Social Services Assistant

PACS

About The Position

The Social Services Assistant helps plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the facility’s social service programs in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local standards and facility policies. The role supports meeting residents’ medically related emotional and social needs and helps residents achieve the highest practicable level of self-care, independence, and well-being. The position works with facility departments, residents and families, and community agencies to coordinate social services, referrals, appointments, and discharge planning. It also performs related documentation and administrative duties while maintaining resident confidentiality.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers and employees.
Ability to apply mathematical concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Ability to solve practical problems involving a variety of concrete variables where standardization is limited.
Ability to interpret instructions provided in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Ability to use a desktop or laptop computer for prolonged periods and regularly sit, stand, walk, talk, read, or hear.
Ability to use office equipment, including a copier/scanner/fax, telephone, and calculator.
May need to assist with resident evacuation during emergencies.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.
Prior health-care experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist the Social Service Director or Consultant with 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 with developing, administering, coordinating, reviewing, and updating department policies and procedures.
Help identify residents’ medically related social and emotional needs and develop policies and procedures to address them.
Participate in community planning related to facility interests and resident and family services and needs.
Assist residents in achieving the highest practicable level of self-care, independence, and well-being.
Help provide medically related social services to maintain or attain each resident’s practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being.
Complete administrative forms and reports and submit them to the Director.
Provide residents and families information 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 treatment-plan responses and adjustment to institutional life.
Coordinate social service activities with other departments as needed.
Support residents and families dealing with emotional problems related to illness, facility admission, physical disabilities, helplessness, death, and institutional or specialized care.
Evaluate social and family information and assist in determining social treatment plans.
Meet regularly with department personnel to identify and address problem areas and improve services.
Help obtain resources from community social, health, and welfare agencies to meet residents’ needs.
Assist with outpatient appointments as ordered and schedule on-site ancillary services, including optometry, podiatry, dentistry, and psychiatric services.
Assist with discharge planning in coordination with appropriate agencies, entities, or individuals, including agency services, equipment, and referrals.
Maintain working relationships with facility departments and community health, welfare, and social agencies.
Assist in developing and participating in regularly scheduled orientation and in-service training concerning residents’ social, emotional, and medical needs.
Assist with developing the department budget.
Report suspected or known fraud related to false billings, cost reports, kickbacks, and similar matters.
Maintain confidentiality of resident care information, including protected health information, and report suspected or known unauthorized disclosures.