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Purpose of Your Job Position
The Social Service Director will work with residents in the nursing home by identifying their psychosocial, mental and emotional needs along with providing, developing, and/or aiding in the access of services to meet those needs. Services will be provided in accordance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics along with strict adherence to government regulations. The nursing home social worker is responsible for fostering a climate, policies and routines that enable residents to maximize their individuality, independence and dignity in accordance with the Federal Regulations, the requirements of this State, and policies and goals of the facility. This climate shall provide residents with the highest practical level of physical, mental and psychosocial well-being and quality of life.
Delegation of Authority
As Social Service 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.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
In fulfilling the primary duties and responsibilities, the nursing home Social Service shall exercise professional judgment in carrying out a variety of activities that maximize the well-being and quality of life of residents. The following is a listing of those duties in accordance with current professional Social Work practice standards.
Administrative
1. Review facility policies and procedures as part of the facility’s interdisciplinary team to assure compliance with state and federal regulations. Keep informed of current federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards, and make recommendations on changes in policies and procedures to the Administrator.
2. Develop, maintain and utilize a listing of current community resources that are useful to residents and their families/significant others/responsible parties.
3. Review and evaluate the department’s work force and make recommendations to the Regional Social Work Consultant and Administrator.
4. Must adhere to all HIPAA requirements.
5. 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.
6. Understand and meet all government requirements for Social Service documentation.
7. Document progress in meeting the psychosocial needs of residents.
8. Maintain a quality working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations.
9. Assist in implementing appropriate plans of action to correct identified deficiencies.
10. Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies, as necessary or as may be directed.
11. Meet with administration, medical and nursing staff, as well as other related departments in planning Social Services interventions.
12. Develop, implement, and maintain an ongoing quality assurance program for the Social Services Department.
13. Assist in the recruitment, interviewing, and selection of Social Services personnel.
14. Schedule department work hours (including vacation and holiday schedules), personnel, work assignments, etc., to expedite work.
15. Counsel and discipline Social Services Department personnel, as requested or as necessary.
16. Terminate employees when necessary, documenting, and coordinating such actions with the HR Delegate and/or Administrator.
17. Assist in standardizing the methods in which Social Services tasks will be performed.
18. Review and check competence of Social Services personnel and make necessary adjustments and corrections, as required or that may become necessary.
19. 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 a well-educated Social Services department.
20. Conduct departmental performance evaluations in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures.
Advocacy/Resident Rights
1. Work with the interdisciplinary team and administration to promote and protect resident rights and the psychological well-being of each resident. Prevent and address resident abuse as mandated by law and professional licensure.
2. Identify community changes and opportunities such as legislation, regulations and programs that affect nursing home residents.
3. Provide information to residents/families/responsible party as to Medicare and Medicaid, and other financial assistance programs available to the resident.
4. Ensure that all residents upon admission have an accurate Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) and that the record is updated and maintained as needed with change in resident condition.
5. Communicate and coordinate assistance with Medicaid applications as needed.
6. Ensure that all new residents/family/responsible party on admission have been given resident rights.
7. Issue and ensure proper notice is given and procedure is followed including time frames, for Notices of Medicare Non Coverage, Skilled Nursing Facility Advanced Beneficiary Notice and Transfer and Discharge Notices.
8. Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written or oral report to the Administrator indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance. Follow facility’s established procedures.
9. Review with the resident/responsible party the resident’s advanced directives/code status on admission, quarterly, and with changes in condition.
10. Educate the resident and responsible party regarding rights related to advanced directives. Assist the resident/responsible party and coordinate with nursing and the Attending Physician the resident/responsible party regarding the resident’s wishes and expectation for advanced directives/code status.
11. Assist the resident in completing Health Care Proxies, Durable Power of Attorney, and Living Wills.
12. Utilize the state designated orders for life sustaining treatment, i.e. DMOST, POLST, MOLST, and facility forms as directed by the Administrator and Medical Director.
13. Educate the resident/responsible party and the interdisciplinary care team on resident’s bed hold rights in accordance with the regulations specific to Federal and State guidelines.
