Social Services Director

PURPOSE OF YOUR JOB POSITION:

The primary purpose of your job position is planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing social service programs in accordance with current existing federal, state, and local standards, as well as our established policies and procedures, to assure that the medically related emotional and social needs of the resident are met/maintained on an individual basis.

DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY:

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

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS STATEMENT:

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 statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.

SAFETY FACTORS:

Risk Potential to Blood/Body Fluids:

Category I: Tasks in this category involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues, and require the use of personal protective equipment.

Category II: Tasks in this category involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, and/or tissues, but employment may require performing unplanned category I tasks.

Category III: these tasks require no exposure to blood, body fluids, and/or tissues, and category I tasks are not a condition of employment.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Administrative Functions

• Oversee the planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing of the social service programs of this facility.
• Meet with administration, medical and nursing staff, and other related departments in planning social services, as directed.
• Oversee the development, administering, and coordinating of department policies and procedures.
• Review department policies and procedures, at least annually, and participate in making recommended changes.
• Assist in developing and implementing policies and procedures for identifying the medically related social and emotional needs of the resident.
• Participate in community planning related to the interests of the facility and the services and needs of the resident and family.
• Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of social care plans and resident assessments.
• Interview residents/families as necessary and in a private setting.
• Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submitting such to the Administrator.
• Involve the resident/family in planning social service programs when possible.
• Assist in arranging transportation to other facilities when necessary.
• Provide information to resident/families as to medicare/medicaid, and other financial assistance programs available to the resident; assisting with application and follow up on applications as necessary.
• Obtain information concerning the resident's personal and family problems, past illnesses, etc., by developing a Social Service Data Record.
• Provide consultation to members of our staff, community agencies, etc., in efforts to solve the needs and problems of the resident through the development of social service programs.
• Record and maintain regular Social Service progress notes indicating response to the treatment plan and/or adjustment to institutional life.
• Maintain a quality working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations.
• Compile information on discharge plans and present to appropriate committee as required.
• Work with the facility's consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as required.
• Make routine visits to residents and perform services as necessary.
• Maintain contact with the resident's family, involving them with non-medical progress reports as necessary.
• Assist in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished.
• Assist in making appointments for the resident/family as requested or appropriate.
• Perform charting duties as necessary.
• Work with emotional problems including assisting resident/family with anxieties and stress caused by illness and admission to the facility, difficulties in coping with residual physical disabilities, fears related to helplessness and death, and the need for institutional and specialized care.
• Evaluate social and family information and assist in determining plan for social treatment.
• Assist in interpreting social, psychological, and emotional needs of the resident/family to the other resident care team members.
• Assist in obtaining resources from community social, health and welfare agencies to meet the needs of the resident.
• Provide consultation to members of our staff, community agencies, etc., in efforts to solve the needs and problems of the resident through the development of social service programs.
• Others as deemed necessary and appropriate, or as may be directed by the consultant or Administrator.

Committee Functions

• Serve on various committees of the facility as appointed.
• Meet with department personnel, on a regularly scheduled basis, to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services.

Personnel Functions

• Develop and maintain a good working rapport with other departments within the facility, and outside community health, welfare and social agencies, to assure that social service programs can be properly maintained to meet the needs of the residents.
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the department.
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials and hazardous chemicals to your supervisor.

Staff Development

• Assist in the development of and participate in regularly scheduled orientation and in-service training programs in relation to the social, emotional and medical needs of the residents.
• Attend and participate in professional activities and programs.
• Participate and assist in departmental studies and projects as assigned, or that may become necessary.
• Attend and participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing tasks that may result in exposure to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, or hazardous chemicals.
• Attend and participate in annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and blood borne pathogens standard.

Safety and Sanitation

• Report all incidents/accidents immediately.
• Report all unsafe/hazardous conditions/equipment immediately.
• Participate in fire safety and disaster preparedness drills.
• Use protective clothing/devices when handling infectious waste and/or blood/body fluids.
• Report missing/illegible labels and MSDSs to your supervisor.

Equipment and Supply Functions

• Recommend to the Director the equipment and supply needs of the department.

Resident Rights

• Maintain confidentiality of all pertinent resident care information.
• Knock before entering a resident's room.
• Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written/oral report to the Director indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance. Follow facility's established procedures.
• Inform the resident/family of the resident's personal and property rights.
• Assist resident with information concerning resident rights, living wills, etc.

Working Conditions

• Works in office areas as well as throughout the facility.
• Moves intermittently during working hours.
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, etc.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing service, and other department supervisors.
• Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
• Is subject to call-back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.).
• Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.
• Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the work day, as well as to reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants.
• Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.
• Maintains a liaison with other department supervisors to adequately plan for social services/activities.
• May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Education

• Must be a licensed Social Worker in the State of PA.

Experience

• None required. On-the-job training provided.

Specific Requirements

• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public.
• Must possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with other personnel.
• Must have patience, tact, cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as be willing to handle residents based on whatever maturity level in which they are currently functioning.
• Must possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing social services.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of the individuals in the workplace.

Physical and Sensory Requirements

(With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day.
• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
• Must function independently, have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.
• Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility which include a medical and physical examination.
• Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people within the facility.
• Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of twenty-five pounds.
• May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.