Job Details

We are now offering 8-hour shifts!

Purpose of Your Job Position

The primary purpose of your job position is to plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of our facility's 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.

Office Administration Functions

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the social service programs of this facility
• 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, at least 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 resident
• Participate in community planning related to the interests of the facility and the services
  and needs of the resident and family. Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of social care plans and resident assessments
• Interview residents and families as necessary and in a private setting
• Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submitting such to the Administrator as required
• Involve the resident and family in planning social service programs when possible
• Assist in arranging transportation to other facilities when necessary
• Refer resident and families to appropriate social service agencies when the facility does not
  provide the services or needs of the resident
• Provide information to resident and families as to Medicare, Medicaid, and other financial assistance programs available to the resident
• 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
• Assist in the review and updating of departmental job descriptions at least annually
• Assume the authority, responsibility, and accountability of directing the social service department
• Maintain a quality working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations
• Review and evaluate the department's work force and make recommendations to the Administrator
• Coordinate social service activities with other departments as necessary
• Work with the facility's consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as required
• Delegate authority, responsibility, and accountability to other responsible department personnel
• Make written and oral reports and recommendations to the Administrator concerning the operation of the social service department
• Assist in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished
• Interpret the department's policies and procedures to employees, residents, visitors, government agencies, etc
• Keep abreast of economic conditions and situations and recommend to the Administrator adjustments in social services that assure the continued ability to provide daily social services
• Review and develop a plan of correction for social service deficiencies noted during survey inspections and provide a written copy
• Assist the Infection Control Coordinator in identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and job related social functions to ensure that tasks involving exposure to blood or body fluids are properly identified and recorded. of such to the Administrator. Review departmental complaints and grievances from personnel and make written reports to the Administrator of action(s) taken. Follow facility's established procedures
• Assist the Quality Assessment and Assurance Committee in developing and implementing appropriate plans of action to correct identified deficiencies
• Develop, implement, and maintain an ongoing quality assurance program for the social services department
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as necessary or as may be directed
• Interview residents, or family members, as necessary, to obtain social history. Assure that social service progress notes are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the resident's response to the service
• Maintain a reference library of written material, laws, standards of practice, etc., necessary for complying with current standards and regulations, and that will provide assistance in maintaining quality social service
• Develop and maintain a community and social services referral file of agencies and organizations that provide assistance to residents
• Involve the resident/family in planning objectives and goals for the resident
• Meet with administration, medical and nursing staff, as well as other related departments in planning social service programs and activities
• Others as deemed necessary and appropriate, or as may be directed by the Administrator
• Agree not to disclose assigned user ID code and password for accessing resident/facility information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator
• Agree not to disclose resident's protected health information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator
• Report any known or suspected unauthorized attempt to access facility's information system

• Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the facility (i.e., Infection Control, Policy Advisory, Pharmaceutical, Budget, Quality Assessment and Assurance, etc.) as required, and as appointed by the Administrator
• Provide written and/or oral reports of the social service programs and activities as required, or as may be directed by such committee(s)
• Participate in regularly scheduled reviews of resident discharge plans
• Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to social services. 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
• Attend department head meetings, etc., as scheduled or as may be called
• Schedule and announce departmental meeting times, dates, places, etc

• Assist in the recruitment, interviewing, and selection of social services personnel
• 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. Recommend to the Administrator the number and level of social services personnel to be employed
• Schedule department work hours (including vacation and holiday schedules), personnel, work assignments, etc., to expedite work
• Delegate administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability to other social services personnel as deemed necessary to perform their assigned duties (i.e., Social Worker, Social Service Designee, etc.)
• Counsel/discipline social services personnel as requested or as necessary
• Terminate employment of personnel when necessary, documenting, and coordinating such actions with the HR Director and/or Administrator
• Assist in standardizing the methods in which social services tasks will be performed
• Review and check competence of social services personnel and make necessary adjustments/corrections as required or that may become necessary
• Maintain a productive working relationship with other department supervisors and coordinate social services to assure that daily social services can be performed without interruption
• Assure that appropriate identification documents are presented prior to employment and that such records are maintained in the employee's personnel record
• 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
• Conduct departmental performance evaluations in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest, and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the facility
• Report known or suspected incidents of fraud to the Administrator
• Ensure that departmental computer workstations left unattended are properly logged off or the password protected automatic screen-saver activates within established facility policy guidelines

• Develop and participate in the planning, conducting, scheduling of timely in-service training classes that provide instructions on "how to do the job," and ensure welleducated social services department
• 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
• Provide leadership training that includes the administrative and supervisory principles essential for the social services department. Encourage the social services supervisory staff to attend and participate in outside training programs. Schedule times as appropriate
• Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs that relate to the social services department
• Attend and participate in continuing educational programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status
• Ensure that all social services personnel attend and participate in annual facility inservice training programs as scheduled (e.g., OSHA, TB, HIPAA, Abuse Prevention, Safety, Infection Control, etc.)

