Social Services 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 in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, as well as established policies and procedures. This role ensures the medically related emotional and social needs of residents are met and maintained on an individual basis.

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 for identifying residents' medically related social and emotional needs.
• 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 residents' physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being.
• Complete administrative tasks such as forms and reports, and submit them to the Director.
• Inform residents/families about Medicare/Medicaid and other financial assistance programs.
• Provide 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.
• Address emotional issues, including assisting residents/families with anxieties, stress, coping difficulties, and fears related to illness or institutional care.
• Evaluate social and family information to determine social treatment plans.
• 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.
• 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 fraud related to false billings, cost reports, or kickbacks.
• Maintain confidentiality of all resident care information, including protected health information, and report unauthorized disclosures.

Qualifications

• Minimum requirement: High school diploma or equivalent. Associate or Bachelor's Degree preferred but not required.
• Prior healthcare experience preferred.

Skills

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret 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.
• Ability to apply mathematical concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with variables in situations with limited standardization.
• Ability to interpret instructions in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Physical Demands

• 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 equipment such as copier, scanner, fax, telephone, and calculator.
• May assist in evacuating residents during emergencies.

Work Environment

• Typically low to moderate noise levels.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.