Social Service Designee

PACS•Dublin, CA

About The Position

The Social Service Designee assists with planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing the facility’s social service programs in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local standards and facility policies. The role helps ensure residents’ medically related emotional and social needs are met and maintained on an individual basis. The position works with facility administration, medical and nursing staff, residents, families, community agencies, and other departments to support resident well-being and coordinate social services. The designee supports departmental policies and procedures, resident assessments and social treatment planning, documentation, community resource coordination, appointments, discharge planning, staff orientation and training, and budget development. The position has no supervisory requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW), or a bachelor’s degree in a human services field such as sociology, psychology, rehabilitation counseling, or gerontology, with one year of supervised social work experience in a health care setting, in accordance with federal regulations.
At least one year of supervised social work experience in a health care setting such as a hospital, nursing facility, hospice, or related program.
Ability to read and understand procedure and instruction manuals and directions.
Basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division skills.
Ability to solve practical problems and work with concrete variables where limited standardization exists.
Ability to interpret written, oral, diagrammatic, or scheduled instructions.
Social work licensure (LSW, LMSW, LCSW, or state equivalent) if required by state law.
Must meet applicable state and federal qualification standards for social workers in skilled nursing facilities.
Completion of mandatory in-service training, including resident rights, abuse prevention, dementia training, and HIPAA, as required by the facility and state regulations.
Ability to sit, stand, walk, talk, read, and hear; use standard office equipment; perform prolonged computer work and documentation; occasionally lift or move items up to 25 pounds; bend, reach, and stretch; move throughout the facility; and potentially assist with resident evacuation during emergencies.

Nice To Haves

Prior long-term care or skilled nursing facility experience.

Responsibilities

Assist the Social Service Director or Consultant in planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing facility social service programs.
Meet with administration, medical and nursing staff, and other departments to plan social services as directed.
Assist in developing, administering, coordinating, and reviewing department policies and procedures, and recommend changes at least annually.
Assist in developing and implementing processes to identify residents’ medically related social and emotional needs.
Participate in community planning related to the facility, residents, and families.
Assist residents in achieving the highest practicable level of self-care, independence, and well-being.
Help provide medically related social services to support each resident’s physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being.
Complete required forms and reports and submit them to the Director.
Inform residents and families about Medicare, Medicaid, and other available financial assistance programs.
Consult with staff and community agencies to address resident needs and problems through social service programs.
Record and maintain regular Social Service progress notes about responses to treatment plans and adjustment to institutional life.
Coordinate social service activities with other departments as needed.
Help residents and families address emotional concerns related to illness, admission, disability, helplessness, death, and the need for institutional or specialized care.
Evaluate social and family information and help determine social treatment plans.
Meet regularly with department personnel to identify and correct problems and improve services.
Help obtain resources from community social, health, and welfare agencies to meet resident needs.
Assist with ordered outpatient appointments and schedule on-site ancillary services, including optometry, podiatry, dentistry, and psychiatric services.
Assist with discharge planning and coordinate agency services, equipment, and referrals.
Maintain working relationships with facility departments and community health, welfare, and social agencies to support resident services.
Assist with developing and participating in orientation and in-service training about residents’ social, emotional, and medical needs.
Assist with development of the department budget.
Report suspected or known fraud related to false billings, cost reports, kickbacks, or similar matters.
Maintain confidentiality of resident care information, including protected health information, and report suspected or known unauthorized disclosures.