Social Service Director

Job Description

Job Description

Make a Difference Where It Counts!

At our 22-bed Behavioral Health Hospital, every role plays a vital part in changing lives, strengthening our community, and delivering care that truly matters.

Job Title: Social Service Director
Department: Social Services
Reports To: CEO
Supervises: Discharge Planner/Case Manager, Activity Therapist
FLSA Status: Exempt
LOF Support: LOF4

Skill Checkoff Appraisals

See attached.

Mentoring Checklist Form

Licensed.

Position Summary

The Clinical Social Service Director is responsible for the overall functioning, coordination, and communication within the Social Services Department. The Clinical Social Worker serves as an integral member of the multidisciplinary treatment team, implementing and supervising social service interventions for patients.

The Clinical Social Worker oversees interventions performed by other members of the Social Services Department, including the Discharge Planner, Case Manager, Activity Therapist, and other social service staff. The Clinical Social Worker collaborates with other clinical departments through consultation with the medical staff, Director of Nursing (DON), and nursing personnel.

This position facilitates the resolution of concerns affecting the patient population and ensures that services, programming, and patients' social needs meet the highest standards of quality care. The Clinical Social Worker demonstrates a thorough understanding and interpretation of facility policies and procedures to ensure compliance. Additionally, the Clinical Social Worker possesses extensive knowledge of cognitive, emotional, developmental, social, and behavioral disorders.

Additional responsibilities include crisis intervention, leading special case conferences, facilitating family communication, and serving as a key participant in the treatment team process. The Clinical Social Worker maintains departmental performance improvement activities and participates in Quality Management (QM) initiatives.

The Clinical Social Worker adheres to the highest ethical standards regarding patient care and patient rights. The position also facilitates communication with outside agencies to ensure that patients' rights, care needs, and treatment requirements are met. Additionally, the Clinical Social Worker assists in developing and managing the budgetary needs of the Social Services Department.

Working Conditions

The work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally be exposed to fumes, airborne particles, cleaning chemicals, dust, mist, and steam generated through housekeeping activities. Noise levels may range from moderate to high. This is a smoke-free workplace.

Work is performed primarily indoors, with approximately 75% or more of the workday spent inside a building that provides protection from weather conditions, though not necessarily from temperature changes.

Employees must provide documentation of a tuberculosis (TB) test during new-hire orientation and annually thereafter.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to stand for moderate periods of time, potentially 60–80% of a work shift.
• Must be able to sit for extended periods, up to four hours or more at a time.
• Walking and standing are regularly required to perform job duties.
• Lifting and carrying may exceed 10 pounds.

Additional Work Environment Characteristics

• Performing repetitive tasks and motions.
• Hearing alarms, telephones, and normal speaking voices.
• Working in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions.
• Exposure to stress associated with serving psychiatric patients experiencing acute or crisis-related needs.

Physical Activities Required

Reaching – Extending hands and arms in any direction.

Handling – Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with the hands.

Fingering – Picking, pinching, and otherwise working primarily with the fingers.

Feeling – Perceiving attributes such as size, shape, temperature, and texture through receptors in the skin, particularly the fingertips.

Talking – Expressing or exchanging ideas through spoken communication.

Hearing – Perceiving sounds through the ear.

Seeing – Obtaining visual impressions of shape, size, distance, motion, and other characteristics of objects. Visual requirements include:

• Near and far visual acuity
• Depth perception
• Field of vision
• Accommodation
• Color vision

Exposure Category

Category II – Tasks involve potential exposure to blood, bodily fluids, or tissues.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Required

Education

Master's Degree in Social Work from an accredited School of Social Work.

License

Current licensure through the appropriate state regulatory body authorized to license Social Workers.

Experience

Minimum of one (1) year of experience performing Social Work duties in a Behavioral Health setting.

Additional Requirements

• Effective verbal communication skills.
• Effective organizational skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to read, comprehend, and follow written and verbal instructions.
• Proficiency with personal computers and standard software applications.
• Basic understanding of DSM-5 diagnostic criteria.
• Basic understanding of medical and psychiatric diagnoses and conditions.

Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations Required

• Government-issued Photo Identification
• Social Security Card and/or Driver's License
• Primary Source Verification of Education
• Copy of Current Clinical License
• Current CPR Certification
• Behavioral Management Training Certification

Benefits

Full-Time Employees

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Supplemental Insurance Options
• 401(k) with Company Match

PRN Employees

• 401(k) with Company Match

This position includes a performance-based incentive opportunity of up to $2,500. The incentive will be awarded based on the successful achievement of departmental performance metrics established by Corporate.

The bonus will be paid in two installments:

• 33% of the total bonus will be paid upon the successful completion of the 90-day performance review.
• The remaining 67% will be paid upon the successful completion of the six-month performance review.

Eligibility for the incentive is contingent upon meeting the established performance expectations and departmental metrics as determined by Corporate.

Freedom Behavioral Hospital of Leesville provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.