Provides services designed to identify and meet the social and emotional needs of the residents and their families to adjust to the effects of illness or disability, treatment and stay in the facility. Assures adequate discharge planning and the appropriate use of community social and health resources.

• Assists in the development and implementation of Social Services Programs, policies and procedures for the facility.
• Meets with family and friends and provides counseling services and emotional support as needed. Monitors all new residents’ adjustment and placement.
• Provides preadmission and admission services, including an assessment of residents’ needs and preparation of the incoming residents.
• Conducts education and support for families and/or significant others of new residents to assist in adjustment to placement.
• Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings to promote and understanding of the resident’ needs and to provide realistic treatment recommendations.
• Consults with other professional members of the interdisciplinary team, family members, guardians and/or interested significant others and appropriate outside agencies, as well as the resident, to develop and coordinate an appropriate level of care and treatment.
• Conducts short term individual crisis intervention at the request of the interdisciplinary team or on own initiative.
• Participates in development, implementation and evaluation of the resident’s plan of care as related to the resident’s social and emotion need.
• Plans and implements individual and group meetings that focus on the residents psycho/social needs.
• Provides advisory and consultative services to professional and non-professional personnel, parents, family members Health Care Agents and/or guardians or other significant individuals involved with resident care.
• Prepares social histories and assessments and maintains adequate documentation of social service involvement as case load dictates.
• Assists residents or family and/or significant others in finding and utilizing financial, legal, mental health and other community resources.
• Advocates the rights of the residents.
• Maintains confidentiality of all information.
• Participates in planning and policy development and implementation for the department and the facility Resident Care Policies.
• Facilitates resident involvement at Resident’s Council meetings.
• Facilitates the resident’s integration into the community through discharge planning and arrange for community supportive services as indicated.
• Participates in in-service training of facility personnel as assigned.
• Attends and/or participates in conferences, workshops, seminars or other training programs to improve skills and/or maintain professional licensure.
• May perform other varied duties/responsibilities as per facility needs.

• An individual with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work or a bachelor’s degree in human services field including, but not limited to, sociology, gerontology, special education, rehabilitation counseling, or psychology; or an equivalent combination of experience and education which provides the following knowledge, skills and abilities to care for the physical social, and psychosocial wellbeing of the residents.
• A CSW qualification or a Social Work Certificate for the State of Wisconsin is preferred.
• One year of supervised social work experience in a health care setting working directly with individuals is preferred or an equivalent combination of experience and education which provides the following knowledge, skills and abilities to care for the physical social, and psychosocial wellbeing of the residents.
• Excellent communication skills.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
 Performs duties with consideration for residents, employees and visitors.
 
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 
Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting. Ability to frequently lift up to 20 pounds, and a combination of sitting and standing postures may be required. Ability to regularly work 8 hour days and 40 hour weeks. The ability and willingness to be on call as required including evenings, weekends and holidays.
Must be able to operate standard office equipment including telephone, computer, facsimile, calculator, printer, and photocopier.
Risk of blood borne pathogen exposure is considered low.