Social Worker (Long Term Care)

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work or another human services field to include, but not limited to, sociology, gerontology, special education, rehabilitation counseling, or psychology.
• One year of supervised social work experience in a health care setting working directly with individuals.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

The Social Worker will assist in overseeing the development, implementation, supervision and ongoing evaluation of the Social Services Department designed to meet and assist residents in attaining or maintaining their highest practicable well-being.This includes identifying the need for medically-related social services and ensuring that these services are provided in accordance with State and Federal regulations.

The Social Worker will complete the social services component of the comprehensive assessment for assigned residents.The Social Worker will also contribute to and / or direct / delegate contribution of social services goals and approaches to the comprehensive care plan.These goals and interventions will be individualized to match the skills, abilities, and interests / preferences of each resident in compliance with Federal and State regulations, to include identifying and promoting individualized, non-pharmacological approaches to care that meet the mental and psychosocial needs of each resident.

The Social Worker will encourage residents / responsible parties to participate in the development of their care plan, and invite them to care plan meetings accordingly.

The Social Worker will assist with completion of preadmission services for inbound residents, to include participation in interdisciplinary evaluation of residents needs for institutional care and completion of the PASARR Level 1.

The Social Worker will facilitate residents’ safe transition back into the community through interdisciplinary discharge planning and arrangement of community based services and follow-up care.The Social Worker will also assist residents and their representatives in locating and accessing financial, legal, and other community resources.

The Social Worker will interpret and report the social, psychological, and emotional needs of the resident / responsible party to the medical staff, attending physician, and other resident care team members.

The Social Worker will accurately and completely document social service actions and interactions in each resident’s medical record, and ensure that legal, ethical, and professional standards of social work practice and being upheld in written recordings.

The Social Worker will engage in Advance Care Planning for assigned residents upon admission, and make sure that any Advance Directives are reviewed with the resident / resident representative on a regular basis.The Social Worker will ensure that staff members are made aware of the resident’s code status and end-of-life wishes and will assist with informing and educating residents and their representatives about health care options and ramifications.

The Social Worker will assist with facility policy development and annual review in order to positively impact the quality of care delivered to residents.

The Social Worker will assist the Social Services Director in ensuring that staff members are knowledgeable about Resident’s Rights and encourage staff to maintain and enhance each resident’s dignity in recognition of each resident’s individuality.

The Social Worker will advocate for residents and assist them in assertion of their rights within the facility.When there is an allegation of suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation, the Social Worker will report to the Social Services Director and / or Administrator and assist with reporting to the appropriate State agency, as well as completion of a thorough investigation as assigned.

The Social Worker will ensure that residents who display mental illness, or psychosocial difficulties such as coping with grief and loss, have access to appropriate treatment and resources.

In the absence of the Social Services Director, the Social Worker will assume the authority, responsibility, and accountability of directing the Social Services Department.

Additional Assigned Tasks

Personal Skills and Traits Desired / Physical Requirements / Working Conditions

Compliance as a Condition of Employment and Performance Appraisal

Agreement to abide by all standards, policies, and procedures of the facility, including the facility’s compliance and ethics program, is a condition of employment.Compliance will be a factor in evaluating job performance.Violations, including failure to report violations, will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

This job description is intended to convey the general scope of the major duties and responsibilities inherent in this position.Other tasks not listed here may be assigned by the Administrator.Periodic revision may be necessary to reflect changes in expectations placed on long term care by various governmental agencies.This job description will be reviewed and / or revised annually and as needed.

Individual performance will be evaluated using the following scale :