Social Service Assistant

We are now offering 8-hour shifts!

Purpose of Your Job Position

The primary purpose of your job position is to plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of our facility's Social Services Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines and regulations, our established policies and procedures, and as may be directed by the Administrator, to assure that the medically related emotional and social needs of the resident are met/maintained on an individual basis.

Office Administration Functions

Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the social service programs of this facility

Assist in the development, administering, and coordinating of department policies and procedures

Keep abreast of current federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards, and make recommendations on changes in policies and procedures to the Administrator

Review department policies and procedures, at least annually, and participate in making recommended changes

Develop and implement policies and procedures for the identification of medically related social and emotional needs of the resident

Participate in community planning related to the interests of the facility and the services

and needs of the resident and family. Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of social care plans and resident assessments

Interview residents and families as necessary and in a private setting

Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submitting such to the Administrator as required

Involve the resident and family in planning social service programs when possible

Assist in arranging transportation to other facilities when necessary

Refer resident and families to appropriate social service agencies when the facility does not

provide the services or needs of the resident

Provide information to resident and families as to Medicare, Medicaid, and other financial assistance programs available to the resident

Provide consultation to members of our staff, community agencies, etc., in efforts to solve the needs and problems of the resident through the development of social service programs

Assist in the review and updating of departmental job descriptions at least annually

Assume the authority, responsibility, and accountability of directing the social service department

Maintain a quality working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations

Review and evaluate the department's work force and make recommendations to the Administrator

Coordinate social service activities with other departments as necessary

Work with the facility's consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as required

Delegate authority, responsibility, and accountability to other responsible department personnel

Make written and oral reports and recommendations to the Administrator concerning the operation of the social service department

Assist in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished

Interpret the department's policies and procedures to employees, residents, visitors, government agencies, etc

Keep abreast of economic conditions and situations and recommend to the Administrator adjustments in social services that assure the continued ability to provide daily social services

Review and develop a plan of correction for social service deficiencies noted during survey inspections and provide a written copy

Assist the Infection Control Coordinator in identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and job related social functions to ensure that tasks involving exposure to blood or body fluids are properly identified and recorded. of such to the Administrator. Review departmental complaints and grievances from personnel and make written reports to the Administrator of action(s) taken. Follow facility's established procedures

Assist the Quality Assessment and Assurance Committee in developing and implementing appropriate plans of action to correct identified deficiencies

Develop, implement, and maintain an ongoing quality assurance program for the social services department

Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as necessary or as may be directed

Interview residents, or family members, as necessary, to obtain social history. Assure that social service progress notes are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the resident's response to the service

Maintain a reference library of written material, laws, standards of practice, etc., necessary for complying with current standards and regulations, and that will provide assistance in maintaining quality social service

Develop and maintain a community and social services referral file of agencies and organizations that provide assistance to residents

Involve the resident/family in planning objectives and goals for the resident

Meet with administration, medical and nursing staff, as well as other related departments in planning social service programs and activities

Others as deemed necessary and appropriate, or as may be directed by the Administrator

Agree not to disclose assigned user ID code and password for accessing resident/facility information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator

Agree not to disclose resident's protected health information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator

Report any known or suspected unauthorized attempt to access facility's information system Committee Functions

Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the facility (i.e., Infection Control, Policy Advisory, Pharmaceutical, Budget, Quality Assessment and Assurance, etc.) as required, and as appointed by the Administrator

Provide written and/or oral reports of the social service programs and activities as required, or as may be directed by such committee(s)

Participate in regularly scheduled reviews of resident discharge plans

Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to social services. Meet with social services personnel, on a regularly scheduled basis, and solicit advice from inter-department supervisors concerning the operation of the social services department, assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services

Attend department head meetings, etc., as scheduled or as may be called

Schedule and announce departmental meeting times, dates, places, etc Personnel Functions

Assist in the recruitment, interviewing, and selection of social services personnel

Determine departmental staffing requirements necessary to meet the social service department's needs, and assign a sufficient number of social services personnel for each tour of duty. Recommend to the Administrator the number and level of social services personnel to be employed

Schedule department work hours (including vacation and holiday schedules), personnel, work assignments, etc., to expedite work

Delegate administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability to other social services personnel as deemed necessary to perform their assigned duties (i.e., Social Worker, Social Service Designee, etc.)

