Social Services Director

Social Services Director Job Description (Complete Care of Margate Park, Chicago, IL)

Location: Complete Care of Margate Park, Chicago, IL

Shift: Full Time - Monday-Friday

Summary

Complete Care of Margate Park is dedicated to improving the lives we touch through high-quality healthcare and extraordinary compassion. We are seeking a dedicated and qualified Social Services Director to lead the Social Services Department. This key leadership role is responsible for identifying, assessing, and addressing the psychosocial, mental, and emotional needs of our residents and ensuring their rights are upheld in full compliance with federal and state regulations.

We offer a stable, supportive environment where you can build a successful, meaningful career and become part of a team that feels like family.

Key Responsibilities: Psychosocial Care & Department Leadership

As the Social Services Director, you will be the resident's primary advocate and emotional support liaison, while also managing the department's operations. Your core responsibilities include:

Clinical and Psychosocial Care

• Assessment & Care Planning: Complete the comprehensive social services assessment (Social History and Psychosocial assessment) promptly upon admission and routinely thereafter. Integrate findings into the interdisciplinary care plan (MDS), contributing goals and interventions that meet the resident's unique, individualized needs.
• Support & Counseling: Provide emotional support and counseling to residents and families coping with illness, disability, and long-term care placement, including issues of grief and loss.
• Advocacy & Rights: Serve as the primary resident advocate, working closely with the interdisciplinary team to promote and protect resident's rights, dignity, self-determination, and individuality.
• Protection: Prevent and address resident abuse, neglect, and exploitation as mandated by law. Report any allegations and cooperate fully with investigations.
• Resource Connection: Help residents and families locate and access financial, legal, and other essential community resources.
  
  
  

Transitions and Discharge Planning

• Admission Services: Oversee preadmission services, including the interdisciplinary evaluation of resident needs and completion of necessary screenings (PASARR Level I).
• Discharge Coordination: Direct and coordinate the interdisciplinary discharge planning process, ensuring safe, smooth transitions back to the community or to other levels of care. Link residents with necessary post-discharge resources and follow-up care.
  
  
  

Department Management and Compliance

• Oversight: Direct and manage the overall Social Services Department, ensuring the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of all services.
• Documentation: Coordinate and oversee procedures to ensure all social services actions and interactions are accurately and ethically documented in each resident's medical record.
• Compliance & QA: Ensure all services comply with State and Federal regulations. Establish departmental QA procedures and participate in the facility's overall Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program (e.g., tracking grievance trends).
• Advance Care Planning: Coordinate the process of Advance Care Planning, ensuring Advance Directives are reviewed regularly and staff are informed of resident code status and end-of-life wishes.
• Grievance Resolution: Assist residents in voicing grievances and ensure all complaints are addressed, tracked, and resolved according to facility policy.
  
  
  

Qualifications

We are seeking a dedicated professional who is passionate about long-term care and resident advocacy.

• Education: Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work (BSW) or a related Human Services field (e.g., Sociology, Gerontology, Psychology).
• Experience: At least one year of supervised social work experience in a health care setting, working directly with individuals. Experience in a Long-Term Care (LTC) or Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) is highly preferred.
• Skills:
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while functioning as a collaborative member of the interdisciplinary team.
• Proficiency in computer use for documentation (EHR/MDS).
• Exceptional ability to build and maintain rapport with residents, family members, and peers.
  
  
  

Complete Care of Margate Park is an equal opportunity employer deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are excited to welcome a dedicated, skilled, and compassionate Social Services Director to our thriving team!

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