Skilled Nursing Social Worker

Job Description

Job Description

Social Services Director / Abuse CoordinatorWhy Join Our Team?

Joining our team means becoming part of an organization committed to protecting resident rights, supporting emotional and psychosocial well-being, and providing compassionate, person-centered care. The Social Services Director is an integral member of facility leadership and serves as an advocate for residents and families throughout their care journey.

✔ Collaborative, interdisciplinary leadership environment
✔ Meaningful role advocating for residents and families
✔ Opportunities for professional growth and development
✔ Direct impact on resident rights, quality of life, and successful care transitions

Position Overview

We are seeking a compassionate, organized, and knowledgeable Social Services Director to lead the facility’s social services program and serve as the designated Abuse Coordinator .

The Social Services Director is responsible for providing medically related social services designed to support each resident’s highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. This position provides resident and family support, psychosocial interventions, care planning, discharge coordination, grievance resolution, resident advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

As the Abuse Coordinator , this position also plays a critical role in coordinating the facility’s response to allegations involving abuse, neglect, exploitation, mistreatment, or misappropriation of resident property. The Social Services Director works closely with the Executive Director, Director of Nursing, facility leadership, and appropriate external agencies to support timely reporting, investigation, documentation, follow-up, and regulatory compliance.

This position is a member of the facility’s management team and reports directly to the Executive Director .

Key Responsibilities

Resident Support & Psychosocial Services

• Complete psychosocial assessments for new admissions and update assessments as required

• Identify residents' psychosocial, behavioral, emotional, adjustment, and discharge-related needs

• Provide individualized resident interventions and emotional support related to adjustment, grief, loss, coping, family dynamics, and other psychosocial concerns

• Facilitate appropriate group sessions and resident-support programs

• Develop and update individualized social services interventions and care plans in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team

• Participate in resident care conferences and advocate for resident needs, preferences, goals, dignity, and rights

• Provide support and education to residents and families throughout the resident's stay

• Assist residents and families with navigating healthcare, financial, community, and social-service resources

Abuse Coordinator Responsibilities

• Serve as the facility's designated Abuse Coordinator

• Coordinate the facility's response to allegations or concerns involving abuse, neglect, exploitation, mistreatment, injuries of unknown source, or misappropriation of resident property

• Immediately escalate allegations and concerns to appropriate facility leadership in accordance with established reporting procedures

• Coordinate required documentation, investigation activities, witness interviews, record collection, and follow-up

• Work collaboratively with the Executive Director, Director of Nursing, Human Resources, and other appropriate leaders during investigations

• Assist with required reporting and communication with applicable state agencies and other authorities

• Maintain organized and confidential records associated with allegations, investigations, findings, and corrective actions

• Monitor investigations and reporting requirements to support timely completion and appropriate follow-up

• Provide education to employees regarding abuse prevention, recognition, resident rights, mandatory reporting responsibilities, and facility reporting procedures

• Identify trends or recurring concerns and communicate findings to facility leadership for corrective action and performance improvement

• Promote a culture in which resident safety, dignity, and freedom from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and retaliation remain fundamental priorities

Care Coordination & Discharge Planning

• Coordinate resident discharge planning beginning at admission and throughout the resident's stay

• Assess resident discharge goals, barriers, support systems, and community-resource needs

• Coordinate referrals for home health, hospice, durable medical equipment, transportation, community programs, and alternative living arrangements as appropriate

• Assist residents and families with accessing available Medicare, Medicaid, and community resources when applicable

• Collaborate with hospitals, physicians, nursing, therapy, case managers, and community agencies to promote safe transitions of care

• Ensure appropriate follow-up and communication related to planned resident discharges

• Assist residents and responsible parties in understanding discharge recommendations, available resources, and next steps

Resident Rights, Advocacy & Grievances

• Serve as an advocate for resident rights, preferences, choices, dignity, and quality of life

• Receive, document, investigate, and assist with resolving resident and family grievances

• Track grievances and ensure appropriate follow-up and communication with residents, families, and facility leadership

• Educate residents and families regarding resident rights, available services, facility procedures, and community resources

• Serve as a liaison among residents, families, facility staff, healthcare providers, and outside agencies

• Support resident and family communication during challenging or sensitive situations

• Escalate unresolved concerns to the Executive Director and appropriate facility leadership

Care Planning, MDS & Documentation

• Maintain complete, accurate, timely, and confidential social services documentation

• Participate in interdisciplinary care planning and ensure identified psychosocial needs are incorporated into individualized care plans

• Complete or assist with applicable MDS/RAI social services components within assigned responsibilities

• Document resident interventions, family communications, grievances, discharge planning activities, referrals, and follow-up

• Maintain records in accordance with facility requirements and applicable privacy and confidentiality standards

• Support survey readiness by maintaining organized and compliant social services records

Leadership & Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Serve as an active member of the facility management and interdisciplinary teams

• Attend facility leadership, clinical, care planning, and other required meetings

• Report directly to the Executive Director regarding resident concerns, social services operations, grievances, abuse-related matters, discharge barriers, and emerging risks

• Collaborate closely with nursing, therapy, dietary, activities, admissions, business office, and other departments

• Provide staff education regarding resident rights, psychosocial needs, behavior management, abuse prevention, and reporting expectations

• Support facility Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) initiatives related to resident rights, grievances, psychosocial well-being, and identified trends

• Maintain professional relationships with community agencies and external healthcare partners

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work (BSW) required; Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) preferred

• Current state licensure, certification, or other professional credentials as required for the position

• Previous experience in skilled nursing, long-term care, healthcare, or geriatric social services preferred

• Experience with abuse reporting, investigations, resident advocacy, or regulatory compliance strongly preferred

• Knowledge of resident rights, psychosocial assessment, discharge planning, care planning, and community resources

• Working knowledge of CMS requirements and applicable state regulations

• Strong crisis-management, conflict-resolution, and problem-solving capabilities

• Ability to conduct effective individual interventions and group sessions

• Excellent written documentation and organizational skills

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills when working with residents, families, employees, regulators, and healthcare professionals

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment when handling sensitive information

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and time-sensitive matters in a fast-paced healthcare environment

Benefits

• Competitive compensation

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) retirement plan

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Employee Referral Bonus Program

• Professional development opportunities

• Supportive and collaborative leadership environment

Grow With Us

We are committed to developing leaders who are passionate about resident advocacy, regulatory excellence, and improving quality of life. The Social Services Director has the opportunity to develop expertise across resident advocacy, behavioral health, care transitions, regulatory compliance, interdisciplinary leadership, and facility operations .

Apply Today

If you are a compassionate and highly organized social services professional who is passionate about advocating for residents and supporting families, we encourage you to apply.

Join a leadership team where your advocacy, judgment, and commitment to resident well-being make a meaningful difference every day.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Reasonable Accommodation

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process. Applicants requiring assistance should contact Human Resources.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to move throughout the facility and regularly meet with residents, families, and staff

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, and perform administrative responsibilities for extended periods

• Ability to operate standard office equipment and electronic health record systems

• Ability to respond promptly to resident concerns, allegations, investigations, and urgent psychosocial situations

• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation