Purpose of Your Job Position

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

Delegation of Authority

As the Director of Social Services, you are delegated the authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

Job Functions

Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific state- ments of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.

Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the social service programs of this
• Administer and coordinate department policies and
• Keep abreast of current federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards, and make rec- ommendations on changes in policies and procedures to the
• Implement policies and procedures for the identification of medically related social and emotional needs of the patient.
• Participate in community planning related to the interests of the facility and the services and needs of the patient and family.
• Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of social care plans and patient as-
• Interview patient/families as necessary and in a private setting, and involve them in planning when
• Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, reports, etc., and submit- ting such to the Administrator as required.
• Assist in arranging transportation to other facilities when
• Refer patient/families to appropriate social service agencies when the facility does not provide the ser- vices or needs of the
• Provide information to patient/families as to medicare/medicaid, and other financial assistance pro- grams available to the
• Provide consultation to members of our staff, community agencies, etc., in efforts to solve the needs and problems of the patient through the development of social service
• Assume the authority, responsibility, and accountability of directing the social service
• Maintain a quality working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and
• Coordinate social service activities with other departments as
• Work with the facility’s consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as
• Delegate authority, responsibility, and accountability to other responsible
• department
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator concerning the operation of the social service department.

• Interpret the department’s policies and procedures to employees, patients, visitors, government agen- cies,
• Keep abreast of economic conditions/situations and recommend to the Administrator adjustments in social services that assure the continued ability to provide daily social
• Review departmental complaints and grievances from personnel and make written reports to the Ad ministrator of action(s) Follow facility’s established procedures.
• Implement and maintain an ongoing quality assurance program for the social services
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government
• Interview patients, or family members, as necessary, to obtain social history, and involve them when possible, in planning processes.
• Assure that social service progress notes are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the patient’s response to the service.
• Maintain a reference library of written material, laws, , necessary for complying with current stan- dards and regulations, and that will provide assistance in maintaining quality social service.
• Meet with administration, medical and nursing staff, as well as other related departments in planning social service programs and
• Others as deemed necessary and appropriate, or as may be directed by the

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
• 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 patient discharge
• Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to social

Personnel Functions

• 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, , as scheduled or as may be called.
• Assist in the recruitment, interviewing, and selection of social services
• Determine departmental staffing requirements and make recommendations to the
• Schedule department work hours (including vacation and holiday schedules), personnel, work assignments, , 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, ).
• Counsel/discipline social services personnel as requested or as necessary, including employment termi- nation when necessary, documenting and coordinating such actions with the Personnel Director and/or
• Maintain a productive working relationship with other department supervisors and coordinate social ser- vices to assure that daily social services can be performed without
• Make daily rounds to assure that social services personnel are performing required duties, and to as- sure that appropriate social service procedures are being rendered to meet the needs of the
• Conduct departmental performance evaluations in accordance with the facility’s policies and proce-
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures governing accidents and
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the

Staff Development Functions

• 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 well-educated social services

• 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.
• Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs that relate to the social services
• 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 all in-services, including annual OSHA
• and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and blood borne pathogens

Safety and Sanitation Functions

• Monitor social services personnel to assure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and
• Ensure that social service work areas are maintained in a clean and sanitary
• Ensure that all social services personnel follow established departmental policies and procedures, in- cluding appropriate dress codes, as well as all infection control procedures, and MSDS
• Ensure that social services personnel participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster prepared- ness drills in a safe and professional manner.
• Report exposures to blood, bodily fluids, blood borne pathogens, hazardous chemicals, communicable diseases and any missing/illegible labels and MSDSs immediately.
• 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

Equipment and Supply Functions

• Recommend to the Administrator the equipment and supply needs of the
• Place orders for equipment and supplies as necessary or as may be
• Make periodic rounds to check equipment and to assure that necessary equipment is available and working
• Check supply rooms to assure that needed supplies are on hand to perform assigned cleaning
• Ensure that all personnel operate social service equipment in a safe

Care Plan and Assessment Functions

• Develop preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the social service needs of each
• Develop a written plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) for each patient that identifies the problems/needs of the patient and the goals to be accomplished for each problem/need
• Encourage the patient/family to participate in the development and review of his/her plan of
• Ensure that all social services personnel are aware of the care plan and that care plans are used in pro- viding daily social services to the patient.
• Review nurses’ notes to determine if the care plan is being followed. Report problem areas to the
• Review and revise care plans and assessments as necessary, but at least
• 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
• 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
• Make departmental adjustments in order to conform to approved budget, and/or as dictated by an analysis of the monthly operating statement.

Patient Rights Functions

• Maintain the confidentiality of all patient care
• Knock before entering a patient’s room, and follow ALL facility patient rights and privacy policies and procedures.

• Review complaints and grievances made by the patient and make a written/oral report to the Adminis- trator indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance. Follow facility’s es- tablished
• Provide patients with information concerning patient rights, living wills, Explain as necessary.
• Participate in patient/group council meetings as requested and provide support services to such

Miscellaneous

• Make weekly inspections of all social service functions to assure that quality control measures are con- tinually
• Be prepared to handle emergencies as they come up (i.e., rescheduling work assignments and work schedules, ).
• Work with the facility’s consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as

Working Conditions

• Works in office areas as well as throughout the
• Moves intermittently during working
• Is subject to frequent interruptions from patients, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, , under all conditions and circumstances.
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset patients, family members,
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing service, and other department
• Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends, in other positions temporarily, when necessary, and is subject to call-back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post- disaster, ).
• Attends and participates in continuing educational
• Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, , throughout the work day, as well as to reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants.
• Is subject to exposure to hazardous chemicals, infectious waste, diseases, conditions, , including TB AIDS, Covid variants and Hepatitis B viruses.

• Maintains a liaison with other department supervisors to adequately plan for social services/activities.

Education

• Must possess, as a minimum, a Bachelors Degree from an approved school of Social Work if the facility is licensed for more than 120 beds. If the facility is licensed for less than 120 beds, a High School Diploma or GED is required; a background in social work is preferred, but not

Experience

• Must have experience in a supervisory capacity in a hospital, skilled nursing care facility, or other re- lated medical facility.

• Must be registered as an

Specific Requirements

• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such
• Must possess the ability to deal patiently, tactfully, with a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm with per- sonnel, patients, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public based on whatever maturity level at which they are currently functioning.
• Must possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other person-
• Must be a member in good standing in the National Association of Social Workers and Academy of Cer- tified Social Workers, Inc.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the
• Must be willing to follow all company, state and regulatory policies related to Infection Control and Vaccination requirements.

Physical Requirements

(With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work
• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable

• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position due to relating to and work- ing with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile
• Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function ade- quately so that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
• Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with patients, personnel, and support agencies.
• Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this
• May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of patients during emergency

Job Position Analysis Information

NO Tasks assigned to this position do not typically involve potential and/or direct exposure to blood, body fluids, infectious diseases, air contaminants, and hazardous chemicals

YES Functions Require Repetitive Motion

NO Weight Lifting requirements do not typically apply.

YES Functions Require Prolonged Sitting, Standing, and/or Bending