Social Services Director

Description

Department:
Social Services

Reports To:

Administrator

The Social Services Director is responsible for directing and coordinating the medically related social services program in accordance with facility policies, accepted standards of social work practice, and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations. The Social Services Director promotes the highest practicable physical, mental, emotional, and psychosocial well-being of each resident through assessment, care planning, advocacy, discharge planning, resident rights, and collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.

Accountability:
Administrator

• Collaborate with the Administrator, consultants, physicians, nursing staff, interdisciplinary team members, community agencies, and family members to identify and address residents' medically related social service needs.
• Assess, coordinate, and assist residents in meeting personal, emotional, financial, environmental, and adaptive needs that support quality of life and resident-centered care.
• Provide or coordinate counseling services for residents and families as appropriate, including adjustment counseling, crisis intervention, grief support, and referral to outside resources when indicated.
• Assess, monitor, document, and address the psychosocial needs of residents throughout their stay, updating interventions as resident needs change.
• Maintain a current resource library of community agencies, governmental programs, healthcare providers, financial assistance resources, support services, and other outside resources available to residents and families.
• Assist residents and families with transportation needs and coordinate transportation services as appropriate.
• Participate in resident assessments, Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments, interdisciplinary care planning meetings, and care plan development and revisions.
• Provide information to prospective residents, families, referral sources, hospitals, and other interested parties regarding facility services, admission requirements, resident rights, and available resources.
• Obtain required information from prospective residents, responsible parties, healthcare providers, and referral sources to facilitate admissions.
• Maintain the facility waiting list and communicate with prospective residents and referral sources regarding bed availability.
• Complete and process all required state Pre-Admission Screening (PAS) forms and related admission documentation in accordance with state and federal requirements.
• Coordinate and schedule resident admissions in collaboration with nursing, admissions personnel, and facility leadership.
• Participate in the admission process by assisting residents and families with orientation, adjustment, and completion of required social service documentation.
• Coordinate discharge planning from admission through discharge to promote safe and appropriate transitions of care.
• Assist residents and families in identifying and arranging post-discharge services, equipment, community resources, home health services, outpatient services, transportation, and other needs necessary for a successful return to the community or transfer to another level of care.
• Administer and maintain the facility's Advance Directive program by educating residents and families regarding advance directives, documenting resident preferences, and maintaining required documentation.
• Promote resident rights by ensuring staff, residents, and families understand applicable policies, procedures, regulations, and residents' rights while assisting residents in exercising those rights.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with government agencies, regulatory surveyors, hospitals, physicians,…