Salary: Negotiable, dependent upon experience and/or education

Purpose of this position

The purpose of this position is to provide services to meet the social and/or emotional needs that affect the residents’ ability to achieve their highest level of function; participate in the development of residents’ comprehensive care plans; develop policies and procedures to provide social services to residents in compliance with federal, state and local regulations.

Qualifications:

Education: Must have qualified by one of the following:

• A Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work degree from a college or university with an undergraduate social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education with one year of experience in the provision of social services in a long term care facility.
• A Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in social or behavioral sciences with one year of experience in the provision of social service in a long term care facility.
• Successfully completed a course of instruction in social services of at least 36-hours established by the Provider Associations; or
• Two years experience in the provision of social services in a long term care facility.
• Must be 18 years of age.
• Cannot have been convicted of any crimes related to any services to be provided under this job description, including, but not limited to, moral turpitude, assault or violence.
• Possess personal qualities that enable the employee to maintain good interpersonal relationships with employees and residents within the facility.
• Must have excellent oral and written skills.
• Must be able to speak and understand the English language or a language understood by a substantial portion of the facility’s residents.
• Maintain the flexibility to work at either campus at administration request.
• Go directly to the Resident’s Rights worksheet.

Duties and Responsibilities

Authority is delegated to the individual in this position to

• Assist with developing policies and procedures to provide social services to residents in compliance with federal, state and local regulations.
• Interview, assess and develop individualized plans to meet residents’ needs.
• Assess the facility’s social service program and make recommendations to the administrator.

• Assist with implementation of social service policies and procedures to meet residents’ needs in compliance with federal, state and local regulations.
• Assist and participate in family and resident activities designed to promote social interaction, reality orientation and intellectual stimulation.
• Develop one-to-one professional relationships with residents and families as needed for support.
• Support residents and families in dealing with feelings about death or dying and other emotional, mental environmental or physical limitations.
• Assess and complete the sections of the (MDS) Minimum Data Set assigned completely, timely and accurately.
• Document the social service component of the Comprehensive Care Plan for each resident in a timely manner.
• Document psychosocial needs, interaction and follow-up action(s) with resident and/or family according to facility policies and procedures.
• Assess, plan and document residents’ discharge needs in accordance with facility discharge planning policy and regulatory requirements.
• Act as a liaison with social, health and community agencies.
• Refer residents to social, health and community agencies and complete accurate documentation in residents’ records concerning the results of such referrals.
• Coordinate family and community resources as needed to solve financial needs and to promote emotional security.
• Take part in facility in-service programs as required.
• Help organize events related to resident’s needs and interests.
• Explain residents’ rights to residents and residents’ representatives.
• Participate in admission of residents as assigned.
• Plan, schedule and implement room visits for residents unable to leave their rooms.
• Coordinate and cooperate with the activity department to plan and conduct events to meet socialization needs of the residents.
• Observe all facility safety policies and procedures.
• Complete other duties as assigned.