Social Services Director - Polaris Health & Wellness of Blue River

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

License Qualification: Licensed Social Worker

Reports to: Administrator

Supervises: Social Worker and/or Social Service Assistant

Classification: Exempt Salary

Position Description

Responsible for planning, developing, organizing, evaluating and directing the overall operation of the Social Services department in accordance with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics and in compliance with Federal, State, and Local guidelines and regulations, company policies and procedures, and governing agencies. Responsible for fostering a climate, policies and routines that enable residents to maximize their individuality, independence and dignity. This climate should provide residents with the highest practical level of physical, mental and psychosocial well-being and quality of life. Responsible for identifying psychosocial, mental and emotional needs along with providing, developing, and/or aiding in the access of services to meet those needs.

Principal Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, implements, evaluates, and directs a comprehensive Social Services program.

• Assist the Social Service Consultant in the planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing of the social service programs of the facility; Participates in reviewing and setting policies concerning resident care and quality of life; Participates in developing facility social work policies.

• Prepares Social Services department for annual survey.

• Complies/Completes social history and psychosocial assessment for each resident that identifies social, emotional, and psychological needs; Completed relevant parts of the minimum data set (MDS); Utilizes the minimum data set to guide the care plan. Accurate and timely documentation which complies with federal/state regulations, The Company Corporate policy, and specific center practices, including, but not limited to, Advanced Directives, Minimum Data Set, Social Service History and Assessment, Raps, Care Plans, Social Service Progress Notes, Behavior Tracking, monitoring of cognitive and psychosocial changes, PASARR and Discharge Planning documentation, and psych services.

• Supports each resident’s/resident’s right to self-determination; Documents resident/resident refusal of services offered; Informs resident/resident of any therapeutic alternatives to the refused service; Involves others, as appropriate, to help educate the resident/resident about the alternatives.

• Participates 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.

• Collaborate with healthcare and social service coordinators of other agencies and hospitals to maximize the use of community services.

• Refer to APS any suspected cases of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

• Maintain and update a resource file on service providers and vendors; Assist with locating new providers and evaluating old service providers; Communicate regularly with service providers to assure satisfactory service delivery.

• Works with Director of Nursing and Administration to prepare for inspection surveys; ability to engage in interviews by inspectors, assist in immediate corrections of problems noted by surveyors, etc. Reviews and reinforces important standards previously cited.

• Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Management Responsibilities

• Develops organizational strategies by contributing information, analysis, and recommendations to strategic thinking and direction; establishing functional objectives in line with organization objectives, evaluating trends, establishing critical measurements; determining production, productivity, quality, and customer-service strategies; designing systems; accumulating resources; resolving problems; implementing change.

• Conducts continuing education programs and special in-service training to direct reports.

• Cooperates with other facility personnel to ensure that services can be adequately maintained to meet the needs of residents; creates and maintains an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest, and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment.

• Adheres to established employee policies and dress code.

Customer Service Responsibilities

• Models customer service principals throughout the center and promotes appreciation of our customer’s needs.

• Treats residents, residents’ family members, visitors and fellow employees with courtesy, respect, and dignity.

• Presents professional image through appearance, behavior and speech.

• Explains procedures to residents before administering services.

Residents Rights

• Understands, upholds and promotes the rights of the residents.

• Ensures residents can exercise rights without interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal from the facility.

• Ensures protected health information is kept confidential.

• Ensures resident concerns/complaints are responded to with tact and urgency.

• Reports allegations of resident abuse, neglect and/or misappropriation of resident property.

• Coordinates effective communication with Residents and Companions by assuring all arrangements for providing interpreters and/or other auxiliary aids and services needed by Residents and Responsible Party are made, including scheduling interpreters through outside agencies and scheduling staff interpreters, if any; and ensuring appropriate maintenance, repair, replacement and distribution of auxiliary aids.

Staff Development

• Attends and participates in scheduled in-service training, educational classes and meetings to maintain current certification as applicable and as managed by regulatory agencies and company policies.

• Ensures that small group meetings are held per company policy.

• Communicates new Policy & Procedures and regulations to staff to ensure compliance.

Qualifications

• Certified, licensed, or registered in the state of practice, required/or

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services field, including but not limited to Sociology, Special Education, Rehabilitation Counseling and Psychology from an accredited school of social work, required.

• One year of supervisory social work experience in a healthcare setting working directly with geriatric individuals.

• Minimum of 2 years of nursing experience in a Skilled Nursing Facility preferred.

The Hilltop at Blue River provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.