Director of Social Services
Purpose of Your Job Position

The primary purpose of your job position is to plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of the 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 resident are met/maintained on an individual basis.

Delegation of Authority

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

Job Functions

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 service programs of this 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/families as necessary. 
• Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submitting such to the Administrator as required.
• Involve the resident/family in planning social service programs when possible.
• Assist in arranging transportation to other facilities when necessary.
• Refer resident/families to appropriate social service agencies when the facility does not provide the services or needs of the resident.
• Provide information to resident/families as to medicare/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 departmental job descriptions.
• 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.
• Work with the facility's consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as required.
• Delegate authority, responsibility, and accountability to other responsible department personnel.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator concerning the operation of the social service department.
• Assist in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished.
• Interpret the department's policies and procedures to employees, residents, visitors, government agencies, etc.
• Keep abreast of economic conditions/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.
• Assist the Infection Control Coordinator in identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and job related social functions to ensure that tasks involving exposure to blood or body fluids are properly identified and recorded.
• Review departmental complaints and grievances from personnel and make written reports to the Administrator of action(s) taken. Follow facility's established procedures.
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies.
• Interview residents, or family members, as necessary, 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, etc., necessary for complying with current standards and regulations and that will provide assistance in maintaining quality social service.
• Involve the resident/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.
• Others as deemed necessary and appropriate, or as may be directed by the Administrator.

Committee Functions

• Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the facility (i.e., Infection Control, Policy Advisory, Budget, Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement, 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.
• Attend department head meetings, etc., as scheduled or as may be called.
• Schedule and announce departmental meeting times, dates, places, etc.

QAPI

• Knowledgeable in data collection, data analysis methodology, and performance improvement methods needed to support and lead performance improvement projects
• Collaborate with the quality committee and senior leaders to prioritize and develop QAPI efforts
• Lead performance improvement projects and provide education and coaching in order to build needed skills in others to lead PIPs
• Participate in multidisciplinary QAPI activities
• Knowledge of current Performance Improvement Initiatives

Personnel Functions

• Assist in the recruitment, interviewing, and selection of social services personnel.
• Determine departmental staffing requirements necessary to meet the social service department's needs, and assign a sufficient number of social services personnel for each tour of duty.
• Recommend to the Administrator the number and level of social services personnel to be employed.
• Schedule department work hours (including vacation and holiday schedules), personnel, work assignments, etc., to expedite work.
• 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/discipline social services personnel as requested or as necessary.
• Terminate employment of personnel when necessary, documenting and coordinating such actions with the Personnel Director and/or Administrator.
• 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/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.
• Assure that appropriate identification documents are presented prior to employment and that such records are maintained in the employee's personnel record.
• 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.
• Conduct departmental performance evaluations in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures.
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout 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.
• Ensure that all social services personnel attend and participate in annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and bloodborne pathogens standard.
• Assist the Safety Officer in developing safety standards for the social services department.
• Ensure that the department's policy and procedure manual identify safety precautions and equipment to use when performing tasks that may result in bodily injury.
• Monitor social services personnel to assure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies.
• Ensure that social service work areas are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.
• Ensure that all social services personnel follow established departmental policies and procedures, including appropriate dress codes.
• Ensure that social services personnel participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner.
• Assist the Infection Control Committee in the development, implementation, and revising of written aseptic and isolation techniques.
• Develop, implement and maintain a program for monitoring communicable and/or infectious diseases among the residents and personnel.
• Ensure that social services personnel follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary.
• Ensure that department personnel follow established procedures governing the use of labels and MSDSs.
• Report missing/illegible labels and MSDSs to the safety officer or other designated person.
• Ensure that department personnel performing tasks that may involve potential exposure to blood, body fluids, infectious disease, etc., attend appropriate in-service training classes prior to performing such tasks.
• Develop, implement, and maintain a procedure for reporting hazardous conditions or equipment.
• Report any exposure to blood/body fluids.

Equipment and Supply Functions

• Recommend to the Administrator the equipment and supply needs of the department.
• Place orders for equipment and supplies as necessary or as may be required.
• Make periodic rounds to check equipment and to assure that necessary equipment is available and working properly.
• Check supply rooms to assure that needed supplies are on hand to perform assigned cleaning tasks.
• 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.
• Ensure that MSDSs are on file for hazardous chemicals used in the social services department.
• Develop preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the social service needs of each resident.
• Develop a written plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) for each resident that identifies the problems/needs of the resident and the goals to be accomplished for each problem/need identified.
• Encourage the resident/family to participate in the development and review of his/her 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 DONS.
• Review and revise care plans and assessments as necessary, but at least quarterly.
• Develop and maintain a good rapport with all services involved with the care plan to ensure that a team effort is achieved in developing a comprehensive plan of care.

Budget and Planning Functions

• Forecast needs of the department.
• Assist in preparing and planning the social services department's budget for food, equipment, supplies, and labor and submit to the Administrator for review, recommendations, and approval.
• Maintain current written records of department expenditures and assure that adequate financial records and cost reports are submitted to the Administrator upon request or as necessary.
• Make departmental adjustments in order to conform to approved budget, and/or as dictated by an analysis of the monthly operating statement.

Resident Rights

• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.
• Knock before entering a resident's room.
• 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/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/group council meetings as requested and provide support services to such council.

Miscellaneous

• Make weekly inspections of all social service functions to assure that quality control measures are continually maintained.
• Be prepared to handle emergencies as they come up (i.e., rescheduling work assignments and work schedules, etc.).
• Be sure that appropriate protective clothing/devices are on hand for handling infectious waste and/or blood/body fluids.
• Work with the facility's consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as required.

Working Conditions

• Works in office areas as well as throughout the facility.
• Moves intermittently during working hours.
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, etc.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing service, and other department supervisors.
• Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
• Is subject to call-back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.).
• Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.
• Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the work day, as well as to reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants.
• Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.
• Maintains a liaison with other department supervisors to adequately plan for social services/activities.
• May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Education

• Must possess, as a minimum, a Bachelors Degree from an approved school of Social Work.
• In a facility with more than 120 beds a qualified social worker is:
• An indiviudla with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work or a a bachelor’s degree in a human services field including, but not limited to, socialolgy, gerontology, special education, rehabilitiation counseling, and psychology; and
• One year of supervised social work experience in a health care setting working directing with individuals.

Experience

Must have, as a minimum, one year experience in a supervisory capacity in a hospital, skilled nursing care facility, or other related medical facility.

Specific Requirements

• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public.
• Must possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.
• Must have patience, tact, cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as be willing to handle residents based on whatever maturity level in which they are currently functioning.
• Must possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing social services.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

Physical Requirements

(With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day.
• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must possess sight/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 function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.
• Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility which include a medical and physical examination.
• Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people within the facility.
• Must be able to push, pull, move, lift and carry.
• May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.

Regulatory Compliance – QAPI

• Recognize your role as part of the QAPI efforts of our organization
• Carry out QAPI roles and responsibilities as required
• Look for and share with leadership ideas for improvement in the organization
• Knowledge of current Performance Improvement Initiatives