with current federal, state and local standards, guidelines, and regulations, our established policies and procedures, and as may be directed by the Administrator, to assure that the medically related emotional and social needs of the resident are met/maintained on an individual basis.

DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

As Director of Social services, you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

JOB FUNCTIONS

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 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.

RISK EXPOSURE CATEGORIES

1 = Tasks may involve exposure to blood/body fluids.
2 = Tasks do not involve contact with blood/body fluids but could result in performing a Category 1 task
3 = Tasks do not involve any risk of exposure to blood/body fluids

ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS:

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the social service program of this facility. 3
• Assist in the development, administering, and coordinating of department policies and procedures. 3
• Keep abreast of current federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards, and make recommendations on changes in policies and procedures to the Administration. 3
• Review department policies and procedures, at least annually, and participate in making recommended changes. 3
• Develop and implement 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 resident and family. 3
• Participate in discharge planning, development, and implementation of social care plans and resident assessments. 3
• Interview resident/families as necessary and in a private setting. 3
• Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submitting such to the Administrator as required. 3
• Involve the resident/family in planning social service programs when possible. 3
• Assist in arranging transportation to other facilities when necessary.3
• Refer resident/families to appropriate social service agencies when the facility does not provide the services or needs of the resident. 3
• Provide information to resident/families as to medicare/medicaid, and other financial assistance programs available to the resident. 3
• 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. 3
• Assist in the review and updating of departmental job descriptions at least annually. 3
• Assume the authority, responsibility, and accountability of directing the social service department. 3
• Maintain quality working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations. 3
• Evaluate social and family information and assist in determining plans for social treatment. 3
• Review and evaluate the-department's work force and make recommendations to the Administrator. 3
• Coordinate social services activities with other departments as necessary. 3
• Work with the facility's consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as required. 3
• Delegate authority, responsibility, and accountability to other responsible department personnel. 3
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator concerning the operation of the social service department. 3
• Assist in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished.3
• Interpret the department's policies and procedures to employees, residents, visitors, government agencies, etc. 3
• Keep abreast of economic conditions/situations and recommend to the Administrator adjustments in social services that assure the continued ability to provide daily social services. 3
• Review and develop a plan of correction for social service deficiencies noted during survey inspections and provide a written copy of such to the Administrator. 3
• Interpret social, psychological, and emotional needs of the resident/family to the medical staff, attending physician, and other resident care team members. 3
• Participate in discharge planning and make such plans available to the Administrator as required or as may be necessary. 3
• Review departmental complaints and grievances from personnel and make written reports to the Administrator of action(s) taken within 5 work days. 3
• Assist in obtaining resources from community social, health, and welfare agencies to meet the needs of the resident. 3

COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS:

• Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the facility as required and appointed by the Administrator. 3
• Provide written and/or oral reports of the social service programs and activities as required, or as may be directed by such committees. 3
• Attend and participate in the QA Committee functions as required or as may be necessary. 3
• Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to social services. 3
• Meet with social services personnel, on a regularly scheduled basis, and solicit advice from inter-department supervisors concerning the operation of the social services department, assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services. 3
• Attend department head meetings as scheduled or as may be called. 3
• Schedule and announce departmental meeting times, dates, places, etc. 3

PERSONNEL FUNCTIONS:

• Assist in the recruitment, interviewing, and selection of social service personnel. 3
• Determine departmental staffing requirements necessary to meet the social service department's needs, and assign a sufficient number of social services personnel for each tour of duty. 3
• Recommend to the Administrator the number and level of social services personnel to be employed. 3
• Schedule department work hours (including vacation and holiday schedules), personnel, work assignments, etc., to expedite work. 3
• Delegate administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability to other social service personnel as deemed necessary to perform their assigned duties (i.e., Social Worker, Social Services Designee, etc.). 3
• Counsel/discipline social service personnel as requested or as necessary. 3
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a clam environment throughout the facility. 3
• Assist in standardizing the methods in which social services tasks will be performed. 3
• Review and check competence of social services personnel and make necessary adjustments/corrections as required or that may become necessary. 3
• Maintain a productive working relationship with other department supervisors and coordinate social services to assure that daily social services can be performed without interruption. 3
• Assure that appropriate identification documents are presented prior to employment and that such records are maintained in the employee?s personnel record. 3
• Make daily rounds to assure that social services personnel are performing required duties, and to assure that appropriate social service procedures are being rendered to meet the needs of the facility. 3

STAFF DEVELOPMENT:

• Develop and participate in the planning, conducting, scheduling of timely inservice training classes that provide instruction on "how to do the job", and ensures a well-educated social services department. 3
• Develop, implement, and maintain an effective orientation program that orients the new employee to the department, its policies and procedures, and to his/her job position and duties. 3
• Provide leadership training that includes the administrative and supervisory principles essential for the social services department. 3
• Encourage the social services supervisory staff to attend and participate in outside training program. Schedule times as appropriate. 3
• Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs that relate to the facility department. 3
• Attend and participate in continuing educational program designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status. 3
• Assure that all social services personnel attend and participate in a hazardous communication and universal precautions training program as established by current CDC and OSHA guidelines. 3

