Director of Social Services

Job Description

Job Description

Description: 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 medically related emotional and social needs of the resident are met/maintained on an individual basis.

DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

As Director of Social Services, you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

JOB FUNCTIONS

Every effort has been made to make your job description as complete as possible. 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 a logical assignment to the position.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS

Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the social service programs of this facility.

Assist in the development, administering, and coordinating of 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.

Review department policies and procedures, at least annually, and participate in making recommended changes.

Develop and implement policies and procedures for the identification of medically related social and emotional needs of the resident.

Participate in community planning related to the interests of the facility and the services and needs of the resident and family.

Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of care plans and resident assessments.

Interview resident/families as necessary and in a private setting.

Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submitting such to the Administrator as required.

Involve the resident/family in planning social service programs when possible.

Assist in arranging transportation to other facilities when necessary.

Refer resident/families to appropriate social service agencies when the facility does not provide the services or meet the needs of the resident.

Provide information to resident/families as to Medicare/Medicaid, and other financial assistance programs available to the resident.

Provide consultation to members of our staff, community agencies, etc., in an effort to solve the needs and problems of the resident through the development of social service programs.

Assist in the review and updating of departmental job descriptions at least annually.

Assume the authority, responsibility, and accountability of directing the Social Services Department.

Maintain an excellent working relationship with the medical profession and other health-related facilities and organizations.

Review and evaluate the department’s work force and make recommendations to the Administrator.

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 Services Department.

Assist in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished.

Interpret the department’s policies and procedures to employees, residents, 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 and develop a plan of correction for social service deficiencies noted during survey inspections and provide a written copy of such to the Administrator.

Assist the Quality Assessment and Assurance Committee in developing and implementing appropriate plans of action to correct identified deficiencies.

Develop, implement, and maintain an ongoing quality assurance program for the Social Services Department.

Participate in survey (inspections) made by authorized government agencies.

Assure that all progress notes charted are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the resident’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.

Involve the resident/family in planning objectives and goals for the resident.

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, Admissions, Medicare, 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 committees.

Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to social services.

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.

Schedule and announce departmental meeting times, dates, places, etc.

PERSONNEL FUNCTIONS

Assist in the recruitment, interviewing, and selection of social services personnel.

Recommend to the Administrator the number and level of social services personnel to be employed.

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.

Perform departmental performance evaluations in accordance with our established policies and procedures.

Counsel/discipline social services personnel as requested or as necessary.

Assist in standardizing the methods in which social services tasks will be performed.

Review and check competence of social services personnel and make necessary adjustments/corrections as required or that become necessary.

Maintain an excellent 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.

Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest, and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the facility.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

Develop, implement, and 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.

Encourage the social services staff to attend and participate in outside training programs. Schedule times as appropriate.

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.

Assure that all social services personnel attend and participate in a Hazardous Communication and Universal Precautions training program before reporting for work assignments.

SAFETY AND SANITATION

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.

Ensure that social services personnel participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner.

Develop, implement, and maintain a procedure for reporting hazardous conditions or equipment.

Report any exposure to blood/body fluids.

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY FUNCTIONS

Recommend to the Administrator the equipment and supply needs of the department.

CARE PLAN AND ASSESSMENT FUNCTIONS

Oversee the development of preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the social service needs of each resident upon admission and prescribed intervals.

Oversee the development of a written plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) for each resident that identifies the problems/needs of the resident and the goals to be accomplished for each problem/need identified.

Complete MDS, Quarterly Review, CAAS, and documentation/tracking sheets. Attend Care Plan Meeting.

Insofar as practical, encourage the resident 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 social services to the resident.

Review nurses’ notes to determine if the care plan is being followed.

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.

RESIDENTS’ RIGHTS

Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.

Ensure that all social services personnel are knowledgeable of the resident’s rights and responsibilities.

Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written/oral report to the Administrator indicating what actions were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance within three (3) work days.

Maintain a written record of the resident’s complaints and/or grievances that indicates the action taken to resolve the complaint and the current status of the complaint.

MISCELLANEOUS

Make 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.)

WORKING CONDITIONS

Works in well-lighted/ventilated office areas, as well as throughout the facility and its premises.

Sits, stands, bends, lifts and moves intermittently during working hours.

Is subject to frequent interruptions.

Is involved with residents, family members, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.

Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, etc.

Communicates with the medical staff, nursing staff, and other department supervisors.

Is willing to work beyond normal working hours, on weekends and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.

Is involved in community/civic health matters/projects.

Is subject to falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the workday.

May be exposed to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including exposure to the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.

Maintains a liaison with other department supervisors to adequately plan for social services/activities.

Requirements:

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

A bachelor's degree in social work or a related field is preferred.

EXPERIENCE

Must have, as a minimum, two (2) years experience in a supervisory capacity in a healthcare facility.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Must be able to read, write, and speak the English language in an understandable manner.Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public.Must possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise professional and non-professional personnel.Must have patience, tact, cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as be willing to handle residents, staff, and visitors based on whatever maturity level they are currently functioning.Must possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing practices.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.Must possess sight/hearing senses, or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so that requirements of this position can be fully met.Must function independently, have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability.Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times hostile people within the facility.