Counsel/discipline social services personnel as requested or as necessary

Terminate employment of personnel when necessary, documenting, and coordinating such actions with the HR Director and/or Administrator

Assist in standardizing the methods in which social services tasks will be performed

Review and check competence of social services personnel and make necessary adjustments/corrections as required or that may become necessary

Maintain a productive working relationship with other department supervisors and coordinate social services to assure that daily social services can be performed without interruption

Assure that appropriate identification documents are presented prior to employment and that such records are maintained in the employee's personnel record

Make daily rounds to assure that social services personnel are performing required duties, and to assure that appropriate social service procedures are being rendered to meet the needs of the facility

Conduct departmental performance evaluations in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures

Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents

Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest, and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the facility

Report known or suspected incidents of fraud to the Administrator

Ensure that departmental computer workstations left unattended are properly logged off or the password protected automatic screen-saver activates within established facility policy guidelines Staff Development

Develop and participate in the planning, conducting, scheduling of timely in-service training classes that provide instructions on "how to do the job," and ensure welleducated social services department

Develop, implement, and maintain an effective orientation program that orients the new employee to the department, its policies and procedures, and to his/her job position and duties

Provide leadership training that includes the administrative and supervisory principles essential for the social services department. Encourage the social services supervisory staff to attend and participate in outside training programs. Schedule times as appropriate

Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs that relate to the social services department

Attend and participate in continuing educational programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status

Ensure that all social services personnel attend and participate in annual facility inservice training programs as scheduled (e.g., OSHA, TB, HIPAA, Abuse Prevention, Safety, Infection Control, etc.) Safety and Sanitation

Assist the Safety Officer in developing safety standards for the social services department

Ensure that the department's policy and procedure manual identifies safety precautions and equipment to use when performing tasks that may result in bodily injury

Monitor social services personnel to assure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies

Ensure that social service work areas are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner

Ensure that all social services personnel follow established departmental policies and procedures, including appropriate dress codes

Ensure that social services personnel participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner

Assist the Infection Control Committee in the development, implementation, and revising of written aseptic and isolation technique

Develop, implement, and maintain a program for monitoring communicable and/or infectious diseases among the residents and personnel

Ensure that social services personnel follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary

Ensure that department personnel follow established procedures governing the use of labels and MSDSs

Report missing/illegible labels and MSDSs to the safety officer or other designated person

Ensure that department personnel performing tasks that may involve potential exposure to blood, body fluids, infectious disease, etc., attend appropriate in-service training classes prior to performing such tasks

Develop, implement, and maintain a procedure for reporting hazardous conditions or equipment. Report any exposure to blood/body fluids Equipment and Supply Functions

Recommend to the Administrator the equipment and supply needs of the department

Place orders for equipment and supplies as necessary or as may be required. Make periodic rounds to check equipment and to assure that necessary equipment is available and working properly

Check supply rooms to assure that needed supplies are on hand to perform assigned cleaning tasks

Ensure that all personnel operate social service equipment in a safe manner

Develop and implement procedures that ensure social service supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste

Ensure that MSDSs are on file for hazardous chemicals used in the social services department Care Plan and Assessment Functions

Develop preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the social service needs of each resident

Develop a written plan of care for each resident that identifies social problems/needs ofthe resident and the goals to be accomplished for each problem/need identified

Ensure that social services components of the MDS are completed and signed on a timely basis

Monitor the facility's QI, QM, and survey reports relative to social services and make recommendations to correct identified problem areas

Encourage the resident/family to participate in the development and review of his/her plan of care

Assist in the scheduling of care plans and assessments to be presented and discussed at each committee meeting

Ensure that all social services personnel are aware of the care plan and that care plans are used in providing daily social services to the resident

Review nurses' notes to determine if the care plan is being followed. Report problem areas to the DONS

Develop and maintain a good rapport with all services involved with the care plan to ensure that a team effort is achieved in developing a comprehensive plan of care Budget and Planning Functions

Forecast needs of the department

Assist in preparing and planning the social services department's budget for food, equipment, supplies, and labor and submit to the Administrator for review, recommendations, and approval

Maintain current written records of department expenditures and assure that adequate financial records and cost reports are submitted to the Administrator upon request or as necessary

Make departmental adjustments in order to conform to approved budget, and/or as dictated by an analysis of the monthly operating statement

Report suspected or known incidence of fraud relative to false billings, cost reports, kickbacks, etc Resident Rights

Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information including protected health information. Report known or suspected incidents of unauthorized disclosure of such information

Knock before entering a resident's room

Ensure that all social services personnel are knowledgeable of the resident's rights and responsibilities including the right of refusal

Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written/oral report to the Administrator indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance. Follow facility's established procedures

Maintain a written record of the resident's complaints and/or grievances that indicates the action taken to resolve the complaint and the status of the complaint

Provide residents with information concerning resident rights, living wills, etc. Explain as necessary

Participate in resident/group council meetings as requested and provide support services to such council Miscellaneous

Make weekly inspections of all social service functions to assure that quality control measures are continually maintained

Be prepared to handle emergencies as they come up (i.e., rescheduling work assignments and work schedules, etc.)

Be sure that appropriate protective clothing/devices is on hand for handling infectious waste and/or blood/body fluids. Work with the facility's consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as required Other Duties

Please