14. Coordinate resident room changes including documentation in the resident’s medical record that the resident and responsible party if applicable were notified of the room change and accepting of the room change, the reason for the room change and documentation that the resident’s roommate was also notified of receiving a new roommate.
15. Assess and provide support for adjustment to a new room and/or new roommate.
Clinical
Assessment and Care Planning
1. Complete a social history, complete relevant sections of the Resident Assessment Instrument, MDS, and CAA Summary, and Social Services evaluations for all residents.
2. Communicate any significant changes in a resident’s condition based on MDS assessments, observation, documentation, and critical thinking.
3. Complete psychosocial assessment for each resident that identifies social, emotional, and psychological needs.
4. Participate in the development of a written, interdisciplinary plan of care for each resident that identifies the psychosocial needs/issues of the resident, the goals to be accomplished for those needs/issues, and the appropriate interventions.
5. 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.
6. Ensure that all charted progress notes are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the resident’s response to the service.
7. Review nurses’ notes to determine if the Care Plan is being followed. Report problem areas to the Director of Nursing Services.
8. Coordinate with the resident/responsible party and interdisciplinary team regarding referrals for Hospice/Palliative Care.
9. Review the clinical dashboard daily for due and outstanding User Defined Assessments (UDAs), Care Plan reviews, draft notes, and high-risk progress notes.
Clinical
Therapeutic and Behavioral Interventions
1. Ensure or provide therapeutic interventions to assist residents in coping with their transition and adjustment to a long- term care facility, including their social, emotional, psychological needs and are Care Planned appropriately.
2. Ensure or provide support and education to residents/family members/significant others/responsible party to assist in their understanding of placement and facility issues in addition to referring them to the appropriate Social Service agencies when the facility does not provide the needed services.
3. Provide support groups for residents/family members/significant others/ responsible party as appropriate to their needs,
i.e. dementia, substance abuse, grief and loss, etc.
4. Provide clinical interventions to address catastrophic events that occur during the resident’s stay in the facility.
5. Coordinate referrals for mental health services for the residents while in the nursing home in accordance with the mental health resources available at the facility, i.e. in house psychiatry, psychology, clinical social work, outpatient psychiatry, telemedicine services.
6. Review mental health consults for recommendations related to behavioral interventions and update the resident’s Care Plan appropriately.
7. Update the resident’s Care Plan for changes in psychotropic medications per MD orders.
8. Communicate appropriately and timely with the responsible clinician and follow the facility protocol for monitoring self-harm in response to residents with suicidal ideation, for example thoughts that the resident would be better off dead or hurting themselves in some way.
9. Communicate appropriately and timely with the responsible clinician and follow the facility protocol for monitoring homicidal ideation.
Clinical
Discharge Planning
1. Maintain written and verbal communication on resident discharges to the community with the Interdisciplinary Team.
2. Coordinate the resident discharge planning process and make referrals for appropriate home care services prior to the resident’s return to the community, i.e. Home Health Care Agency, Area on Aging, community Social Services agencies, etc.
3. Complete and audit the status of Section Q referrals and referrals to the Local Contact Agency.
4. Make referrals for durable medical equipment for the resident’s needs in the community, i.e. hospital bed, oxygen, wheel chair, shower chair, rolling walker, etc.
5. Coordinate referrals for outpatient services including outpatient rehabilitation, mental health follow up, primary care physician appointments and other consults that are assessed as needed by the Attending Physician and Interdisciplinary Team, i.e. cardiology, pulmonology, dialysis, wound care, etc.
6. Ensure that Transition of Care Booklets are completed timely, and are provided to the resident/family/responsible party/healthcare coach as well as PCP and community agencies as indicated and as approved by the resident/ responsible party.
7. Provide telephone follow up contact with the discharged resident and/or responsible party within 24-72 hours post discharge.
8. Maintain accurate record of the discharge follow up call.
9. Communicate with the Interdisciplinary Team and the Home Health Care Agency as needed regarding any needs that were discussed by the resident/responsible party during the post discharge follow-up call.
