Overview
Plan, organize and implement social work services for residents and families. Plan for residents' discharge and home care. Maintain contact with referring agencies, personnel and community referral resources. Participate in resident care services as directed by supervisor in accordance with in-service training.
Responsibilities
- Respond to resident call bell and refer resident and family requests to appropriate health care team member
- Interview residents and family members to obtain information for comprehensive psycho/social assessment
- Coordinate and monitor available services for individual residents to assure optimum level of emotional, physical and psychological well-being and independence
- Identify and resolve problems regarding matter of bed retention, room change, transfer, and discharge with appropriate departments and administration
- Facilitate communication with other departments on behalf of the residents, including medical, nursing, dietary, rehabilitation, and psychiatric services
- Meet with residents and families and initiate discharge planning activities
- Participate in Comprehensive Care Plan Meetings and team conferences. Formulates comprehensive care plans
- Completes documentation in accordance with departmental requirements
- Documents referrals received for resident intervention in a timely manner
- Consistently follow nursing home policies in the performance of duties and adhere to department policies
- Provide mental health services to the residents and family population in order to improve social functioning and reduce psychosocial issues of the resident family including group and individual treatment modalities
- Provide assistance and support to residents' and family members
- Participate if requested by residents, in the organization and on-going functioning of the resident and family council
- Provide yearly in-service to residents and staff of resident rights and other required regulations
- Interpret residents' needs and behaviors and extend professional intervention to all levels of staff suggesting positive approached: such as alternatives to the use of restraints and psychotropic drugs
- Initiate and facilitate meetings of the residents, families, and staff, directed at a fuller understanding of the institutionalized resident. Continuously utilizing joint participation in improving residents' emotional and physical well-being
- Coordinate and facilitate the referral of residents for services of outside resources not available to the facility
- Adhere to department policies, procedures objectives, and continuous quality improvement (CQI), safety, infection and environmental control
- Assist in care and maintenance of department equipment and supplies
- Attend meetings as required and participate on committees as directed
- Enhance professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, in-service meetings, workshops, etc.
Qualifications
Bachelors Degree in Social Work or other related health field. Masters Degree in Social Work preferred.