OVERVIEW

The Director of Social Services directs the planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluating of the social services program in accordance with company standards and federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations to ensure that the emotional and psycho-social needs of the residents are met and maintained while assisting residents in navigating through the healthcare system and overcoming barriers to meet their health and wellness goals and providing appropriate education in support of achieving those goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Operations Management

• Assesses and interprets social, psychological, and emotional needs of residents and families and ensures their needs are being met. 
• Facilitates intake assessments and interviews for social service planning while following the schedule of the MDS.
• Provides residents and families information about and referrals to appropriate agencies and other financial and program assistance as necessary.
• Assists in scheduling care conferences to present and discuss care plans in accordance with the life plan community.
• Participates in discharge planning and coordinating resident level of care changes and manages care transitions communicating vital information for reconnection to community resource agencies and which healthcare teams as needed.
• Conducts ongoing counseling, social work intervention, and follow up as needed.
• Coordinates social services activities with other departments and/or service providers to ensure that daily programming can be performed without interruption.
• Assists with maintaining census in budgeted area.

Quality and Compliance Management, Administration, and Reporting

• Develops, implements, and maintains an ongoing quality assurance program for the Social Services Department.
• Develops and maintains departmental policies and procedures.
• Completes a social history on every resident upon admission and reviews at least quarterly.
• Completes necessary forms and reports, including MDS and care plans in the electronic medical records (EMR) system.
• Ensures that all progress notes and plans of care are informative and descriptive of the services provided and of the resident’s responses.
• Maintains the confidentiality of resident information.
• Willingly and consistently shares observations and insights of departmental operations that may improve quality and efficiencies of department.

Care Management and Service Delivery

• Listens and responds to the needs of residents and staff members.
• Maintains professional integrity in appearance, language, and interaction with residents/patients and staff members.
• Reviews and responds to complaints and grievances from residents and staff members regarding all areas of responsibility.
• Assists with resident investigations regarding complaints, incidences, and missing items.
• Works with residents and staff to resolve issues or acts as a mediator.
• Assists in developing and conducting in-service training programs for staff that relates to social services.
• Provides timely and clear information to others including resident changes, etc.
• Advocates on behalf of the rights of all residents.
• Serves on various committees and attends meetings of the life plan community providing written and/or oral reports of services and activities regarding the department.

People Management and Development

• Manages direct and indirect reporting staff in the Social Services Department.
• Fosters a positive work environment that attracts, retains, and motivates employees.
• Interviews, selects, and orients new direct reports.
• Defines, establishes, and promotes performance expectations so direct reports understand and demonstrate excellence through high quality and consistent performance.
• Evaluates job performance of direct reports in accordance with the company policy and procedure and provides developmental guidance to staff for improved performance and growth.
• Monitors accountability with organization requirements prescribed by the Employee Handbook.  Documents and engages employees who are routinely not observing these requirements in an effort to achieve compliance.  Works with Human Resources when circumstances arise that necessitate further documentation and intervention.
• Participates in the development, planning, scheduling, conducting, and monitoring of in-service training programs, on-the-job training, and orientation programs for departmental staff.
• Ensures that there is a reasonable and sufficient plan for staffing should a direct report be absent or a direct reporting position be vacant.
• Responds timely and thoughtfully to questions, requests, and work product from departmental staff that has been provided for review and approval.

All other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Bachelor's degree in social work required.
• Current unencumbered license for the state of Ohio to practice as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) required.

Experience

• Five years experience in a health care and/or human services environment required.
• Two years supervisory experience preferred.
• Experience in patient advocacy required.
• Knowledge of community resources required.
• Proficiency with Windows, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and the internet required.

Other Requirements

• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.

For additional information and/or to apply, please click here.