What are the responsibilities and job description for the Social Services Coordinator - Gracedale Nursing Home position at Northampton County?
**GENERAL PURPOSE**
The Social Services Coordinator position provides social services for the County inpatient nursing facility, working with patients and families on admission and discharge, as well as providing assistance during residency in the facility.
**SUPERVISION RECEIVED**
This position reports directly to the Assistant Nursing Home Administrator.
**SUPERVISION EXERCISED**
This position is not responsible for the supervision of other employees.
**ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION**
Conducts interviews of applicants and families for admission to facility and processes application documents and consent forms.
Collects information on family, social, and financial history/status. Establishes written plans to meet the needs of the resident.
Assists with problem resolution for the resident and/or their family. Facilitates arrangements for various support services for residents and/or their family.
Investigates and attempts to resolve complaints received by or on behalf of the client population served.
Assesses information to determine likelihood of acceptance under state-established financial criteria and medical eligibility qualification requirements.
Contacts external social service, hospital, and other agencies to ensure complete social history and evaluation.
Coordinates discharge planning.
Attends care conferences and contributes to care planning.
Completes Social Services section of MDS (Minimum Data Set) forms, admissions assessment, quarterly assessments, and care documentation.
Suggests alternative resources for applicants not eligible for admission.
Coordinates admissions with patient, prior social service, medical, or other agency and facility staff.
Prepares prospective, and orients new, patients and their families to facility, detailing rules and operating procedures, daily routine, activities, therapy, and living conditions.
Prepares appropriate reports which includes findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
**EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE** - Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Sociology, Special Education, Rehabilitation, Counseling, or Psychology; **AND**
At least one (1) year of supervised full time social work experience in a geriatric setting; **OR**
A Master's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or Counseling from an accredited college or university may be substituted for the experience requirement.
Thorough knowledge of medical casework records, documentation methods, and techniques.
Knowledge of social service goals, objectives, principles, and practices pertaining to the provision of services to patients in an inpatient nursing facility.
Knowledge of the methods and techniques used in gathering and analyzing information pertaining to admission, discharge, eligibility for reimbursement for services, and other issues.
Basic knowledge of organization, functions, and operations of long-term nursing facilities and their interrelationship with the social service program.
Skill in eliciting information from, and/or providing explanations to, patients and their families on personally sensitive or onfidential issues.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, patients, their families, representatives of other social service agencies, and other facility personnel.
Ability to operate a personal computer and secure information from established data processing, spreadsheet, word processing, database, and graphics programs. Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or annual recording and information systems used by the County or facility.
Ability to plan, assign, and review the work of professional personnel engaged in carrying out assigned audit activities.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.
**TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT**
Telephone, personal computer (including word processing and spreadsheet software), calculator, writing implements, fax machine, copy machine, and paper shredder.
**PHYSICAL DEMANDS**
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk, or hear.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
**WORK ENVIRONMENT**
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee may work in different work site locations, primarily in a patient-care environment with occasional time spent in an office.
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
**SELECTION GUIDELINES**
Formal application, rating of education and experience, interview, and reference check as well as job related tests may be required.
The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
PAY GRADE: SW/GR22
UNION STATUS: UNITED STEELWORKER'S UNION**
Updated December 2025
The Social Services Coordinator position provides social services for the County inpatient nursing facility, working with patients and families on admission and discharge, as well as providing assistance during residency in the facility.
**SUPERVISION RECEIVED**
This position reports directly to the Assistant Nursing Home Administrator.
**SUPERVISION EXERCISED**
This position is not responsible for the supervision of other employees.
**ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION**
Conducts interviews of applicants and families for admission to facility and processes application documents and consent forms.
Collects information on family, social, and financial history/status. Establishes written plans to meet the needs of the resident.
Assists with problem resolution for the resident and/or their family. Facilitates arrangements for various support services for residents and/or their family.
Investigates and attempts to resolve complaints received by or on behalf of the client population served.
Assesses information to determine likelihood of acceptance under state-established financial criteria and medical eligibility qualification requirements.
Contacts external social service, hospital, and other agencies to ensure complete social history and evaluation.
Coordinates discharge planning.
Attends care conferences and contributes to care planning.
Completes Social Services section of MDS (Minimum Data Set) forms, admissions assessment, quarterly assessments, and care documentation.
Suggests alternative resources for applicants not eligible for admission.
Coordinates admissions with patient, prior social service, medical, or other agency and facility staff.
Prepares prospective, and orients new, patients and their families to facility, detailing rules and operating procedures, daily routine, activities, therapy, and living conditions.
Prepares appropriate reports which includes findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- An employee assigned to this title shall perform a majority, but may not perform all, of the duties listed in this job description. Conversely, minor level duties performed on the job may not be listed. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.*
**EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE** - Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Sociology, Special Education, Rehabilitation, Counseling, or Psychology; **AND**
At least one (1) year of supervised full time social work experience in a geriatric setting; **OR**
A Master's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or Counseling from an accredited college or university may be substituted for the experience requirement.
- CERTIFICATION** -- Employee will be required to become certified as a Helping Hands Feeding Assistant. This is to provide assistance in feeding/tray preparation, delivery, and encouraging residents at meal times, if necessary.
Thorough knowledge of medical casework records, documentation methods, and techniques.
Knowledge of social service goals, objectives, principles, and practices pertaining to the provision of services to patients in an inpatient nursing facility.
Knowledge of the methods and techniques used in gathering and analyzing information pertaining to admission, discharge, eligibility for reimbursement for services, and other issues.
Basic knowledge of organization, functions, and operations of long-term nursing facilities and their interrelationship with the social service program.
Skill in eliciting information from, and/or providing explanations to, patients and their families on personally sensitive or onfidential issues.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, patients, their families, representatives of other social service agencies, and other facility personnel.
Ability to operate a personal computer and secure information from established data processing, spreadsheet, word processing, database, and graphics programs. Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or annual recording and information systems used by the County or facility.
Ability to plan, assign, and review the work of professional personnel engaged in carrying out assigned audit activities.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.
**TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT**
Telephone, personal computer (including word processing and spreadsheet software), calculator, writing implements, fax machine, copy machine, and paper shredder.
**PHYSICAL DEMANDS**
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk, or hear.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
**WORK ENVIRONMENT**
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee may work in different work site locations, primarily in a patient-care environment with occasional time spent in an office.
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
**SELECTION GUIDELINES**
Formal application, rating of education and experience, interview, and reference check as well as job related tests may be required.
The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
- FLSA STATUS: FLSA NON-EXEMPT (ELIGIBLE FOR OVERTIME)
PAY GRADE: SW/GR22
UNION STATUS: UNITED STEELWORKER'S UNION**
Updated December 2025