Social Worker - RNC - Full Time- Days

Job Summary

Provides comprehensive social work services to RNC residents/clients. This includes, but is not limited to psychosocial evaluation, assessment for admission, patient's rights and advocacy, and social casework, group work and family counseling as appropriate. Serves as a key member of the interdisciplinary care team.  Also screens prospective residents.  Ensures maximum quality of life for assigned residents.

Core Job Responsibilities

• Provides social work interventions designed to improve the social functioning and reduce the psychological stressors of residents and their families.  Assists in the development and maintenance of an environment designed to preserve the dignity and worth of a person.  Ensures that residents and their families have a clear understanding of their rights, as well as the rules and regulations of the facility, and serves as a resident rights advocate in accordance with the Social Work Code of Ethics.  
• Ensures residents are assessed initially and throughout their stay for social, psychological, medical, and financial needs.  Assists residents and their families with accessing, obtaining and negotiating needed resources (i.e. psychological services, one-on-one support).                                            
• Serves as an admissions representative for the facility.  Performs initial screenings, reviews applications and pre-admission demographic collection to evaluate against facility criteria.  Gathers all medical and financial documentation for admission. Assists with move-in process and transition to the facility.  Educates resident or client and family/care giver on advanced directives.
• Develops an individual plan of care for each resident in conjunction with the MDS/PPS and interdisciplinary team.  Initiates modifications to plan of care when indicated.
• Actively participates in the bereavement program.   
• Coordinates and facilitates initial, annual and prn resident and family meetings. Communicates with family members not in attendance.
• Provides effective orientation for new residents/clients and families/care givers. Reviews resident's rights.
• Assesses resident financial situation, referring to financial support resources as necessary, i.e. Medicaid application. Provides financial counseling as required.
• Reviews significant events/occurrences related to family, finances, and psychosocial behavioral changes with interdisciplinary team.
• Actively participates as member of interdisciplinary team, sharing psychosocial information and contributing to development of resident care plan.  Makes suggestions for interventions and recommendations for revised treatment plans to address social work concerns and issues.
• Communicates with other team members to discuss progress and coordinates resident care efforts.
• Assesses the resident and family's adjustment to placement and environment. Provides intervention as required.
• Provides timely social work services following departmental policies, procedures and protocols as well as regulatory guidelines. Complies with third party regulations.  Keeps current in knowledge of changes to regulations and best practices in social work.  
• Maintains accurate, complete and timely Social Work documentation and care plans. Maintains current family contact information, updating annually and prn.
• Counsels and instruct paraprofessional staff in psychosocial and communications issues and assists with difficult family/care-giver conflicts.
• Educates other team members regarding community resources, Medicaid and other social programs and psychosocial issues related to client care.
• Maintains current knowledge of community resources and new applicable regulations.
• Actively participates in Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) initiatives.  
• Performs related duties as assigned.    
   

Education/Experience Requirements

REQUIRED:    

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, Sociology, Special Education, Rehabilitation Counseling or Psychology.
• Minimum of one year of experience with geriatric care, long-term health care, or community services to the aging, in a direct service capacity.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with residents, and families from diverse backgrounds who may have physical, sensory and mental impairments.  

PREFERRED:

• Knowledge of regulatory requirements of DOH and all pertinent agencies.
• Proven assessment skills.
   

Licensure/Certification Requirements

Disclaimer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their age, race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, et al), se