SAFETY AND SANITATION:

• Assist the Safety Officer in developing safety standards for the social services department. 3
• Monitor social services personnel to assure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies. 3
• Ensure that social services work areas are maintained in a clean, sanitary, and safe manner. 3
• Ensure that all social services personnel follow established policies and procedures, including appropriate dress codes. 3
• Ensure that social services personnel participate all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner. 3
• Develop, implement, and maintain a procedure for reporting hazardous conditions or equipment. 3
• Report any exposure to blood/body fluids. 3
• Evaluate and recommend residents needing Wanderguard to ensure job safety. 3

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY FUNCTIONS:

• Recommend to the Administrator the equipment and supply needs of the department. 3
• Place orders for equipment and supplies as necessary or as may be required. 3
• Make periodic rounds to check equipment and to assure that necessary equipment is available and working properly. 3
• Check supply rooms to assure that needed supplies are on hand to perform assigned cleaning tasks.3
• Ensure that all personnel operate social service equipment in a safe manner. 3

CARE PLAN AND ASSESSMENT FUNCTIONS:

• Develop preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the social service needs of each resident. 3
• Develop 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. 3
• Encourage the resident to participate in the development and review of his/her plan of care. 3
• Assist in the scheduling of care plans and assessments to be presented and discussed at each committee meeting. 3
• Ensure that all social service personnel are aware of the care plan and that care plans are used in providing daily social services to the resident. 3
• Review department notes to determine if the care plan is being followed. 3
• Review and revise care plans and assessments as necessary, but at least quarterly. 3
• 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. 3
• Complete assigned parts of MDS Quarterly Reviews as needed. 3
• Encourage family to attend care plans with patient authorization. 3

ADMISSIONS:

Maintains and updates waiting list of prospective clients. 3 Interviews prospective clients and family members to acquaint them to the facility and its services. 3 Upon admission, completes resident orientation check list to insure that resident is aware of opportunities available in the facility and the community. 3 Forecast needs of the department. 3

RESIDENT RIGHTS:

Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information. 3 Ensure that all social services personnel are knowledgeable of the residents' rights and responsibilities. 3 Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written/oral report to the Administrator indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance within 3 work days. 3 Maintain a written record of the resident's complaints and/or grievances that indicates the action taken to resolve the complaint and the current status of the complaint per monthly social service interviews. 3 Provide residents with information concerning resident rights, funds, living wills, etc. Explain as necessary. 3 Provide Resident Rights inservice to staff at least annually. 3

MISCELLANEOUS:

• Make weekly inspections of all social service functions to assure that quality control measures are continually maintained. 3
• Be prepared to handle emergencies as they come up (i.e., rescheduling work assignments and work schedules, etc.). 3
• Maintain tracking reports to ensure quality assurance of documentation for assigned caseload. 3
• Work with the facility's consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as required. 3
• Monitor status of departments social service interviews and intervene as necessary. 3
• Ensure all new admittees paperwork as required is complete in a timely manner. 3
• Secure and provide pastoral care for residents per request and document to same at least quarterly. 3
• Conduct and document a monthly social service interview with designated residents and/or family. 3
• Document residents invitation and attendance to Resident Council quarterly. 3
• Conduct psychosocial groups as assigned. Document at least monthly progress. Complete assessments as assigned. 3
• Assist in development and implementing psychosocial groups necessary to aide residents needs. 3
• Complete all required paper work for assigned new residential admissions. 3

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Works in office areas, as well as throughout the facility.
• Sits, stands, bends, lifts and moves intermittently during working hours.
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
• Is subject to emotionally upset residents, family members, etc.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing service, and other department supervisors.
• Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
• Attends and participates in continuing educational program.
• Maintains a liaison with other department supervisors to adequately plan for social services/activities.
• May be exposed to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.

EDUCATION

Must possess, as a minimum, a Bachelors Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or other Social Services.

EXPERIENCE

Must have, as a minimum, two (2) years experience in a supervisory capacity in a hospital, skilled nursing care facility, or other related medical facility.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

must:

• Be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language;
• Possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action;
• Possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public;
• Possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise professional and non-professional personnel;
• Have patience, tact, cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as be willing to handle residents based on whatever maturity level at which they are currently functioning, including communicative ability;
• Possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing practices;
• Must have knowledge of community resources;
• Must be able to relate information concerning resident's condition.

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS (With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)

Must be able to:

• Move intermittently throughout the workday;
• Speak and write the English language in an understandable manner;
• Cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position;
• See and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to assure that the requirements of this position can be fully met;
• Function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies;
• Be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability.
• Relate to and work with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people within the facility;
• To lift, push, pull, and move a minimum of 50 pounds;
• To assist in the evacuation of residents.

Tasks assigned to this position may involve exposure to blood or body fluids.