Licensed Social Worker / Discharge Planner - Copper Ridge Nursing & Assisted Living Center

Position Title: Licensed Social Worker / Discharge Planner

Copper Ridge Health is looking for a dependable employee to fill our Licensed Social Worker role in a skilled nursing facility. We are looking for a full-time-time Licensed Social Worker with great leadership skills, customer service skills and skilled nursing home experience to join our team. The qualified individual will be an essential part of the management team.

Our ideal candidate is organized, reliable, and committed to maintaining high standards. Working with our company, you can expect flexible shifts, PTO, and a competitive salary.

Benefits: Health, life, vision, and dental insurance, PTO (paid time off) in the first year, flexible schedule, premium holiday pay, disability insurance, wellness plans, employee referral bonus, and stability in the strong leadership/management team who strives & achieves customer service excellence with dedicated staff qualifications.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

In fulfilling his or her primary duties and responsibilities, the social worker shall exercise professional judgment in carrying out a variety of activities that maximize the well-being and quality of life of residents.

Administrative

• Review facility policies and procedures as part of the facility’s interdisciplinary team to assure compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Participate in reviewing and setting policies concerning resident care and quality of life.
• Participate in developing facility social work policies.
• Develop, maintain, and utilize a listing of current community resources that are useful to residents and their families/significant others. 
• Participate in quality assurance interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Understand and meet all government requirements for social service documentation.
• Document progress in meeting the psychosocial needs of residents.

Advocacy

• Work with the interdisciplinary team and administration to promote and protect resident rights and the psychological well-being of each resident. Prevent and address resident abuse as mandated by law and professional licensure.
• Identify community changes and opportunities such as legislation, regulations and programs that affect nursing home residents.
• Work with residents, families, significant others, and staff to provide support, information, and organization for taking a more proactive role in self advocacy to improve the quality of life/care for individual residents and those who live and work within the nursing home and the community at large.

Clinical

• Complete a social history and psychosocial assessment for each resident that identifies social, emotional, and psychological needs.
• Participate in the development of a written, interdisciplinary plan of care for each resident that identifies the psychosocial needs/issues of the resident, the goals to be accomplished for those needs/issues, and the appropriate social worker interventions.
• Ensure or provide therapeutic interventions to assist residents in coping with their transition and adjustment to a long-term care facility, including their social, emotional, and psychological needs.
• Ensure or provide support and education to residents/family members/significant others to assist in their understanding of placement and facility issues in addition to referring them to the appropriate social service agencies when the facility does not provide the needed services.
• Provide groups for residents/family members/significant others as appropriate to their needs.
• Provide clinical interventions to address catastrophic events that occur during the resident’s stay in the facility.
• Coordinate the resident discharge planning process and make referrals for appropriate home care services prior to the resident’s return to the community.

Education

• Educate staff regarding the role of the social worker in the facility and the psychosocial needs of the residents and their families/significant others including the problems of aging and disability. 
• Educate staff regarding cultural diversity and each staff member’s importance when caring for residents. Educate staff regarding residents’ rights and how to recognize and prevent abuse, neglect, and mistreatment. 
• Educate residents and families/significant others regarding their rights and responsibilities, effective problem solving and the extent of community, health and social services that are available to them, including those necessary for effective discharge planning. 
• Supervise students assigned to social services in accordance with the respective school guidelines and monitor and document the progress of their work.

Requirements:  

• Maryland LSW, LCSW, or LCSW-C required. 
• Responsible for annual re-licensure per federal and state regulations. 
• Compliance with yearly CEU requirements.
• Effective verbal and written English communication skills. 

Preferred Skills: Experience in a long-term care or skilled nursing care setting preferred, but not required.

Copper Ridge is an equal opportunity employer and promotes a drug-free workplace.