SSD/AD Full Time (Must already have CNA)

Personal Skills and Traits Desired:

• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Evidence of effective problem solving resolution skills
• Ability to maintain composure in stressful situations
• Resourcefulness
• Possess a concern for the holistic care of each elder
• Willingness to consider advice and opinions of others
• Ability to make decisions and accept responsibility for the consequences
• Leadership and organizational abilities for planning elder care
• Awareness of services and programs available to implement quality care for elders and family members
• Understanding of social and emotional needs of elders
• Ability to assess elders level of functioning in a social environment
• Patience, tact and positive attitude for dealing with elders at the elder’s level of function
• Willingness to cooperate with staff, family, other agencies, and significant others in the planning of care of each elder
• Ability to coordinate and conduct meetings
• Ability to set and achieve goals
• Ability to be organized and efficient
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to train and motivate others
• Ability and willingness to act as a role model in conduct and appearance
• Basic computer skills
• Knowledge and understanding of dementia and best practices for dementia care
• Knowledge and understanding of person-centered, person-directed care
• Have a working knowledge of the skills necessary to provide continuity in coordination of elder care including but not exclusive to:
  • Skills to interview elders, family members
  • Ability to communicate with community resources, etc.

Physical Requirements:

The employee must be able:

• To move intermittently throughout the work day
• See, hear or use prosthetic devices to enable use of the senses adequately
• Assist with the evacuation of residents
• Sitting, bending, stooping for extended periods of time
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate equipment
• Ability to lift, move, push or pull a minimum of fifty (50) pounds

Work Environment:

• Works in well-lighted, well-ventilated areas as well as throughout the nursing service areas
• Subject to frequent interruptions
• Involved with elders, family members, personnel, visitors, etc., under all conditions and circumstances
• Communicates with nursing personnel, and other departmental supervisors
• Willingness to work beyond normal working hours and in other positions temporarily, when necessary
• The primary work environment is throughout the facility and at times the work is stressful. 
• May be exposed to blood, body fluids, infectious diseases and air contaminants
• May be subject to work call-back during times of facility emergency or disaster preparedness functions
• Attend and participate in continuing educational programs as directed
• Be economical and careful with supplies, equipment, etc.
• Follow all established policies and procedures to include nursing care procedures, safety regulations, personnel policies, etc., to assure that quality elder care can be maintained

Confidentiality of Information

• The employee in this position may not disclose any record (via any media format, known or unknown
• May not disclose any elder or facility information, any system log-in codes or password assigned or permit any unauthorized access to elder/resident or facility information without express written consent of the facility management

Assigned Tasks (with or without reasonable accommodations)

• Documents pertinent psychosocial information related to elders including at least quarterly progress notes and as needed documentation in electronic clinical record
• Assesses and plans for psychosocial needs of each elder
• Attends care conferences and implements the social services component including cognitive, communication, mood and behavior of the elder’s care plan and assist the elder to meet planned goals
• Monitors the elder’s progress in improvement of physical, mental and psychosocial functioning
• Assists other team members and elder in development of alternative therapeutic strategies for elders on psychotropic medications
• Coordinates appointments for elders for referrals of sensory deficits including but exclusive to eye care, hearing care, dental care, psychiatric care, etc.
• Familiarize family and elder with life routines of home at the time of admission
• Assist elders to meet miscellaneous needs as identified including clothing, appliances, appointments, etc.
• Assists elders to participate in individual and group programs and to utilize such to the elder’s best advantage
• Develops, implements, and provides follow-up on social service aspects of the care plan such as specific modifications relevant to treatment for positive responses
• Provides information to elder and family members regarding available services of State Ombudsman program
• Provides assistance to family during elder’s initial separation period by maintaining family contact about elder problems and is able to promote maintenance of elder’s family relationships
• Assists with coordination of a Resident Council and Family Council and renders assistance to the Councils at the direction of and with the approval of the Councils
  • Ensures that all concerns voiced during Council meetings are appropriately addressed and followed up on by the appropriate department representative
• Participate with Licensed Social Worker in developing a budget
• Fosters family and community support of the program through newsletters, networking, programs that bring family members or members of the community into the home, etc.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of the departments’ operating procedures and modifies procedures accordingly
• Contribute to facility efforts to maintain and/or improve quality of care through participation in following:
  • Attend care plan meetings
  • May serve as a member of Quality Assurance Performance Improvement Committee and Performance Improvement Plan meetings
    • Continuously evaluates the effectiveness of department operating procedures and recommends changes as required
    • Provide life enhancement programs on a daily basis including evenings and weekends

• Implements events and programs to enhance the resident experience and improve the resident quality of life

• Provide a plan of activities appropriate to the needs of each elder that includes, but is not limited to:

• Group social activities
• Indoor and outdoor activities which may include daily walks
• Programming away from the facility home
• Spiritual programs and attendance at houses of worship
• Opportunities for elder involvement in planning and implementation of life enhancement programming
• Creative programming such as arts, crafts, music, drama, educational programs
• Exercise programs
• One-to-one attention
• Promotion of facility home/community interaction
• Supports each resident’s abilities by understanding that all aspects of care can be viewed as an “activity”
• Evaluates programs to ensure the quality of programs fits the needs of each individual resident
• Prepare a monthly calendar of programs written in large print and posted in a prominent location that is visible to residents and visitors
• Coordinate life enhancement programs with other services of the facility
• Responsible for following all departmental policies and procedures
• programs to provide the highest level of care possible to elders
• Encourage resident participation in life enhancement programs and document outcomes
• Review goals and progress notes
• Properly document MDS reports and progress notes
  • Attend meetings as requested by Director of Nursing Licensed Social Worker
  • Attend all mandatory in-services including annual dementia training
  • Other duties as assigned

Job Specifications:

EDUCATION:               Minimum educational requirements include a high school diploma or its equivalent and an active Certified Nurse Aide license in the State of Kansas. Satisfactory completion of a training course for Social Service Designees and a course for Activity Directors approved by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) under consultative services of a Licensed Social Worker. 

LICENSE:                      Certification or licensure as appropriate for each person noted above

EXPERIENCE:               2 years of experience in long-term care setting.