Social Work Assistant (Livingston County Residents Only)

RESIDENCY: Candidates must have been legal residents of the following jurisdiction(s) for at least four months immediately preceding the date of the application:

• Livingston County

APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS:  In order for an application to be approved, the applicant must clearly show the training, education, experience, and/or licensure/certification stated in the Typical Qualifications.  All qualifying information must appear on the application form.  No credit will be given for a Work Experience description that is unclear.

The work involves responsibility for the performance of social work in aiding patients with social, emotional and related difficulties associated with their medical condition in a skilled nursing facility.  The work is performed under supervision of a qualified master’s level social worker under New York State regulations who is available either on a consulting or direct supervisory basis.  Supervision of others is not a responsibility of this class.  Independence of action varies depending on whether or not the incumbent is under direct daily supervision.  Employees in this class confer with professional staff members in other departments of the County service and public or private agencies outside of the facility to obtain social services for patients.  A Social Work Assistant does related work as assigned.

• Acts as a contact and referral source for the patient, family or responsible party in dealing with concerns, problems or complaints on any aspect of the patient's continued stay;
• Provides limited social work services to help patients adjust to their illness or disabilities;
• Develops and records in patients' medical records social services data base of information pertinent to care such as social history, family relationships, personal arrangements, needs, habits and preferences;
• Identifies and includes in the patients' care plans psycho-social or emotional needs related to the patients' illness and response to treatment;
• Keeps the Director of Long Term Care, Director of Nursing Service, and other members of the Patient Care Planning Committee informed on social services issues relating to patient care and regularly consults with them in these matters;
• Maintains regular progress notes in patients' charts recording significant social services findings and actions taken; 
• Develops an individual discharge plan which reflects input from the several disciplines involved in the patients' medical records;
• Acts on behalf of patients for the protection of their rights;
• Provides for the in-service training to facility staff on the subjects of patients' rights, psycho-social needs of patients and the role of medical social work in long-term care;
• Aids patients in arranging for and receiving personal care services not offered directly by the facility, such as eyeglasses, hearing aids, etc.;
• Coordinates discharges and transfers from the facility by conferring with staff, developing a discharge plan, documenting the discharge, forwarding appropriate information to the placement facility and arranging for transportation;
• Assists in arranging for the patients' transportation to and from other agencies or facilities, if necessary;
• Maintains confidential office records of social work performed and of recommendations made;
• Refers specific patient cases needing medical social work to the facility’s consulting Medical Social Worker for the identification, assessment and management of social problems; and
• Performs other related duties as assigned.      

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:  Working knowledge of the practices and procedures of social work and of the social and psychological factors related to disease and disability; ability to organize work effectively; ability to counsel health care facility patients and their families; ability to function as a member of interdisciplinary health care team; ability to interpret Federal, State and local laws and regulations relative to delivery of social work services in a health care facility; ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions; ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; ability to prepare records and reports; ability to get along well with others; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.Applicants must meet all requirements for one of the following qualification options in order to be approved for examination and/or appointment:
                                          

Qualification Option #	1	2	3
Training/Education	Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from a New York State or regionally accredited college or university in Social Work.	Possession of an Associate’s degree from a New York State or regionally accredited college or university in Human Services.	Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma.
General experience	None required.	Two years of full-time, paid experience in social work in a social work agency adhering to acceptable standards.	Four years of full-time, paid experience in social work in a social work agency adhering to acceptable standards.
Supervisory experience	N.A.
License/Certification	None required.
Other requirements	N.A.

 
Part-time service will be given prorated credit toward experience requirements.  
   
[Minimum qualifications are mandated by 10 NYCRR §700.2]
 
Social Work Assistant – C in all divisions PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENT NOTICE: An individual who receives a provisional appointment must take the examination for the position title on the next occasion it is offered. In order to be eligible for a permanent appointment to the position, the provisional appointee must pass the exam and be ranked 1, 2, 3, or be tied in score with the individual ranked number 3 of those who are willing to accept appointment to the position. It should be understood that even if the provisional appointee is eligible for appointment, the employer may choose another candidate to fill the position on a permanent basis. Questions regarding provisional appointments should be directed to the Livingston County Human Resources Department.

Livingston County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Salary : $31 - $37