Resident Advocate - SNF/Clearfield

ROCKY MOUNTAIN CARE GROUP•Clearfield, UT

About The Position

The Resident Advocate assists with planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluating the facility’s Social Services Department in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local standards and facility policies. The role supports residents’ social-service needs, care planning, assessments, discharge planning, rights, grievances, advance-care planning, and access to appropriate treatment and resources. The position works with facility administration, medical and nursing staff, residents, responsible parties, and other departments. It also includes documentation, reporting, participation in quality and care meetings, and compliance with safety, confidentiality, and facility procedures.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English.
Ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant.
Ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government personnel, and the general public.
Patience and tact, including willingness to work with difficult residents, family members, and staff.
Ability to relay information concerning a resident’s condition.
Effective verbal and written communication skills and sound judgment.
Ability to maintain composure and a positive attitude in stressful situations.
Ability to work as a supportive team member.
Resourcefulness, strong leadership skills, and ability to coordinate meetings and set and achieve goals.
Organized and efficient work habits.
Basic computer skills.
CPR licensure and first-aid training.
Ability to move intermittently throughout the workday and assist in evacuating residents during emergencies.
Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, perform overhead lifting, and perform other common physical movements needed for the position.
Meet facility general health requirements, including medical and physical exams and immunity-status checks.
Ability to work beyond normal working hours and on weekends and holidays when necessary.
Ability to comply with facility standards, policies, procedures, and compliance and ethics requirements.

Responsibilities

Assist with planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing the facility’s social services programs.
Meet with administration, medical and nursing staff, and other departments to plan social services as directed.
Participate in discharge planning, care-plan development and implementation, and resident assessments.
Encourage residents and responsible parties to participate in care planning and invite them to care-plan meetings.
Assist residents with transportation arrangements for medical appointments and discharge.
Document social-service actions and interactions accurately and completely in residents’ medical records.
Assist with facility policy development and annual review to support quality of care.
Help ensure staff understand residents’ rights and promote residents’ dignity and individuality.
Engage in advance-care planning for assigned residents upon admission and ensure advance directives are reviewed regularly with residents or their representatives.
Help ensure staff know residents’ code status and end-of-life wishes, and help inform residents and representatives about health-care options and their implications.
Advocate for residents and assist them in asserting their rights within the facility.
Report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation and assist with state-agency reporting and investigations as assigned.
Help residents experiencing mental illness or psychosocial difficulties access appropriate treatment and resources.
Treat residents with dignity and respect, protect their rights, and comply with facility policies, regulations, and business-conduct standards.
Maintain confidentiality of protected health information and report policy violations, confidentiality breaches, retaliation, discrimination, and allegations of resident mistreatment as required.
Protect residents from abuse and cooperate with investigations.
Follow safety, hygiene, infection-control, and emergency procedures; participate in drills and training; and report work-related injuries, illnesses, and exposures.
Complete assigned training and skills competency requirements.
Interview residents or responsible parties to obtain social histories.
Arrange for residents to obtain items such as clothing and personal-care supplies.
Assist residents with voicing grievances and obtaining resolution; review complaints and report actions taken to the Social Services Director or Administrator.
Participate in Resident and/or Family Council as needed or requested.
Help residents communicate needs using their primary communication method or a language they understand.
Coordinate social-services activities with other departments and complete required reports.
Attend care-plan meetings and mandatory in-services, and attend department-head or standup meetings as requested.
Serve on the QAPI Committee or Behavior Management Committee if requested.