Director of Social Services

SUMMARY: The Director of Social Services is directly responsible for the operation of the Social Services department. This position reports directly to the Administrator.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Responsible for the direct supervision of the operation of the Social Services department to include:

• Works in conjunction with the Director of Admissions in the admissions process of residents to the facility to ensure that Elan Skilled is fully prepared to meet their needs and that the applicant and his/her family is aware of the available services including their limits. Serves as a back up to the Director of Admissions.
• Supervises the social workers in the development and implementation of care plans to provide for each residents psychosocial needs and discharge planning.
• Ensuring that residents and their families are made aware of the schedule of the interdisciplinary team meetings and the content of the residents care plan.
• Maintains appropriate compliance with regulatory agencies in documenting assessments and progress notes along with entries of other relevant social service involvement in the care of the residents.
• Supervises the Beauty Shop which includes hiring and staff supervision and overseeing procurement of supplies, and operational procedures.
• Serves as liaison between Elan Skilled Nursing and Webster Towers and consults with their social services program personnel as necessary.
• Participates in staff development for the facility providing orientation and ongoing training related to residents rights and abuse.
• Leads family support group.

• Member of the Quality Assurance Committee and Sub-Committee and attends all meetings. Responsible for completing all QA activities in the Social Service Department submits results of QA activities to the Quality Assurance Coordinator.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Supervises a total of 1-2 employees in the Social Services Department and Beauty Shop. Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of this department.

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor Degree in social work or a bachelors Degree in Human services with five years of experience as a qualified social worker in a long term care setting. Masters degree from an accredited school of social work with three or more years of experience in a long-term care setting and licensed social worker or eligible to meet licensure requirements preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of residents, managers, staff, family members and the general public.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:

Requires creativity, energy and artistic skills. Must have a working knowledge of all aspects of resident care and an understanding of the importance of a comprehensive activities program within the total realm of providing care to the geriatric population.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

CODE OF CONDUCT: Each employee shall adhere to each standard and procedure, seek clarification of any standard or procedure, if necessary, and report suspected violations to senior management, ethical advocate, and/or the Companys Compliance Officer.

VALUE STATEMENT: Based upon the Judaic tradition of respect for the elderly and historical commitment of service to the larger community, Jewish Home of Eastern Pennsylvania and affiliated organizations fulfills our Mission and realizes our Vision for and on behalf of our residents and clients and their families, our staff, our Board, and our Volunteers with attention to the following practices:

RESPECT- We recognize, honor and acknowledge the inherent value of each person for their wisdom, religious, ethnic and cultural background and history.

COMPASSION - We treat everyone with caring, sensitivity, understanding and supportive responsiveness.

ADVOCACY - We give voice to our residents/clients needs and facilitate positive actions on their behalf.

INTENTION - We are responsible individually and as a collective organization to approach our work and our respective tasks with mindful consideration regarding what we are doing and why we are doing it in order to achieve a desired positive outcome.

QUALITY - We are committed to providing excellence in our care and services and through measurement and refinement to realize high standards of care.

EDUCATION & TRAINING - We invest in the skill development of our staff, cooperate with local universities and schools to provide practical experience and education for future health care professionals and offer guidance to support our residents/clients and their caregivers.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT - We are committed to providing a safe environment for residents, staff, and volunteers.

INNOVATION - We seek to advance our knowledge and are committed to better understand, evaluate, and implement programming, services and operating practices to advance effective and efficient delivery of quality services to benefit our residents/clients and our community.

ACCOUNTABILITY - We are responsible both as individuals and as an organization to be strategic, ethical, team-oriented and quality based to promote the delivery of the highest level of care and fiscal soundness.

CITIZENSHIP - We recognize our connection and contribution to the greater community.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor Degree in social work or a bachelors Degree in Human services with five years of experience as a qualified social worker in a long term care setting. Masters degree from an accredited school of social work with three or more years of experience in a long-term care setting and licensed social worker or eligible to meet licensure requirements preferred.