Social Services Director

Purpose of Your Job Position The primary purpose of your job position is to plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of the Social Services Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines and regulations, our established policies and procedures, and as may be directed by the Administrator, to assure that the medically related emotional and social needs of the patient are met/maintained on an individual basis. Delegation of Authority As the Director of Social Services, you are delegated the authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties. Job Functions Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position. Duties and Responsibilities Administrative Functions Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the social service programs of this facility. Administer and coordinate department policies and procedures. Keep abreast of current federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards, and make recommendations on changes in policies and procedures to the Administrator. Implement policies and procedures for the identification of medically related social and emotional needs of the patient. Participate in community planning related to the interests of the facility and the services and needs of the patient and family. Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of social care plans and patient assessments. Interview patient/families as necessary and in a private setting, and involve them in planning when possible. Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submitting such to the Administrator as required. Assist in arranging transportation to other facilities when necessary. Refer patient/families to appropriate social service agencies when the facility does not provide the services or needs of the patient. Provide information to patient/families as to Medicare/Medicaid, and other financial assistance programs available to the patient. Provide consultation to members of our staff, community agencies, etc., in efforts to solve the needs and problems of the patient through the development of social service programs. Assume the authority, responsibility, and accountability of directing the social service department. Maintain a quality working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations. Coordinate social service activities with other departments as necessary. Work with the facility’s consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as required. Delegate authority, responsibility, and accountability to other responsible department personnel. Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator concerning the operation of the social service department. Interpret the department’s policies and procedures to employees, patients, visitors, government agencies, etc. Keep abreast of economic conditions/situations and recommend to the Administrator adjustments in social services that assure the continued ability to provide daily social services. Review departmental complaints and grievances from personnel and make written reports to the Administrator of action(s) taken. Follow facility’s established procedures. Implement and maintain an ongoing quality assurance program for the social services department. Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies. Interview patients, or family members, as necessary, to obtain social history, and involve them when possible, in planning processes. Assure that social service progress notes are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the patient’s response to the service. Maintain a reference library of written material, laws, etc., necessary for complying with current standards and regulations, and that will provide assistance in maintaining quality social service. Meet with administration, medical and nursing staff, as well as other related departments in planning social service programs and activities. Others as deemed necessary and appropriate, or as may be directed by the Administrator. Committee Functions Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the facility (i.e., Infection Control, Policy Advisory, Pharmaceutical, Budget, Quality Assessment and Assurance, etc.) as required, and as appointed by the Administrator. Provide written and/or oral reports of the social service programs and activities as required, or as may be directed by such committee(s). Participate in regularly scheduled reviews of patient discharge plans. Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to social services. Personnel Functions Meet with social services personnel, on a regularly scheduled basis, and solicit advice from inter-department supervisors concerning the operation of the social services department, assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services. Attend department head meetings, etc., as scheduled or as may be called. Assist in the recruitment, interviewing, and selection of social services personnel. Determine departmental staffing requirements and make recommendations to the Administrator. Schedule department work hours (including vacation and holiday schedules), personnel, work assignments, etc., to expedite work. Delegate administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability to other social services personnel as deemed necessary to perform their assigned duties (i.e., Social Worker, Social Service Designee, etc.). Counsel/discipline social services personnel as requested or as necessary, including employment termination when necessary, documenting and coordinating such actions with the Personnel Director and/or Administrator. Maintain a productive working relationship with other department supervisors and coordinate social services to assure that daily social services can be performed without interruption. Make daily rounds to assure that social services personnel are performing required duties, and to assure that appropriate social service procedures are being rendered to meet the needs of the facility. Conduct departmental performance evaluations in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures. Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents. Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the facility. Staff Development Functions Develop and participate in the planning, conducting, scheduling of timely in-service training classes that provide instructions on “how to do the job,” and ensure well‑educated social services department. Maintain an effective orientation program that orients the new employee to the department, its policies and procedures, and to his/her job position and duties. Provide leadership training that includes the administrative and supervisory principles essential for the social services department. Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs that relate to the social services department. Attend and participate in continuing educational programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status. Ensure that all social services personnel attend and participate in all in‑services, including annual OSHA and CDC in‑service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and blood borne pathogens standard. Safety and Sanitation Functions Monitor social services personnel to assure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies. Ensure that social service work areas are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner. Ensure that all social services personnel follow established departmental policies and procedures, including appropriate dress codes, as well as all infection control procedures, and MSDS regulations. Ensure that social services personnel participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner. Report exposures to blood, bodily fluids, blood borne pathogens, hazardous chemicals, communicable diseases and any missing/illegible labels and MSDSs immediately. Ensure that department personnel performing tasks that may involve potential exposure to blood, body fluids, infectious disease, etc., attend appropriate in‑service training classes prior to performing such tasks. Equipment and Supply Functions Recommend to the Administrator the equipment and supply needs of the department. Place orders for equipment and supplies as necessary or as may be required. Make periodic rounds to check equipment and to assure that necessary equipment is available and working properly. Check supply rooms to assure that needed supplies are on hand to perform assigned cleaning tasks. Ensure that all personnel operate social service equipment in a safe manner. Care Plan and Assessment Functions Develop preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the social service needs of each patient. Develop a written plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) for each patient that identifies the problems/needs of the patient and the goals to be accomplished for each problem/need identified. Encourage the patient/family to participate in the development and review of his/her plan of care. Ensure that all social services personnel are aware of the care plan and that care plans are used in providing daily social services to the patient. Review nurses’ notes to determine if the care plan is being followed. Report problem areas to the DONS. Review and revise care plans and assessments as necessary, but at least quarterly. Develop and maintain a good rapport with all services involved with the care plan to ensure that a team effort is achieved in developing a comprehensive plan of care. Budget and Planning Functions Forecast needs of the department. Maintain current written records of department expenditures and assure that adequate financial records and cost reports are submitted to the Administrator upon request or as necessary. Make departmental adjustments in order to conform to approved budget, and/or as dictated by an analysis of the monthly operating statement. Patient Rights Functions Maintain the confidentiality of all patient care information. Knock before entering a patient’s room, and follow ALL facility patient rights and privacy policies and procedures. Review complaints and grievances made by the patient and make a written/oral report to the Administrator indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance. Follow facility’s established procedures. Provide patients with information concerning patient rights, living wills, etc. Explain as necessary. Participate in patient/group council meetings as requested and provide support services to such council. Miscellaneous Make weekly inspections of all social service functions to assure that quality control measures are continually maintained. Be prepared to handle emergencies as they come up (i.e., rescheduling work assignments and work schedules, etc.). Work with the facility’s consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as required. Working Conditions Works in office areas as well as throughout the facility. Moves intermittently during working hours. Is subject to frequent interruptions from patients, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances. Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset patients, family members, etc. Communicates with the medical staff, nursing service, and other department supervisors. Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends, in other positions temporarily, when necessary, and is subject to call‑back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post‑disaster, etc.). Attends and participates in continuing educational programs. Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the work day, as well as to reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants. Is subject to exposure to hazardous chemicals, infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB, AIDS, Covid variants and Hepatitis B viruses. Maintains a liaison with other department supervisors to adequately plan for social services/activities. Education Must possess, as a minimum, a Bachelors Degree from an approved school of Social Work if the facility is licensed for more than 120 beds. If the facility is licensed for less than 120 beds, a High School Diploma or GED is required; a background in social work is preferred, but not required. Experience Must have experience in a supervisory capacity in a hospital, skilled nursing care facility, or other related medical facility. Must be registered as an ACSW. Specific Requirements Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language. Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action. Must possess the ability to deal patiently, tactfully, with a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm with personnel, patients, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public based on whatever maturity level at which they are currently functioning. Must possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel. Must be a member in good standing in the National Association of Social Workers and Academy of Certified Social Workers, Inc. Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace. Must be willing to follow all company, state and regulatory policies related to Infection Control and Vaccination requirements. Physical Requirements Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day. Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner. Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position due to relating to and working with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people. Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so that the requirements of this position can be fully met. Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with patients, personnel, and support agencies. Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility. May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of patients during emergency situations. Job Position Analysis Information NO Tasks assigned to this position do not typically involve potential and/or direct exposure to blood, body fluids, infectious diseases, air contaminants, and hazardous chemicals YES Functions Require Repetitive Motion NO Weight Lifting requirements do not typically apply. YES Functions Require Prolonged Sitting, Standing, and/or Bending #J-18808-Ljbffr Skilled Healthcare Center