Department: Social Services

Reports Directly to: Director of Social Services and/or Social Service Lead

Purpose of Your Job Position:

The primary purpose of your job position is to assist in planning, developing, organizing, implementing evaluating, and directing social service programs in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and facility policies and procedures, to assure that the medically related emotional and social needs of the resident are met/maintained on an individual basis. 

Delegation of Authority:

As Social Services Clerk 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 state 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

• Assist in the planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing of the social service programs of this facility.
• Meet with administration, medical and nursing staff, and other related departments in planning social services, as directed.
• Assist in developing and implementing policies and procedures for identifying the medically related social and emotional needs of the residents.
• Assist, as directed, in the admission process; interviewing perspective residents, families or responsible parties.
• 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.
• Obtain information concerning the resident’s personal and family problems, past illnesses, etc.
• Interview residents/families as necessary.
• Evaluate social and family information and assist in determining plan for social treatment.
• Make routine visits to residents and perform services as necessary.
• Record and maintain regular Social Service progress notes indicating response to the treatment plan and/or adjustment to institutional life.
• Perform other charting duties as necessary.
• Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc.
• Involve the resident/family in planning social service programs when possible.
• Assist in making appointments for the resident/family as requested or appropriate.
• Assist in arranging transportation, when necessary.
• Compile and maintain a social service directory listing available community resources.
• Assist in obtaining resources from community social, health and welfare agencies to meet the needs of the resident.
• Refer resident/families to appropriate social service agencies when the facility does not provide the services or meet the needs of the resident.
• Provide information to resident/families as to medicare/mediCal and other financial assistance programs available to the resident.
• Make arrangements for obtaining needed adaptive equipment, clothing and personal items.
• Maintain a quality working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations.
• Coordinate social service activities with other departments as necessary.
• Work with the facility’s consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as required.
• Maintain contact with the resident’s family, involving them with non-medical progress reports as necessary.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Department Director concerning the operation of the social service department.
• Assist in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished.
• Work with emotional problems including assisting resident/family with anxieties and stress caused by illness and death, and the need for institutional and specialized care.
• Assist in providing solutions for social and practical environmental problems including seeking financial assistance, discharge planning (including collaboration with community agencies), and referrals to other community agencies when specialized assistance is required.
• Assist in interpreting social, psychological and emotional needs of the resident/family to the medical staff, attending physician, and other resident care team members.
• Assist in resolution of grievances as voiced by resident, family, responsible party or ombudsman.
• Assist with regularly scheduled Resident and Family Group meetings as requested.

Committee Functions

• Serve on various committees of the facility as appointed.
• Prepare written and/or oral reports of the social services program to submit to such committees as directed and implement recommendations as instructed.
• Participate in regularly scheduled reviews of the discharge plans and make such plans available to the Care Plan Committee as required or as may be necessary.

Personnel Function

• Develop work assignments and responsibilities.
• Develop and maintain a good working rapport with inter-department personnel, as well as other departments within the facility and also with outside agencies to ensure that the social needs of the residents can be met.
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment.
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials and hazardous chemicals to your supervisor.

Staff Development

• Participate in the development of and participate in regularly scheduled orientation and in-service training programs in relation to the social, emotional and medical needs of the residents.
• Attend and participate in professional activities and programs.
• Participate and assist in departmental studies and projects as assigned, or that may become necessary.
• Attend and participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing tasks that may result in exposure to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, or hazardous chemicals.
• Attend and participate in annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and bloodborne pathogens standard.

Safety and Sanitation

• Report all incidents/accidents immediately.
• Practice safety policies and procedures of the facility.
• Report all unsafe/hazardous conditions/equipment immediately.
• Report missing/illegible labels and MSDSs to your supervisor.
• Practice infection control policies and procedures of the facility.
• Use protective clothing/devices when handling infectious waste and/or blood/body fluids.
• Participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner.

Equipment and Supply Functions

• Recommend to the Department Director the equipment and supply needs of the department.

Resident’s Rights

• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.
• Knock before entering a resident’s room
• Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written/oral report. Monitor and maintain Grievance logs as assigned. Follow facility’s established procedures.
• Report and investigate all allegations of resident abuse and/or misappropriation of resident property. Document. 
• Inform the resident/family of the resident’s personal and property rights.
• Assist resident with information concerning resident rights, living wills, etc.

Working Conditions

• Works in office area(s) 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, personnel, and visitors.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel, and other department supervisors.
• Works beyond normal working hours and on weekends and holidays when necessary.
• Is subject to call-back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.).
• Is involved in community/civic health matters/projects as appropriate.
• 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.

Qualifications for the Position

Education

• Possession of a certification in social services for long term care desirable.

Experience

• None required, previous health care experience helpful.

Specific Requirements

• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Must posses the ability to make independent decisions. 
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.
• Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.
• Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures, etc., that are necessary for providing quality care.
• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle residents based on whatever maturity level in which they are currently functioning.
• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing social services procedures.
• Must be able to relate information concerning a resident’s condition.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

Physical and Sensory Requirements (With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure 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 the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at time, hostile people within the facility.
• Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of 20 pound to a minimum height of 3 feet and be able to push, pull, move, and /or carry such weight a minimum distance of 10 feet.
• Must be able to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.