Social Service

Major Duties and responsibilities

• Administrative Function:

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

• Keep abreast of current federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards.

• 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 social care plans and resident assessments.

• Interview resident/families/guardians and obtain required information and signatures.

• Explain to residents/guardians room rates, billing procedures, Resident's Rights, Advance Directives, etc.

• 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 resident/families to appropriate social service agencies when the facility does not provide the services or 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 efforts to solve the needs and problems of the resident through the development of social service programs.

• Assume the authority, responsibility and accountability for the Social Service Department.

• Maintain 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.

• 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.

• Participate in surveys (inspections) made by authorized governmental agencies. Interview residents, or family members, as necessary to obtain social history.

• Interview residents, or family members, as necessary to obtain social history.

• Assure that social service progress notes are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the resident's response to the service and are timely.

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

• Other duties 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, Pharmaceutical, Quality Assurance, etc., as required and as appointed by the Administrator.

• Participate in regularly scheduled reviews of Discharge Plans and make such plans available to the Utilization Review Committee as required or as may be necessary.

• Attend and participate in the Utilization Review Committee functions as required or as may be necessary.

• Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they nay pertain to social Services.

• Attend department manager meetings, etc., as scheduled or as may be called.

• Personnel Functions

• Maintain a productive working relationship with other department managers to assure that daily social services can be performed without interruption.

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

• Staff Development

• 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.

• Attend and participate in a hazardous communication and universal precautions training program as established by current CDC and OSHA guidelines.

• Safety and Sanitation

• Ensure that social service work areas are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.

• Comply with established departmental policies and procedures, including appropriate dress codes.

• Participate in all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner.

• Equipment and Supply Functions

• Order supplies as may be required and ensure social service supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste.

• Care Plan and Assessment Functions

• Develop preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the social service needs of each resident.

• Assist in developing a written plan of care for each resident that identifies the problems/needs of the resident and the goals to be accomplished for each problem/need identified.

• Insofar as practical, encourage the resident to participate in the development and review of his/her plan of care.

• Assist in the scheduling of care plans and assessments to be presented and discussed at each committee meeting.

• 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.

• Resident Rights

• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.

• Provide residents and families with information concerning resident rights, funds, living wills, etc., and explain as necessary.

• Respect resident's personal and property rights.

• Miscellaneous

• 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.