Social Services Director

Life Care Center of Michigan City•Michigan City, IN

About The Position

The Social Services Director plans, organizes, develops, and directs the Social Services department to ensure patients’ medically related emotional and social needs are met in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and Life Care standards. The director implements a social services program consistent with State, Federal, corporate, and division guidelines, advocates for patients, and provides education to staff on patient rights. The role also supports patients and families through education, financial planning assistance, and connections with community agencies, and recruits, trains, evaluates, counsels, and supervises social services staff.

Requirements

Currently registered or licensed in the applicable state and able to maintain an active license in good standing throughout employment.
Bachelor’s degree if working in a facility with 120 or more beds, subject to State law.
Knowledge of practices and procedures, laws, regulations, and guidelines governing functions in a post-acute care facility.
Ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant.
Ability to implement and interpret department programs, goals, objectives, policies, and procedures.
Proficiency in competency areas including patient rights, safety, and sanitation.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with company policies, harassment and compliance procedures, and required compliance training.
Ability to concentrate and use reasoning skills and good judgment.
Ability to communicate and function productively on an interdisciplinary team.
Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English.
Ability to sit, stand, bend, lift, push, pull, stoop, walk, reach, and move intermittently during working hours.

Nice To Haves

Two years of experience in health care social work preferred.

Responsibilities

Plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of the Social Services department.
Implement a social services program that addresses patients’ medically related social and emotional needs and follows applicable State, Federal, corporate, and division guidelines.
Act as a patient advocate and educate staff regarding patient rights.
Complete patient charting appropriately and on time.
Assist patients and families through education, financial planning assistance, and liaison with community agencies.
Recruit, select, hire, train, evaluate, counsel, and supervise social services staff.
Provide excellent customer service and maintain a positive attitude toward patients.
Assist in the evacuation of patients.
Maintain dependable, regular attendance and function productively on an interdisciplinary team.
Follow applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, company policies, confidentiality requirements, and Life Care’s Code of Conduct.
Maintain professional working relationships with associates, vendors, and others.