Social Service Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

Description : Position Purpose :

Position Purpose :

The Social Services Assistant performs administrative support activities required for delivery of social services from patient admission through discharge.

Essential Duties :

• Assist patients / residents in coping with their transition and adjustment to a nursing center including the social, emotional, and psychological needs.
• Educate patients / residents and families / significant others regarding their rights and responsibilities, health care decision making / advance directives, effective problem solving and the extent of community, health and social services that is available to them, including those necessary for effective discharge planning.
• Obtaining information from community social health and welfare agencies in order to meet the resident’s needs
• Coordinate appointments for residents with podiatry, dental, and vision care doctors / providers.
• Assist in providing solutions for social and practical environmental problems including seeking financial assistance, discharge planning (including collaboration with community agencies), and referrals to other community agencies when specialized assistance is required.
• Support residents move-in, transfers, taking resident item inventory and labeling residents' property, maintain log of this information.
• Planning and organizing time and duties to efficiently maintain caseload
• Protecting each resident’s file and data with confidentially per HIPAA standards
• Must perform proficiently in all competency areas including but not limited to patient rights, safety, infection prevention protocols, and sanitation.
• Assisting Social Services Designee as directed and collaborates with other departments
• Follows all established Hollenbeck Palms Protocols for safety.
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements :

• High school diploma or equivalent; additional education or certification in social services, recreational therapy, or a related field is preferred.
• College or University degree in related field highly preferred (Sociology, Healthcare Administration, Social Work etc)
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff, residents, and volunteers.
• Understanding of federal and state regulations related to resident care and activities.
• Must be able to read, write, speak and understand English.
• Must be able to understand, follow, support and initiate policies and procedures of the facility. Must be able to recognize emergency situations and respond appropriately.
• Must clear criminal background check and health physical screening
• CPR / -First-Aid certification (may be obtained after appointed to the position)
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must be able to relate with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times hostile people within the facility.

Physical Requirements of Position

The physical demands here are representative of those met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk, use hands to hold objects; and speak and listen to residents / clients.

The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel and bend.? The employee is regulary required to sit, utilize office equipment, employee should be able to type and use computer programs to carry out essential duties of the position.?

The employee must occasionally lift and / or move up to 30 pounds and occasionally push or pull more than 50 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT : The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally be exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals such as cleaning products and medical preparations.

May be exposed to aerosol transmissible diseases and blood borne pathogens. May work with residents who become agitated.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally work in outside weather conditions.