Clinical
Therapeutic Leave of Absence
1. Communicate with the resident, the family/responsible party and interdisciplinary team regarding requests for therapeutic leaves of absence (LOA).
2. Assist in ordering necessary equipment for LOA, i.e. portable oxygen.
3. Coordinate the assessment for caregiver training needs for the LOA.
4. Document in the resident’s medical record the purpose of the LOA, the location, the length of time, and method of transportation.
5. Assist in planning for transportation needs for the LOA.
6. Communicate with the Interdisciplinary Team and resident/responsible party regarding allotted days for the therapeutic leave of absence in accordance with state and federal guidelines.
Education
1. Educate the staff regarding the psychosocial needs of the residents and their families/significant others/responsible party regarding the needs of aging and disability.
2. Educate the staff regarding cultural diversity and each staff member’s importance when caring for residents.
3. Educate the staff regarding resident rights and how to recognize and prevent abuse, neglect and maltreatment.
4. Educate residents and families/significant others/responsible party regarding their rights and responsibilities, effective problem solving and the extent of community, health and Social Services that are available to them, including those necessary for effective discharge planning.
5. Supervise students assigned to Social Services in accordance with the respective school guidelines and monitor and document the progress of their work.
6. Encourage the Social Services staff to attend and participate in outside training programs. Schedule times as appropriate.
Committee Functions
Personnel Functions
Staff Development
Safety and Sanitation
Equipment and Supply Functions
Miscellaneous
Working Conditions
Education
Experience
Specific Requirements
Physical and Sensory Requirements
(With or Without a Reasonable Accommodation)
Full Time
$75k-97k (estimate)
03/15/2024
05/14/2024
The job skills required for Social Services Director include Social Work, Planning, Leadership, Health Care, Long Term Care, Discharge Planning, etc. Having related job skills and expertise will give you an advantage when applying to be a Social Services Director. That makes you unique and can impact how much salary you can get paid. Below are job openings related to skills required by Social Services Director. Select any job title you are interested in and start to search job requirements.
The following is the career advancement route for Social Services Director positions, which can be used as a reference in future career path planning. As a Social Services Director, it can be promoted into senior positions as a Top Community Development Executive that are expected to handle more key tasks, people in this role will get a higher salary paid than an ordinary Social Services Director. You can explore the career advancement for a Social Services Director below and select your interested title to get hiring information.
If you are interested in becoming a Social Services Director, you need to understand the job requirements and the detailed related responsibilities. Of course, a good educational background and an applicable major will also help in job hunting. Below are some tips on how to become a Social Services Director for your reference.
Step 1: Understand the job description and responsibilities of an Accountant.
Quotes from people on Social Services Director job description and responsibilities
Ensure that all social services personnel are knowledgeable of the residents' rights and responsibilities.
01/20/2022: Oklahoma City, OK
Monitor the budget of their program or service, and they may be called upon to write proposals to obtain additional funding.
02/01/2022: Norfolk, VA
Depending on the services provided the organization, many social services directors hire and supervise staff members such as social workers, probation officers, and benefits coordinators.
01/31/2022: Yakima, WA
Maintains a liaison with other department supervisors to adequately plan for social services/activities.
03/10/2022: Madison, WI
Social Services Directors head up fundraising efforts to be utilize in the development and implementation program policies and procedures.
02/15/2022: Saint Paul, MN
Step 2: Knowing the best tips for becoming an Accountant can help you explore the needs of the position and prepare for the job-related knowledge well ahead of time.
Career tips from people on Social Services Director jobs
Need to create programs that help people with specific challenges.
02/25/2022: Frankfort, KY
Social Services Directors usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
02/02/2022: Portsmouth, NH
Need to pass an examination for Social Service to become licensed.
03/06/2022: Manchester, NH
Utilizes an on-line tool for assessing and developing social and emotional skills.
03/03/2022: El Paso, TX
Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of social work.
03/04/2022: Poughkeepsie, NY
Step 3: View the best colleges and universities for Social Services Director.