Social Service Director

Assists in planning, organizing, developing, and directing the overall operation of the Social Services Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations. Ensures the medically related emotional and social needs of residents are met and maintained on an individual basis.

Responsibilities

• Orients residents and families to the nursing center, helping both adjust to the new environment.
• Develops a social history on each resident.
• Creates social assessments and care plans that identify medically related social and emotional problems and needs, with realistic goals and specific actions.
• Answers inquiries about admission and provides tours to prospective family members and residents.
• Actively participates in pre-admission and admissions processes.
• Interviews residents and families as necessary in a private setting.
• Listens and acts compassionately with residents and family members; works independently to maintain job-related tasks.
• Prepares and completes social service documentation in a timely manner.
• Ensures notes are informative and descriptive of services provided and residents’ responses.
• Participates in resident care plan conferences as an active member of the care plan team.
• Assists in arranging transportation as needed.
• Refers residents and family members to appropriate social service agencies when facility services are insufficient.
• Documents residents’ behavioral and psychosocial status.
• Conducts discharge planning conferences with residents, families, and appropriate staff.
• Evaluates residents’ potential for the safest and most appropriate discharge plan.
• Utilizes available resources to ensure a smooth transition to the community upon discharge.
• Receives and documents complaints from residents and families, forwarding them to appropriate staff for resolution.
• Follows facility policies and procedures.
• Reinforces the facility’s commitment to delivering the highest quality of care to residents and families.
• Develops a community resource file and establishes contact with new providers.
• Identifies and promotes a supportive family or surrogate network.
• Provides individual and group support for families and residents during adjustment, crisis, or times of particular need.
• Facilitates intense, frequent, and short-term therapeutic groups focused on adjustment, remediation, and self-help skills.
• Establishes and ensures the growth of a separate volunteer program designed to meet specific social service needs.
• Works with administration and staff to enable a fully functioning and self-determining Family Council.
• In the absence of the Admissions Director, answers community inquiries about the admission process, bed availability, and fee schedules.
• Distributes pre-admission packets and assists with facility tours as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited school in Social Work or a related field (minimum requirement).
• Previous long-term care experience is desirable.
• Past supervisory experience preferred.
• Computer experience preferred.