• Assist the Safety Officer in developing safety standards for the social services department
• Ensure that the department's policy and procedure manual identifies safety precautions and equipment to use when performing tasks that may result in bodily injury
• Monitor social services personnel to assure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies
• Ensure that social service work areas are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner
• Ensure that all social services personnel follow established departmental policies and procedures, including appropriate dress codes
• Ensure that social services personnel participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner
• Assist the Infection Control Committee in the development, implementation, and revising of written aseptic and isolation technique
• Develop, implement, and maintain a program for monitoring communicable and/or infectious diseases among the residents and personnel
• Ensure that social services personnel follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary
• Ensure that department personnel follow established procedures governing the use of labels and MSDSs
• Report missing/illegible labels and MSDSs to the safety officer or other designated person
• Ensure that department personnel performing tasks that may involve potential exposure to blood, body fluids, infectious disease, etc., attend appropriate in-service training classes prior to performing such tasks
• Develop, implement, and maintain a procedure for reporting hazardous conditions or equipment. Report any exposure to blood/body fluids

• Recommend to the Administrator the equipment and supply needs of the department
• Place orders for equipment and supplies as necessary or as may be required. Make periodic rounds to check equipment and to assure that necessary equipment is available and working properly
• Check supply rooms to assure that needed supplies are on hand to perform assigned cleaning tasks
• Ensure that all personnel operate social service equipment in a safe manner
• Develop and implement procedures that ensure social service supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste
• Ensure that MSDSs are on file for hazardous chemicals used in the social services department

• Develop preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the social service needs of each resident
• Develop a written plan of care for each resident that identifies social problems/needs ofthe resident and the goals to be accomplished for each problem/need identified
• Ensure that social services components of the MDS are completed and signed on a timely basis
• Monitor the facility's QI, QM, and survey reports relative to social services and make recommendations to correct identified problem areas
• Encourage the resident/family to participate in the development and review of his/her plan of care
• Assist in the scheduling of care plans and assessments to be presented and discussed at each committee meeting
• Ensure that all social services personnel are aware of the care plan and that care plans are used in providing daily social services to the resident
• Review nurses' notes to determine if the care plan is being followed. Report problem areas to the DONS
• 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

• Forecast needs of the department
• Assist in preparing and planning the social services department's budget for food, equipment, supplies, and labor and submit to the Administrator for review, recommendations, and approval
• Maintain current written records of department expenditures and assure that adequate financial records and cost reports are submitted to the Administrator upon request or as necessary
• Make departmental adjustments in order to conform to approved budget, and/or as dictated by an analysis of the monthly operating statement
• Report suspected or known incidence of fraud relative to false billings, cost reports, kickbacks, etc

• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information including protected health information. Report known or suspected incidents of unauthorized disclosure of such information
• Knock before entering a resident's room
• Ensure that all social services personnel are knowledgeable of the resident's rights and responsibilities including the right of refusal
• 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. Follow facility's established procedures
• Maintain a written record of the resident's complaints and/or grievances that indicates the action taken to resolve the complaint and the status of the complaint
• Provide residents with information concerning resident rights, living wills, etc. Explain as necessary
• Participate in resident/group council meetings as requested and provide support services to such council

• Make weekly inspections of all social service functions to assure that quality control measures are continually maintained
• Be prepared to handle emergencies as they come up (i.e., rescheduling work assignments and work schedules, etc.)
• Be sure that appropriate protective clothing/devices is on hand for handling infectious waste and/or blood/body fluids. Work with the facility's consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as required

• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice

• Must be registered as an ACSW
• Must possess, as a minimum, a Bachelor's Degree from an approved school of Social Work
• Must have, as a minimum, two (2) years' experience in a supervisory capacity in a hospital, nursing care facility, or other related medical facility
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language
• Must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age-related needs of the residents served
• Must be a supportive team member, contribute to and be an example of team work and team concept
• Must be knowledgeable of the rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern nursing care facilities
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action