Social Services Assistant

Essential Duties

• Aid 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 related departments in planning social services.
• Assist in the development, administration, and coordination of department policies and procedures.
• Review and recommend changes to department policies and procedures at least annually.
• Support the development and implementation of policies and procedures for identifying the medically related social and emotional needs of residents.
• Engage in community planning to address the interests of the facility and the needs of residents and families.
• Help residents achieve the highest practicable levels 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 necessary forms, reports, and submit them to the Director.
• Inform residents/families about available financial assistance programs.
• Offer consultation to staff, community agencies, and others to solve resident needs and problems through social service programs.
• Record and maintain regular Social Service progress notes reflecting the resident's response to treatment plans and adjustments to institutional life.
• Coordinate social service activities with other departments as needed.
• Assist residents with emotional issues, including anxiety and stress related to illness, admission to the facility, coping with disabilities, and institutional care.
• Evaluate social and family information and assist in developing treatment plans.
• Meet with department personnel regularly to identify and correct problem areas or improve services.
• Seek resources from community social, health, and welfare agencies to meet resident needs.
• Avoid scheduling outpatient appointments and arrange on-site ancillary patient services like optometry, podiatry, dentistry, and psychiatric services.
• Participate in discharge planning with appropriate agencies, entities, or individuals, including agency services, equipment, and referrals.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with other departments within the facility and external community health, welfare, and social agencies.
• Contribute to the development and participation in regularly scheduled orientation and in-service training programs addressing the social, emotional, and medical needs of residents.
• Contribute to the development of the department’s budget.
• Report suspected or known incidences of fraud related to billing, 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.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent, with an associate or bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.
• Prior health-care experience is preferred.

Reasoning Ability

• Solve practical problems and respond to questions from managers and employees.
• Apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Interpret written, oral, diagrams, or schedules.

Physical Demands

• Lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Occasionally sit, stand, walk, and talk.
• Frequent use of office-related equipment like desktop or laptop computers, copiers, scanners, faxes, telephones, calculators, and other office equipment.
• May assist in evacuating residents during emergency situations.

Work Environment

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