Position Purpose: Assist with planning and participating in a comprehensive social services program which provides support services--including substance abuse and medically-related services--for residents, designated representatives and families. Other duties include participating in the pre-admission screening process, providing information to families during admission, and orienting residents to the LTC environment. Educational Requirements: Any facility with more than 120 beds must employ a qualified social worker on a full-time basis. A qualified social worker is: + An individual with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work or a bachelor’s degree in a human services field including, but not limited to, sociology, gerontology, special education, rehabilitation counseling, and psychology; and one year of supervised social work experience in a health care setting working directly with individuals. ** The regulations do not require a full time Social Worker when a facility has equal to or less than 120 beds Experience Required: Minimum of 2 years’ experience in the social work field as a social worker; Minimum of 1-year supervised experience in a health care facility in the Social Services department. Professional Licensure and Certification Required: Master’s Degree with licensure as a Licensed Master’s in Social Work preferred; an individual with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work or a bachelor’s degree in a human services field including, but not limited to, sociology, gerontology, special education, rehabilitation counseling, and psychology; and one year of supervised social work experience in a health care setting working directly with individuals. must have a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or license and/or certification to meet state and/or federal requirements for the position. Interpersonal Relationships: Communicates effectively with residents, families, visitors, co-workers, physicians, and other employees. Essential Functions + Assist with planning a comprehensive social services program which provides support services for residents, designated representatives and families from a variety of resources. + Coordinating admissions and discharges to ensure facility census is kept at its maximum capacity. + Participate in an interdisciplinary team approach to better serve the needs of the facility population. + Provide for therapeutic intervention(s) to help residents cope with the social and psychological aspects of their illnesses, impairments, addictions, or disabilities as well as their feelings about separation from family/community, physical and emotional loss—including trauma-induced events. + Maintain written documentation in the medical record per facility policy and state and federal guidelines. + Perform an initial evaluation/assessment of each resident’s biopsychosocial needs to be placed in the medical Active cases require ongoing written documentation. + Assists in implementing social services policies and procedures that conform to current standards of practice, facility philosophy and operational policies, while maintaining compliance with state and federal laws and regulations. + Communicates and interprets policies and procedures to all applicable staff, and monitors staff practices and implementation. + Participates in admission decisions, reviews admission screens for appropriateness in relation to accepting into the facility. + Occasional community outreach as needed to promote and educate regarding the facility and its services. + Participates in daily or weekly management team meetings to discuss resident status, census changes, personnel, or resident complaints or concerns. + Attends weekly discharge planning meetings in order to facilitate resident discharges and transfers to ensure safety and appropriateness. + Ensures delivery of compassionate quality care as evidenced by resident/resident representative feedback, observation, and chart review. + Demonstrates knowledge of and application of Key Clinical Quality Indicators. + Ensures that assigned resident assessments and care plans are incompliance. + Collaborates with physicians, consultants, community agencies and institutions to improve the quality of services and to resolve identified problems. + Assists in coordinating services with all other departments to ensure quality care and services are provided. + Assists in the development and delivery of in-service education to equip nursing staff with sufficient knowledge and skills to provide compassionate, quality care and respect for resident rights. + Proactively develops positive employee relations, and promotes teamwork, mutual respect and effective communication. + Actively participates as a member of the QAA Committee. + Assists with coordinating and/or identifying on-going QAA activities for social work services to monitor by maintaining compliance with standards and regulatory requirements through rounds, interviews and record reviews. Compiles summary of findings for the Quality Assessment and Assurance committee and Director of Social Work. + Communicates directly with residents, families, medical staff, nursing staff, interdisciplinary team members and Department Heads to coordinate care and services, promote participation in care plans and maintain a high quality of care and life for residents. + Promotes customer service and hospitality and responds to and adequately resolves complaints or concerns from residents or families about nursing services. + Monitors facility incidents and complaints daily to identify those defined as unusual occurrences by state policy and promptly reports such occurrences to Director of Social Services for appropriate action. + Monitors complaint reports daily for allegations of potential abuse, neglect, exploitation, or the loss or misappropriation of resident property and participates in these investigations. + Interacts courteously with residents, family members, employees, visitors, vendors, business associates and representatives of government agencies. Staff Development Functions + Participates in departmental meetings to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or improvement of services. + Assists in the orientation of new social service staff members to the facility and ensures that appropriate education and mentoring is in place. + Participates in all required mandatory in-service programs. Safety and Infection Control + Oversees the implementation and continuous practice of established universal precautions and infection control policies and procedures within the facility. + Follows established safety regulations and infection control practices in caring for residents, in their own personal safety, and in use of equipment and supplies as applicable. + Ensures that all work and resident care areas are maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner. + Participates in the Infection Prevention and Control program. Resident Rights + Maintains confidentiality of all pertinent resident care information and ensures the same is followed throughout the facility. + Thorough knowledge of facility and state mandatory reporting practices regarding any suspected cases of abuse, mistreatment, or neglect. + Ensures that all residents are treated fairly with kindness, dignity, and respect. + Monitors all care to ensure that all residents are treated fairly and with kindness, dignity and respect. + Reviews complaints and grievances made by the resident or responsible party and ensures that subsequent investigations are reported to the Director of Social Services for further intervention. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. All pay rates and bonuses are paid and/ or awarded to employees based on the facilities policy and/ or the CBA, depending on the position.