Social Services Assistant

Description

DEPARTMENT: Social Services

SUPERVISOR: Social Services Director

WORK AREA: Entire Facility

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this position is to meet the social and/or emotional needs that affect the residents ability to achieve their highest practicable psychosocial well being; participate in the development of residents comprehensive care plans; follow policies and procedures to provide social services to residents in compliance with federal, state and local regulation

REQUIRED DUTIES: Plans, develops, organizes, implements, evaluates, and directs (directors position only) the Social Services Department in accordance with current state, federal and facility standards. Maintains policies and procedures to assure that the medically related emotional and social needs of the residents are met/maintained on an individual basis. Must be able to help transport residents to hospital or medical facility in emergency. Reports all incidents immediately. Must be alert to all residents change in condition. Must have good vision, manual dexterity and ability to push wheelchair and reposition residents,

WORKING HOURS: Eighty (80) hours every two weeks. Subject to working weekends as scheduled.

HIPAA MINIMUM NECESSARY: Responsible to adhere to HIPAA MINIMUM NECESSARY guidelines and safeguard protected health information.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

1. Familiar with facility and department policies and procedures.
2. Participates as a member of the Admission Team.
3. Interviews residents and families to obtain history relevant to medical problems and planning.
4. Helps resident/family adjust to admission into facility environment.
5. Acts as a liaison between medical and nursing staff, residents, relatives and appropriate outside agencies.
6. Assists residents in securing appliances required (orthopedic, hearing, optical, etc.)
7. Completes a social history of each resident and updates it annually.
8. Maintains Social Work Progress Notes by recording all significant contacts made in the course of performing the service.
9. Confers with hospital social worker on condition of hospitalized resident and arranges for readmission to facility within time frame allowed for bed hold.
10. Participates as a member of the Care Plan Team.
11. Provides emotional support to families regarding residents condition on an on going and crisis basis.
12. Assists with facility social functions.
13. Assist in dining needs of residents if trained and approved.
14. Assists in coordination of discharge planning for residents.
15. Counsels new residents and their families to inform them of services offered at the facility, the Residents Rights and responsibilities.
16. Is available to residents/families to answer questions regarding facility services and policies.
17. Assist residents/families with scheduling doctors appointments and arranges for transportation and/or transports if needed.
18. Assists residents with purchasing personal items as requested.
19. Other duties as assigned by the Director or Administrator.

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelors Degree in Social Work or a Bachelors Degree in a Human Services field including but not limited to Sociology, Special Education, Rehabilitation Counseling, Psychology or Gerontology.

Qualifications