Social Service Assistant

About the Role

The primary purpose of this position is to assist in planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing our facility’s social service programs. This role ensures that the medically related emotional and social needs of residents are met and maintained on an individual basis, in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, as well as established policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Social Service Director/Consultant in planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing social service programs.
• Collaborate with administration, medical and nursing staff, and other departments to plan social services.
• Assist in developing, administering, and coordinating department policies and procedures, reviewing them annually for recommended changes.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures for identifying the medically related social and emotional needs of residents.
• Participate in community planning related to facility interests and resident/family needs.
• Assist residents in achieving the highest practicable level of self-care, independence, and well-being.
• Provide medically related social services to ensure the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident.
• Complete administrative requirements, such as necessary forms and reports, and submit them to the Director.
• Provide information to residents/families about Medicare/Medicaid and other financial assistance programs.
• Offer consultation to staff and community agencies to address resident needs through social service programs.
• Maintain regular Social Service progress notes documenting responses to treatment plans or adjustment to institutional life.
• Coordinate social service activities with other departments as needed.
• Assist residents and families with emotional challenges, including anxieties related to illness, coping with disabilities, and fears of helplessness or death.
• Evaluate social and family information to determine plans for social treatment.
• Meet regularly with department personnel to identify and correct problem areas or improve services.
• Obtain resources from community social, health, and welfare agencies to meet resident needs.
• Assist in making outpatient appointments and scheduling on-site ancillary services (e.g., optometry, podiatry, dentistry, psychiatric services).
• Assist in discharge planning with appropriate agencies, entities, or individuals, including referrals and equipment needs.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with facility departments and external community agencies to support social service programs.
• Assist in developing and participating in orientation and in-service training programs related to residents' social, emotional, and medical needs.
• Assist in developing the department’s budget.
• Report suspected or known incidents of fraud, such as false billings or kickbacks.
• Maintain confidentiality of all resident care information, including protected health information, and report unauthorized disclosures.

Requirements

• Must possess, at a minimum, a high school diploma or its equivalent. Associate or Bachelor’s Degree preferred but not required.
• Prior healthcare experience is preferred.

Skills

• Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers and employees.
• Mathematical Skills: Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with concrete variables in situations with limited standardization. Ability to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Physical Demands

• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Prolonged use of a desktop or laptop computer.
• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, read, or hear.
• Frequent use of office-related equipment, including copier/scanner/fax, telephone, and calculator.
• May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.

Work Environment

• The noise level in the work environment is typically low to moderate.

Pay

$18-$24 per hour.