What are the responsibilities and job description for the Regional Director of Social Services / Life Enrichment & Discharge Planning position at Empire Care Centers?
Empire Care Centers is seeking a dynamic, experienced Regional Director of Social Services / Life Enrichment to support our skilled nursing centers across Georgia.
This regional leadership role is designed for a highly organized, compassionate professional who can strengthen social services operations, discharge planning execution, resident transition success, and life enrichment programming across multiple centers. The ideal candidate will serve as a hands-on operational partner to center-based social workers, administrators, and interdisciplinary teams to ensure seamless discharge coordination, improved resident outcomes, stronger family engagement, and meaningful resident-centered programming.
Position Overview
We need a leader who:
At Empire, we are committed to Healing with Heart — creating exceptional resident experiences through strong leadership, accountability, and compassionate care.
If you are passionate about strengthening transitions of care, empowering social services teams, and creating meaningful resident experiences, we want to hear from you.
This regional leadership role is designed for a highly organized, compassionate professional who can strengthen social services operations, discharge planning execution, resident transition success, and life enrichment programming across multiple centers. The ideal candidate will serve as a hands-on operational partner to center-based social workers, administrators, and interdisciplinary teams to ensure seamless discharge coordination, improved resident outcomes, stronger family engagement, and meaningful resident-centered programming.
Position Overview
- Discharge planning and transition management
- Length of stay optimization
- Barrier-to-discharge resolution
- Hospital and community resource coordination
- Resident/family transition education
- Life enrichment and psychosocial programming
- Regulatory compliance related to social services
- Social worker mentorship and performance development
- regional oversight and support to Social Services Directors across assigned centers
- Standardize and strengthen discharge planning processes
- Identify discharge barriers early and implement actionable solutions
- Monitor and improve discharge metrics, LOS management, and transition outcomes
- Support complex discharge cases and high-risk transition planning
- Build strong referral relationships with hospitals, community agencies, hospice, home health, and post-discharge resources
- Coach and mentor center social workers through routine onsite support and training
- Audit social services documentation for regulatory compliance and quality
- Partner with Administrators and DONs to ensure interdisciplinary discharge readiness
- Develop and elevate life enrichment programming that supports psychosocial well-being and resident engagement
- Assist centers with grievance resolution, resident/family communication, and service recovery
- Lead education initiatives focused on resident-centered care and social service excellence
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Work or related field
- Licensed Social Worker preferred (LMSW/LCSW strongly preferred)
- Minimum 3–5 years of skilled nursing / post-acute care experience
- Multi-site or regional leadership experience preferred
- Deep knowledge of SNF discharge planning regulations and care transition practices
- Strong leadership, coaching, and operational problem-solving skills
- Ability to travel regularly to centers throughout Georgia
- Passion for improving resident outcomes and team development
We need a leader who:
- Knows how to move discharge planning from reactive to proactive
- Can coach teams to think critically and remove barriers quickly
- Brings creativity and compassion to resident life enrichment
- Builds accountability while supporting center teams
- Thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment
- Believes exceptional transitions are essential to exceptional care
At Empire, we are committed to Healing with Heart — creating exceptional resident experiences through strong leadership, accountability, and compassionate care.
If you are passionate about strengthening transitions of care, empowering social services teams, and creating meaningful resident experiences, we want to hear from you.