Social Services Director

Purpose of Your Job Position

The primary purpose of your job position is to plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of the Social Services Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guide- lines and regulations, our established policies and procedures, and as may be directed by the Administra- tor, to assure that the medically related emotional and social needs of the patient are met/maintained on an individual basis.

As the Director of Social Services, you are delegated the authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific state- ments of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the social service programs of this facility.
• Administer and coordinate department policies and procedures.
• Keep abreast of current federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards, and make rec- ommendations on changes in policies and procedures to the Administrator.
• Implement policies and procedures for the identification of medically related social and emotional needs of the patient.
• Participate in community planning related to the interests of the facility and the services and needs of the patient and family.
• Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of social care plans and patient as- sessments.
• Interview patient/families as necessary and in a private setting, and involve them in planning when possible.
• Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submit- ting such to the Administrator as required.
• Assist in arranging transportation to other facilities when necessary.
• Refer patient/families to appropriate social service agencies when the facility does not provide the ser- vices or needs of the patient.
• Provide information to patient/families as to medicare/medicaid, and other financial assistance pro- grams available to the patient.
• Provide consultation to members of our staff, community agencies, etc., in efforts to solve the needs and problems of the patient through the development of social service programs.
• Assume the authority, responsibility, and accountability of directing the social service department.
• Maintain a 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.
• Delegate authority, responsibility, and accountability to other responsible
• department personnel.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator concerning the operation of the
• social service department.
• Interpret the department’s policies and procedures to employees, patients, visitors, government agen- cies, etc.
• Keep abreast of economic conditions/situations and recommend to the Administrator adjustments in social services that assure the continued ability to provide daily social services.
• Review departmental complaints and grievances from personnel and make written reports to the Ad ministrator of action(s) taken. Follow facility’s established procedures.
• Implement and maintain an ongoing quality assurance program for the social services department.
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made…