Social Services Director - Squirrel Hill Wellness and Rehabilitation Center

Social Services Director is responsible for maintaining a comprehensive social services program within the facility in accordance with company policy and state and federal regulations governing skilled nursing facilities. The Director assesses residents and patients and assists them and their families in dealing with the psychosocial aspects of illness and aging. Acting as a member of the facility’s interdisciplinary team, the Director participates in care planning and coordinates referrals to other healthcare providers and facilitates the development of resident discharge plans. The Director also coordinates self-governing resident and family councils.

           Essential Job Functions:

• Follows established safety policies and procedures
• Observes safety needs of residents/patients as indicated in care plan; participates in restraint reduction program
• Wears and/or uses safety equipment and supplies when indicated and properly trained to use
• Demonstrates job-specific knowledge of fire and disaster preparedness during drills or actual situations

          Social Worker Responsibilities

• Identifies cognitive impairments, signs of mood problems, and psychosocial needs and follows-up as needed
• Communicates effectively with the interdisciplinary team, residents/patients, families, and community agencies
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation which complies with federal/state regulations, , and specific center practices, including, but not limited to, Advanced Directives, Minimum Data Set, Social Service History and Assessment, Raps, Care Plans, Social Service Progress Notes, Behavior Tracking, monitoring of cognitive and psychosocial changes, PASARR and Discharge Planning documentation, and psych services.
• Supports each resident's/patient's right to self-determination; Documents resident patient refusal of services offered; Informs resident patient of any therapeutic alternatives to the refused service; Involves others, as appropriate, to help educate the resident patient about the alternatives.
• Facilitates communication among resident/patient, family and interdisciplinary team members aimed at provision of risk/benefit information to support informed decision-making
• Coordinates interdisciplinary team care conferences
• Makes appropriate referrals to other consultants, community agencies, or Center departments in order to facilitate the resident's/patient's maximum use of resources, and to promote the resident's/patient's increased level of social functioning.
• Provides assistance with the resident's/patient's admission to assure a smooth transition; Contacts the new resident/patient and/or family as needed to ensure that needs are being met and that difficulties are being resolved.
• Informs resident/patient, family, or legal representative of Medicare/Medicaid program benefits and assists with application for these alternative funding programs for nursing home care.
• Encourages resident autonomy by promoting attendance at patient council meetings.
• Advises resident/patient of his/her right to vote, and provides assistance with voting, if requested.
• Provides orientation and in-service training, as directed by the Administrator, to nursing home personnel regarding resident/patient rights, advanced directives and limited treatment practices, and the social/emotional needs of the aged and/or disabled, and behavior management guidelines and documentation.
• Liaison with consultant psych professionals

Administrative Responsibilities

• Coordinates work of department with work of other departments.
• Attends and participates in staff meetings and other center meetings and sits on required committees.
• Follows Policies and Procedures manual.
• Performs any miscellaneous work assignments as may be required.

Education

• Current Social Worker License from the State of Pennsylvania as a LSW

Experience

• Two years of social work supervised experience working directly with geriatric clients in a health care setting, desirable.

Physical Demands

• Primarily sedentary in nature. Maximum lifting of approximately 1 O pounds with occasional lifting of small objects. Sitting, standing, walking, talking, and hearing.

Working Conditions

• Primarily inside in well-lighted, well-ventilated areas with some exposure to disagreeable conditions.

Principal Contacts

• Works closely with residents/patients, family members, legal representatives, and center staff.

General Requirements

Must be able to execute the terms and conditions set forth in the Employee Handbook, including, but not limited to:

a. Works in a safety-conscious manner, which ensures that safe work practices are used in order not to pose a risk to self or others in the workplace. Reports any safety violations or hazards to supervisor

b. Complies with company policies and procedures and local, state, and federal regulations

c. Adheres to policy on Drug-Free Workplace

d. Interacts in a tactful, diplomatic, and humanistic manner with residents/patients, families, visitors, and co-workers to provide a safe, efficient, and therapeutically effective caring environment which ensures the self-respect, personal dignity, rights and physical safety of each resident/patient and facility guest

e. Maintains a dependable attendance record and adheres to standards of cleanliness, grooming, hygiene, and dress code.

f. Takes positive action to ensure equal opportunity in the conduct of all business activities without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, age, national origin, disability, citizenship, veteran status or any other legally protected category.

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Social Work: 1 year (Preferred)