Social Services Director

Job Description

Job Description

Facility: Pine Knoll Rehabilitation Centre
**NEW BUILD/ADDITION OPENING WINTER OF 2026!!*
Compensation Range: $ 60K - $75K Annually
Benefits: 
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Vacation Time
- Tuition Reimbursement 

The Social Services Director is responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing the facility's social services program to support residents' psychosocial well-being, dignity, independence, rights, and quality of life. This position provides leadership in resident assessments, care planning, discharge planning, family communication, community resource coordination, and regulatory compliance.

The Director works collaboratively with the Administrator, Director of Nursing, Medical Director, rehabilitation staff, dietary services, activities department, residents, and families to ensure that each resident receives appropriate social services in accordance with individual needs and applicable Indiana and federal requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Department Management

• - Manage and oversee the daily operations of the Social Services Department.
• - Establish department procedures, workflows, documentation standards, and quality expectations.
• - Ensure appropriate staffing, coverage, and delivery of social services based on resident needs and applicable regulations.
• - Train, supervise, and evaluate social services staff and designees, as applicable.
• - Maintain department records, reports, and documentation for internal audits and regulatory surveys.
• - Collaborate with facility leadership to address concerns, resolve barriers to care, and improve resident outcomes.

2. Resident Assessments and Care Planning

• - Complete or coordinate psychosocial assessments upon admission and as required by changes in resident condition or facility policy.
• - Identify residents' emotional, social, cultural, financial, behavioral, and family support needs.
• - Develop, implement, review, and update individualized care plans.
• - Participate in interdisciplinary care plan meetings and ensure social services interventions are documented.
• - Support residents as they adjust to the facility, changes in independence, chronic illness, cognitive impairment, and end-of-life concerns.

3. Resident Rights and Advocacy

• - Promote resident dignity, privacy, choice, autonomy, and participation in care decisions.
• - Respond to resident grievances, concerns, complaints, and requests for assistance.
• - Help residents understand facility policies, resident rights, and available resources.
• - Assist with family concerns, communication challenges, and conflict resolution.
• - Follow facility procedures and applicable reporting requirements for suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or other safety concerns.

4. Admissions, Discharge Planning, and Transitions

• - Coordinate the social services components of admission, transfer, discharge, and relocation.
• - Assess barriers to safe discharge, including housing, caregiver support, financial resources, transportation, and access to medications or follow-up care.
• - Coordinate referrals to home health, hospice, community agencies, behavioral health providers, and other services as appropriate.
• - Educate residents and families regarding discharge options and community resources.
• - Document discharge planning, resident preferences, referrals, and follow-up arrangements.

5. Family and Community Relations

• - Serve as a point of contact for residents' families and representatives regarding psychosocial needs and available services.
• - Facilitate family meetings and care conferences.
• - Connect residents and families with Medicare, Medicaid, benefits assistance, transportation, counseling, and other community resources.
• - Promote meaningful family involvement and continued relationships with the community.
• - Coordinate with external agencies and healthcare providers to support continuity of care.

6. Dementia, Behavioral Health, and Emotional Support

• - Coordinate appropriate psychosocial interventions for residents living with dementia, depression, anxiety, grief, or adjustment difficulties.
• - Support families experiencing caregiver stress and changes in residents' cognitive or functional abilities.
• - Collaborate with nursing and other disciplines on person-centered approaches to behavioral and psychosocial needs.
• - Make referrals for specialized assessment or treatment when needs fall outside the department's scope of practice.
• - Support advance care planning and end-of-life referrals in collaboration with residents, representatives, and the interdisciplinary team.

7. Regulatory Compliance and Quality Assurance

• - Maintain compliance with applicable Indiana long-term care regulations, federal nursing facility requirements, resident rights protections, and facility policies.
• - Participate in quality assurance and performance improvement activities.
• - Monitor the timeliness and completeness of assessments, care plans, progress notes, referrals, and discharge documentation.
• - Assist with regulatory surveys, audits, corrective action plans, and follow-up monitoring.
• - Provide staff education regarding resident rights, communication, psychosocial care, and social services procedures.

Minimum Qualifications

• - Bachelor's degree in Social Work (BSW) or Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) from an appropriately accredited program.
• - At least one year of supervised social services experience in a healthcare setting working directly with individuals, consistent with applicable Indiana requirements.
• - Experience in skilled nursing, long-term care, rehabilitation, geriatrics, or a comparable healthcare environment preferred.
• - Knowledge of resident rights, psychosocial assessments, interdisciplinary care planning, discharge planning, and community resources.
• - Strong leadership, communication, organization, conflict-resolution, and documentation skills.
• - Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive resident and family matters professionally.
• - Ability to work collaboratively with residents, families, facility leadership, and interdisciplinary teams.

Indiana Licensing and Regulatory Considerations

• - Social work licensure: Indiana's Professional Licensing Agency identifies the Licensed Bachelor 9 Social Worker (LBSW) and Licensed Social Worker (LSW) credentials, among others. The employer should verify the appropriate license based on the actual duties performed. Indiana states that BSW and MSW graduates must obtain the applicable license to practice social work. Indiana Government+1
• - Facility qualification requirements: Under Indiana Administrative Code 410 IAC 16.2-3.1-34, facilities with more than 120 beds must employ a full-time qualified social worker. The rule identifies qualifying education or Indiana social work certification and applicable healthcare experience requirements. Facilities with 120 beds or fewer have additional options for social services staffing. Indiana Government+1
• - Required social services: Indiana regulations address psychosocial assessments, care planning, resident adjustment and rights, community referrals, discharge planning, relocation assistance, staff training, and community relationships. Indiana Government
• - Federal requirements: If the facility participates in Medicare or Medicaid, the job description and department practices should also reflect applicable federal nursing facility requirements, including 42 CFR § 483.40(c), which addresses medically related social services.
• - Scope of practice: This position does not automatically require an LCSW solely because the employee holds the title of Director of Social Services. However, clinical assessment, psychotherapy, or other regulated professional services must be performed by appropriately qualified and licensed personnel.

Preferred Qualifications

• - MSW degree and relevant long-term care leadership experience.
• - Experience supervising social services staff or coordinating department operations.
• - Knowledge of the Minimum Data Set (MDS), care area assessments, and interdisciplinary care planning.
• - Familiarity with Medicare and Medicaid eligibility, long-term care benefits, guardianship, advance directives, and community-based services.
• - Experience supporting residents with dementia and other cognitive or behavioral health needs.Key Performance Expectations
• -Timely completion of psychosocial assessments and care plans.
• - Accurate and complete social services documentation.
• - Effective resident grievance response and follow-through.
• - Appropriate discharge planning and coordination of community referrals.
• - Positive resident and family communication.
• - Compliance with regulatory requirements and department policies.
• - Effective interdisciplinary collaboration and continuous quality improvement

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