Social Services Director - Excel Care Center

Purpose of Your Job Position

The primary purpose of your position is to plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of the Facility’s Social Services Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations, our established policies and procedures, and as may be directed by the Administrator, to assure that the medically related emotional and social needs of the residents are met and maintained on an individual’s basis.

Delegation of Authority

As Social Services Director you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

Job Function

Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or is an essential function of the position.

Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the social services programs of the Facility.
• Assist in the development, administering, and coordinating of department policies and procedures.
• Keep abreast of current federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards, and make recommendations on changes in policies and procedures to the Administrator.
• Review department policies and procedures, at least annually, and participate in making recommended changes.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures for the identification of medically related social and emotional needs of the resident.
• Participate in community planning related to the interests of the Facility and the services and needs of the resident and family.
• Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of social care plans and resident assessments.
• Interview resident and families in a private setting, as necessary.
• Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submitting such to the Administrator, as required.
• Involve the resident and family in planning social service programs when possible in a private setting.
• Assist in arranging transportation to other facilities when necessary.
• Refer resident and families to appropriate social service agencies when the Facility does not provide the services or needs of the resident in a private setting.
• Provide information to resident and families as to Medicare and Medicaid, and other financial assistance programs available to the resident.
• Provide consultation to members of our staff, community agencies, etc., in efforts to solve the needs and problems of the resident through the development of social service programs.
• Assist in the review and updating of Social Services Department’s job descriptions, annually.
• Assume the authority, responsibility, and accountability of directing the Social Service Department.
• Maintain a quality working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations.
• Review and evaluate the department’s work force and make recommendations to the Administrator.
• Coordinate social service activities with other departments, as necessary.
• Make written and oral reports and recommendations to the Administrator concerning the operation of the Social Service Department.
• Keep abreast of economic conditions and situations and recommend to the Administrator adjustments in social services that assure the continued ability to provide daily social services.
• Review and develop a plan of correction for social service deficiencies noted during survey inspections and provide a written copy of such to the Administrator.
• Review departmental complaints and grievances from personnel and make written reports to the Administrator of action(s) taken. Follow Facility’s established procedures.
• Develop, implement, and maintain an ongoing quality assurance program for the Social Services Department.
• Participate in Facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies, as necessary or as may be directed.
• Interview residents, or family members, as necessary, in a private setting to obtain social history.
• Assure that social service progress notes are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the resident’s response to the service.
• Maintain a reference library of written material, laws, standards of practice, etc., necessary for complying with current standards and regulations, and that will provide assistance in maintaining quality social service.
• Develop and maintain a community and social services referral file of agencies and organizations that provide assistance to residents.
• Involve the resident and family in planning objectives and goals for the resident.
• Meet with administration, medical and nursing staff, as well as other related departments in planning social service programs and activities.

Committee Functions

• Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the Facility (i.e. Infection Control, Policy Advisory, Pharmaceutical, Budget, Quality Assessment and Assurance, etc.), as required and as appointed by the Administrator.
• Provide written and/or oral reports of the social service programs and activities, as required or as may be directed by such committee(s).
• Participate in regularly scheduled reviews of resident discharge plans.
• Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to social services.
• Meet with social services personnel, on a regularly scheduled basis, and solicit advice from inter-department supervisors concerning the operation of the Social Services department, assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services.

Personnel Functions

• Delegate administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability to other social services personnel as deemed necessary to perform their assigned duties (i.e., Social Worker, Social Service Designee, etc.).
• Counsel and discipline social services personnel, as requested or as necessary.
• Assist in standardizing the methods in which social services tasks will be performed.
• Review and check competence of social services personnel and make necessary adjustments and corrections, as required or that may become necessary.
• Maintain a productive working relationship with other department supervisors and coordinate social services to assure that daily social services can be performed without interruption.
• Make daily rounds to assure that social services personnel are performing required duties, and to assure that appropriate social service procedures are being rendered to meet the needs of the Facility.

Staff Development

• Develop and participate in the planning, conducting, scheduling of timely in-service training classes that provide instructions on “how to do the job,” and ensure well-educated Social Services Department.
• Develop, implement, and maintain an effective orientation program that orients the new employee to the department, its policies and procedures, and to his/her job position and duties.
• Provide leadership training that includes the administrative and supervisory principles essential for the social services department.
• Encourage the social services supervisory staff to attend and participate in outside training programs. Schedule times as appropriate.
• Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs that relate to the Social Services Department.
• Attend and participate in continuing educational programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status.
• Ensure that all social services personnel attend and participate in annual Facility in-service training programs as scheduled (e.g., OSHA, TB, HIPAA, Abuse Prevention, Safety, Infection Control, etc.)..

Equipment and Supply Functions

• Recommend to the Administrator the equipment and supply needs of the Social Services Department.
• Ensure that all personnel operate social service equipment in a safe manner.
• Develop and implement procedures that ensure social service supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste.

Care Plan and Assessment Functions

• Develop preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the social service needs of each resident.
• Develop a written plan of care for each resident that identifies social problems and needs of the resident and the goals to be accomplished for each problem or need identified.
• Ensure that social services components of the MDS are completed and signed on a timely basis.
• Monitor the Facility’s QI, QM, and survey reports relative to social services and make recommendations to correct identified problem areas.
• Encourage the resident or family to participate in the development and review of resident’s plan of care.
• Assist in the scheduling of care plans and assessments to be presented and discussed at each committee meeting.
• Ensure that all social services personnel are aware of the care plan and that care plans are used in providing daily social services to the resident.
• Review nurses’ notes to determine if the care plan is being followed. Report problem areas to the Director of Nursing Services.

Budget and Planning Functions

• Forecast needs of the Social Services Department.
• Make departmental adjustments in order to conform to approved budget, and/or as dictated by an analysis of the monthly operating statement.

Resident Rights

• Ensure that all social services personnel are knowledgeable of the resident’s rights and responsibilities including the right of refusal.
• Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written and oral report to the Administrator indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance. Follow Facility’s established procedures.
• Maintain a written record of the resident’s complaints and/or grievances that indicates the action taken to resolve the complaint and the current status of the complaint.
• Provide residents with information concerning resident rights, living wills, etc. Explain as necessary.
• Participate in resident and group council meetings as requested and provide support services to such council.
• Must adhere to all HIPAA requirements.

Working Conditions

• Works in office areas as well as throughout the Facility.
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies or personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing service, and other department directors.
• Maintains a liaison with other department supervisors to adequately plan for social services and activities.
• May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Education

• A Master’s Degree in social work preferred.
• Must possess, as a minimum, a Bachelor’s Degree in social work, sociology, special education, rehabilitation counseling, psychology, or any other specialized intellectual instruction directly related to social work.

Experience

Must have, as a minimum, one (1) year’s experience as a Social Services Director or in a similar capacity.

Specific Requirements

• Current licensure as a Social Worker in good standing.
• Registered with Academy of Certified Social Workers preferred.
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Must be knowledgeable of the rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern nursing care facilities.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.
• Must possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing social services.

Physical and Sensory Requirements

• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
• Must possess sight and hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
• Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of the Facility, which may include a medical and physical examination.
• Based on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Guidelines for Nursing Homes Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders and the American Conference Governmental Industrial Hygienists' Threshold Limit Values for Lifting the Facility has identified that this job may require the lifting of residents, equipment, or other objects. Accordingly, this job may require a minimum of 5 pounds and a maximum of 25 pounds lifting, periodically and or as needed.

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