Social Worker

** Pay rates between $28.72-30.72/hour ** (based on experience)

St. Margaret's Center, an affiliate of Center for Disability Services, is a pediatric and young adult 94-bed skilled nursing facility, located in Albany, NY. Founded in 1883, St. Margaret's Center is a skilled nursing facility serving medically fragile infants, children, and young adults on a single dedicated campus. We specialize in providing cutting-edge, long-term, 24-hour intensive medical care in a nurturing and home-like setting.

St. Margaret's Center is a place where infants, children and young adults can learn and grow despite any obstacle. We're focused on creating a full childhood experience for every resident, which includes activities, school, family, and friends in a warm atmosphere that feels like home. We see our patients as kids, not conditions.

What Makes St. Margaret's a Great Place to Work?

• Specialty Pediatric Facility: The only nursing facility in Albany serving babies, teenagers, and young adults.
• Smaller units - an average size unit is 16 residents.
• Higher staffing ratios
• Atmosphere focused on learning & growing.
• Playful environment
• All school aged children receive school services.
• Inclusion of all residents into the community for outings and schooling
• Competitive pay rate
• Evening, night, and weekend shift differentials
• In this role, you may be eligible to receive the New York State funded Health Care Worker Bonus!
  • Please visit: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/providers/hwb_program to learn more.

To learn more about St. Margaret's Center, please check out our Virtual Tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK653y26h8U

Requirements for a Social Worker:

• Graduate degree (Masters, Doctorate) in field of Social Work
• Certified in PASRR, preferred.
• Certified as a Licensed Master Social Worker and/or Certified as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker through NYS
• At least 1 year of job-related experience, specifically in a long-term care nursing facility, preferred.
• Solid working understanding of social systems along with the ability to implement pertinent state and federal laws and regulations.
• Extensive knowledge of human behavior, developmental disabilities, psychological/psychiatric conditions, mental health treatment protocols
• Ability to effectively write or generate complex written documentation and care plans.

Responsibilities for a Social Worker:

• Implements facility policies and procedures as part of the facility's interdisciplinary team to assure compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Develops, maintains, and utilizes a listing of current community resources that are useful to residents and their families/significant others.
• Schedules stays in St. Margaret's apartment per family requests.
• Compiles and reports data as requested pertaining to quality indicators and facility demographics as required by NYSDOH and as requested by the Nursing Home Administrator
• Conducts tours of St. Margaret's
• Participates in Admission/Discharge Committee and assists as needed with fulfilling the facility's admissions requirements and documentation.
• Collaborates with the Nursing Department to approve candidates for respite stays.
• Initiates and facilitates processes amongst resident, facility, and inter-disciplinary team members to develop and implement a comprehensive and safe discharge to community settings and accessing needed community resources when appropriate.
• Acts as a liaison between SMC and community referral sources with focus on obtaining appropriate referrals for SMC placement.
• Works with the interdisciplinary team and administration to promote and protect resident rights and the psychological wellbeing of each resident.
• Prevents and reports allegations of resident abuse as mandated by law, professional licensure, and regulations.
• Identifies and communicates community changes and opportunities such as legislation, regulations and programs that affect nursing home residents.
• Works with residents, families, significant others, and staff to provide support, information, and organization for taking a more proactive role in self-advocacy to improve the quality of life/care for individual residents and those who live and work within the nursing home and the community at large.
• Reviews pre-admission data, including advanced directives, with prospective residents and /or family to complete a social history and psychosocial assessment for each resident that identifies social, emotional, and psychological needs.
• Completes psychosocial MDS assessments in timely and thorough manner, according to defined schedule or instruction from RN Case Manager
• Participates 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 social worker interventions.
• Ensures or provides therapeutic interventions to assist residents in coping with their transition and adjustment to a long-term care facility, including their social, emotional, and psychological needs.
• Keep the family informed and reduce anxiety of the unknown
• Participates as needed to deliver mail/packages to residents within 24 hours of receipt.
• Ensures or provides support and education to residents/family members/significant others 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.
• Counsels and assist residents and family members to address any expressed concerns and elevate to Director as needed.
• Provides groups and forums for residents/family members/significant others as appropriate and supportive to their needs.
• Accesses and utilizes community resources, including hospice, pastoral and spiritual services.
• Assists as needed and familiar with transportation for scheduled appointments through counties and vendors.
• Provides clinical interventions to address significant events that occur during the resident's stay in the facility.
• Regularly evaluates every resident's potential for discharge and facilitates the resident discharge planning process, making referrals for appropriate home care services prior to the resident's return to the community.
• Facilitates and participates as needed in psychological appointments on counseling.
• Educates residents and families/significant others regarding their rights and responsibilities, effective problem solving and the extent of community, health and social services that are available to them.

Benefits for St. Margaret's Center Team Members:

As an affiliate of the Center for Disability Services, working at St. Margaret's Center provides the opportunity to become a part of our Mission. A career with us offers opportunities for those seeking meaningful, impactful, mission-driven work in addition to a rewarding work environment, and competitive benefits to include:

• Low-Cost Medical, Vision, and Dental Plans
• Paid Holidays, Bereavement Leave, and Jury Duty
• 401K Retirement Program
• Tuition Assistance
• Referral Bonus Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Free Life Insurance
• Free Long Term Disability Insurance
• Career Development Program
• Staff Recognition Programs
• Wellness Program
• Supplemental, Voluntary Insurance Options: Disability, Life, Accident, Critical Illness and more

At The Center for Disability Services, we don't just accept difference - we celebrate it, support it, and thrive on it for the benefit of our employees and the people we support. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any protected class of job applicant or employee in our employment practices.