Social Service Designee

Social Services Designee Job Overview

The primary purpose of the Social Services Designee is to assist in planning, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing the overall operation of our facility’s Social Services Department in accordance with federal, state, and local standards, guidelines and regulations, our established policies and procedures, and as may be directed by the Administrator, to assure that the medically related emotional and social needs of the resident are met or maintained on an individual basis.

• Complete a social history and psychosocial assessment for each resident that identifies social, emotional, and psychological needs.
• Document progress in meeting the psychosocial needs of residents.
• Participate in the development of a written, interdisciplinary plan of care for each resident that identifies the psychosocial needs/issues of the resident, the goals to be accomplished for those needs/issues, and the appropriate social worker interventions.
• Coordinate the resident discharge planning process and make referrals for appropriate home care services prior to the resident’s return to the community.
• Ensure or provide therapeutic interventions to assist residents in coping with their transition and adjustment to a long-term care facility, including their social, emotional, and psychological needs.
• Ensure or provide support and education to residents’/family members/significant others to assist in their understanding or placement and facility issues in addition to referring them to appropriate social service agencies when the facility does not provide the needed services.
• Work with residents, families, significant others and staff to provide support, information and organization for taking a more proactive role in self‑advocacy to improve quality of life and care for individual residents and those who live and work within the nursing home and the community at large.
• Provide groups for residents’/family members/significant others as appropriate to their needs.
• Educate residents and families/significant others regarding their rights and responsibilities, effective problem solving and the extent of community, health and social services that are available to them, including those necessary for effective discharge planning.