Social Service Director

Description Job Classification: Full-Time Regular

Purpose:
POSITION DESCRIPTION TITLE: Social Services Director REPORTS TO: Administrator

SUMMARY OF POSITION: Responsible for initiating and maintaining a comprehensive social services program within the facility. Assists residents/patients in the achievement and maintenance of maximum psychosocial functioning and independence. Handles resident/patient concerns and assists residents/patients in a respectful and non-judgmental manner, fostering independence and self-determination whenever possible. Coordinates a self-governing resident council and arranges for a family council. Maintains resident/patient records per federal and state regulations and Extendicare policies and procedures. Makes optimum use of community resources and assists in the facilitation of the resident’s/patient’s discharge planning. Is an active member of the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT). Develops a working relationship with private and public social health and welfare resources in the community. Follows all Extendicare polices and procedures.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES: The responsibilities of this position involve significant physical activities including standing, lifting (up to 60 pounds unassisted), bending, stooping, pushing, pulling and twisting. The tasks on this position description marked with an asterisk (*) are those that regularly require these physical activities. All employees of nursing homes may be required to provide lifting and transfer assistance to residents. Lifting and/or transferring some residents will require use of a lifting device and /or assistance of other staff

Essential Functions
1. Supervisory Responsibilities

Makes daily work assignments.

*Directs the work of employees.

Schedules lunch and rest breaks

Authorizes early departure from work.

Authorizes overtime.

Reassigns employees from one area to another area as facility needs dictate.

Prepares written evaluations of assigned employees.

Enforces facility policies with authority to issue Disciplinary Action Reports as needed.

Authority to suspend employees for rules violation.

Initials time records to authorize variances.

Interviews applicants that will be assigned to his/her area of responsibility.

Receives and handles employee complaints.

*Participates in training programs and assists in orientation of new staff.
2. Counsels prospective residents/patients and families, as needed, for adequate preparation for admission to the facility.
3. Provides assistance to residents/patients and/or families in obtaining financial services, when needed.
4. Provides assistance, as needed, to residents/patients and families to ensure a satisfactory adjustment to life in the facility.
5. Meets with new residents/patients to answer questions. Ensures they have been informed of their personal and property rights and obtains information for a social history and assessment.
6. Addresses difficulties with emotional adjustment to the facility through interviews, counseling, and referrals when indicated. Consults with other disciplines as appropriate.
7. Ensures that social services are coordinated with other facility services.
8. Coordinates behavior management programs with the assistance of other departments.
9. Provides timely and appropriate psychosocial intervention for residents/patients as required. Documents the intervention.
10. Develops a relationship with each resident/patient by visiting them regularly. Documents problems and needs.
11. Informs residents/patients when room change or roommate change is anticipated. Counsels regarding change and follows-up as necessary. Documents resident/patient response.
12. Assesses the social, emotional, and spirituals needs of the residents/patients and ensures that the social services intervention is a part of the resident’s/patient’s Plan Of Care.
13. Ensures that assessments are initiated and completed according to the resident’s/patient’s Level of Care, as required.
14. Ensures that required social services interventions, as identified in each resident/patient Plan Of Care are provided either directly through the department or through outside referrals.
15. Monitors and collaborates with outside agencies to ensure quality interventions and communicates these interventions and outcomes to the team through the appropriate Clinical Meeting and as required.
16. Reviews the Social Services Manual at least annually.
17. Explains Plan Of Care process and introduces applicable Interdisciplinary Team members to the residents/patients and/or families.
18. Informs residents/patients and/or families of the date and time of Resident/Patient and/or Family conferences.
19. Attends and participates in the Plan Of Care meetings with emphasis on medically related social services including Discharge Planning.
20. Ensures that realistic projected discharge dates are established and reviewed at each appropriate Clinical Meeting.
21. Maintains a calendar to manage discharges and minimize unnecessary resource demands on any individual day.
22. Communicates all established discharge dates.
23. Develops and maintains resources for discharge planning information.
24. Refers residents/patients to appropriate agencies when discharge is anticipated.
25. Serves as primary resident/patient/family liaison regarding communication and development of interdisciplinary treatment and/or discharge plan.
26. Follows up with resident/patient/family after discharge.
27. Writes a discharge summary, as required.
28. Actively participates in the daily Clinical Operations Meeting. 29. Develops a Family Council and coordinates the meetings.
30. Encourages and assists families in organizing a Family Council. 31. Initiates family support meetings and records and signs minutes. 32. Assists in execution of Advance Directives, when appropriate. 33. Participates in professional functions, organizations, and groups. 34. Visits hospital discharge planners, as appropriate.
35. Participates in mandatory inservices and annually conducts at least one inservices designed to increase the facility staff’s awareness of the social and emotional needs of the residents/patients