The Social Worker provides psycho-social services to residents and their family members. The Social Worker Designee is a professional member of the interdisciplinary team providing the highest quality of care by completing psycho-social assessments, implementing care plans and guiding residents and families through the discharge and care planning process.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:
Admission
1. Completes initial social services assessment within 7 days of admission to meet COMAR regulations and Keswick policies that includes the resident’s problems and strengths and preferences, including cultural, religious, and ethnic background and implications for the care plan. Completes social services sections of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) as required.
2. Discusses code status with resident and family members within 72 hours of admission.
3. Upon admission and as changes occur, assists residents in understanding their rights regarding Advance Directives. Offers residents information, resources and paperwork to make their wishes known.
4. Orients residents and families to the facility, its services, its service limitations, and residents’ rights.
5. Helps residents and their families cope with the immediate effects of the decision to move to the facility.

Care Planning
1. Participates in care plan meetings. Invites participation of residents and family members.
2. Attends care conferences and identifies and interprets psycho-social needs of residents for inclusion in the care plan. Participates in the development of individualized care plans.
3. Completes social service documentation in resident chart (progress notes, care plan, MDS, etc.) according to established procedures and timelines.

Psycho-social Well Being
1. Facilitates resolution of resident/family concerns in a timely manner. Mediates issues that arise among residents, families and staff. Acts as resident advocate when necessary.
2. Refers residents and family members with referrals to community resources to address identified needs (mental health, financial, recreational, transportation, etc.).
3. Collaborates with community resource providers and assists in maintaining a current list of such resources.
4. Helps residents and families prepare for and cope with losses, including aging and death. 

Discharge Planning
1. Begins discharge planning at the time of initial assessment and at least quarterly thereafter. Assesses resident’s need for a safe discharge and makes necessary referrals.
2. Coordinates discharge planning activities including contacting/arranging for outside vendors, equipment delivery, resident/family communication, and internal Keswick communication.
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Requires Bachelors degree in social work or other human services field; Masters degree in Social Work or other human services field preferred.
WORK ORIENTATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Requires 1-2 years experience in a health care setting; long-term care experience preferred.

Keswick is an equal opportunity employer.