Social Worker

SUMMARY:

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work from an accredited college or university; or, a bachelor’s degree in a human services field including but not limited to sociology, gerontology, special education, rehabilitation counseling, and psychology from an accredited college or university.
2. One year of supervised social work experience in a health care setting working directly with individuals
3. Experience in dealing with people in crises is preferable.
4. Knowledge of the case management process, needs of geriatric patients, healthcare settings, working knowledge of funding resources such as Medicare Parts A, B, C and D, Medicaid, Managed Care and other private insurances.
5. Imagination and creative ability, skill and working cooperatively with other professionals, ability to organize and carry out responsibility efficiently and effectively.
6. Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately both verbally and in writing in a wide variety of circumstances.
7. Commitment to the mission and goals of the center.
8. Ability to exercise independent judgment where procedures cannot be standardized.
9. Dedicated totally to the success of the center and The Better Way culture.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

1. Able to lift 60-70 pounds occasionally.
2. Able to bend, stoop, squat, and twist numerous times daily.
3. Good vision and hearing in order to respond to auditory and visual requests from patients, as well as, able to communicate with staff.
4. Able to speak in a clear concise voice in order to communicate with patients who may be hearing-impaired.
5. Able to carry out fine motor skills with manual dexterity.
6. Able to manage own stress effectively.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

1. Well lighted, well ventilated office space with privacy available for interviewing.
2. Interacts with general public under all conditions. Much of the work involves difficult circumstances, patients and families in emotional distress, severe illness, dying, death and grief, confusion, combativeness, ill-temper, etc.
3. Must be alert to possible injury, changing conditions in patients, and appropriate responses.
4. Constant pressure to respond maturely and effectively with patients, families, other staff and other professionals.
5. Must appropriately represent center in dress and demeanor per the partner handbook and any written regional policy.

DUTIES:

1. Share current information available about funding resources.
2. Work with individual patients and families toward adjustment to center life and to crises of illness, disability, and death.
3. Served in an advocacy role for patients and their families in expressing, defining and resolving grievances.
4. Coordinate discharge planning functions.
5. Participate in developing patient care plans in cooperation with individuals from other disciplines.
6. Participate in in-service training programs.
7. Evaluate the quality of social services as part of the center’s overall quality improvement program.
8. Develop and maintain contacts with appropriate community agencies.

1. Interview and develop trusted relationship with applicants and their families.
2. Obtain accurate, relevant information to be used in determining appropriateness of placement.
3. Provide family and patient with accurate, up-to-date information regarding funding resources such as Medicare Part A, B, C, and D, Medicaid, and Private insurances.

1. Participate in room assignment decisions.
2. Notify patients and families of room change decisions.
3. Notify departments involved in room changes.
4. Document room changes.

1. Document, clearly and legibly, 24 hour social work assessment for new admissions (see specific instructions and format in the Social Work Services Manual).
2. Prepare and document the Social Work Psychosocial Assessment/history within required time frames.
3. Document reports of progress that required intervals.
4. Participate in preparation of Admission Summary Sheet and Patient “MDS Form”.
5. Discharge Follow-up reporting as applicable.

1. Work as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
2. Participate in Patient Care Planning (PCP) conference.
3. Prepare for PCP conference with evaluation complete, including problems identified, goals, and approaches.
4. Coordinate discharge planning as agreed upon by patients, family and care plan team.
5. Assume organizational or leadership roles for conferences as needed.
6. Appropriately advise families and patients of plan of care.

1. Informed patient and family of patient’s rights and advance directives.
2. Maintain relationship with patient and family in order to facilitate early identification of potential problems.
3. Maintain close working relationship with all other departments inappropriately resolving grievances.
4. Identify report trends or patterns of complaints to the Director of Social Work Services.
5. Manage difficult or emotional customer situations.

1. Respond to immediate need of any patient or family referred by floor staff, DON, therapists, administrator, or physician.
2. Encourage maximum participation of family in meeting needs of patients.
3. Assist in arranging transportation when required.
4. Respond promptly to customer needs.
5. Proactively work to meet and/or exceed customer expectations.
6. Build a relationship of trust and respect with customers.
7. Develop knowledge of criteria utilized by Medicare and other third-party payors for continued stay authorization in order to educate patient and families.

1. Obtain information from family and patients on admission regarding expectations and resources available for discharge planning.
2. Collaborate with other care plan team members to develop individualized patient discharge plans through the patient care planning conference and through level of care meetings.
3. Coordinate in-house planning and assist patient and family in obtaining services needed to assure continuity of care.
4. Provide information to other centers with which there is a Transfer Agreement on discharge.
5. Participate in Utilization Review to advise committee on discharge planning.
6. Document discharge planning in patient’s medical record.

1. Participate in continuing education programs available, with consents of Social Work Services Director.
2. Participate in in-service education of staff in areas of expertise, especially emotional needs of elderly, patient’s rights, confidentiality and the Abuse Policy.

1. Participate in quality improvement program of center.
2. Participate in survey processes conducted by state regulatory agencies.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. The social worker is responsible for the quality of social services rendered by the center.
2. Report to the Director of Social Work Services to the current status of social services and present needs as perceived by the social worker.
3. Understand and abide by established policies of healthcare Center and interpret them to concerned parties.
4. Participate in consultation with the Director of Social Work Services and regional social work consultant, especially pointing out problems and trends that may require company policy attention.
5. Maintain confidentiality of professional information.
6. Account for use of time, report sickness, and planned vacation time with the Director of Social Work Services.
7. Other Duties and Responsibilities which may be assigned by the Director of Social Work Services.
   1. Assuring Resident Safety