Social Services Aide/Designee
Company: Alden Des Plaines Rehabilitation and Health Care C
Location: Des Plaines
Posted on: May 28, 2023
Job Description:
Alden Des Plaines Rehabilitation and Health Care Center - JOB
SUMMARY
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- The Social Service Aide/Designee (SSA-D) is responsible for
performing assigned social work duties and responsibilities within
the facility. The SSA-D is responsible to assist the Social Service
Director (SSD) to plan, develop, and organize the Social Service
Department in accordance with current Alden policies and
procedures, Federal, State, and local standards, guidelines, and
regulations, and as may be directed by the Administrator, to meet
individual resident needs in coordination and conjunction with
overall facility goals. The SSA-D reports to the SSD and the
Administrator and accepts consultation/supervision from the
Corporate Coordinator of the Social Services Program and the
Director of Operations of Clinical Programs.
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QUALIFICATIONS
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- Preferred Bachelor's Degree in the Human Services field (e.g.,
Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Sociology, or related field);
High School Diploma required.
- Have two years of experience in working in the social
service/case management realm of the healthcare field.
- Current knowledge of Federal and State Long-Term Care (LTC)
Social Service regulations and/or ability to understand and
interpret.
- Demonstrate skills and ability in working with and
understanding the needs of the residents, families, other staff
members and personnel from community agencies.
- Must be able to read, write, and speak the English language in
an understandable manner. The ability to produce concise,
meaningful, clinical written reports, assessments, documentation,
and care planning initiatives and articulate the
social/psychological needs of the residents.
- Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when
circumstances warrant such action that are in the best interest of
the residents, staff, and families. Must possess the ability to
deal tactfully with residents, family members, visitors, personnel,
government agencies/personnel and the general public in a
professional manor.
- Must possess leadership ability, under the direction of the
SSD, and a willingness to work harmoniously with other
personnel.
- The ability to accept and utilize professional supervision,
consultation, and in-service training/educational
opportunities.
- Must demonstrate the ability to handle confidential data with
professional discretion.
- Have experience and qualified marketing skills to effectively
express the Alden's Social Services Program to the community, other
health professionals, outside professional organizations, senior
services, government agencies, and any other provider or
professional in the community.
- Must have the sincere desire to work with a variety of
populations that require long-term or short-term care.
- Possess a knowledge and ability to apply that knowledge to deal
effectively with this population.
- Possess the ability to guide and direct staff in therapeutic
approaches effective with the dementia and behavioral population,
as well as residents with mental health issues, on an-ongoing
basis, if applicable.
- Possess the qualities of empathy, compassion, understanding,
enthusiasm, and humor in order to effectively interact with
residents, families, and staff.
- Willingness to be flexible regarding working hours in order to
ensure quality of care.
- Understand and be able to manage emotional needs of yourself
and the staff.
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PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
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- Must be able to move intermittently throughout the
workday.
- Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will
enable these senses to function adequately so that the requirements
of the position can be fully met.
- Must function independently, have flexibility, personal
integrity, and the ability to work effectively with the residents,
family members, personnel, and support agencies.
- Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional
stability.
- Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of
the position.
- Must be able to relate to and work with (physically/mentally)
ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset and at times hostile
people.
- Must be free of physical limitation so as to be able to
participate in the physical crisis prevention (CPI) techniques as
trained by a certified trainer.
- May be required to lift equipment, supplies, and occasionally
move furniture.
- Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases,
conditions, etc., including exposure to HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis B
virus.
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Job Duties and Responsibilities
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- Be available to welcome new admission residents, provide
support and initiate a trusting/therapeutic relationship.
- Must be able to clearly assess and document residents'
identified feelings about LTC placement (short/long-term),
emotional, mental, environmental changes or physical limitations
verbalized by resident (or family), which includes any observed
non-verbal communications.
- Become knowledgeable of each individual resident's background,
cultural, life history, disease, and medical care needs in detail
to ensure an appropriate person-centered social service
plan.
- Document interaction with and in-between resident and/or family
in the assessment, care plan and/or social services notes in
support of resident advocacy as required by the State standards of
practice. It may be necessary to interview family, friends,
community agency representatives and utilize clinical records in
order to complete thorough documentation.
- Prepare a plan of care for treatment (i.e., "Care Plan") with
the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) based on the Comprehensive
Assessment for each resident. Contribute as an integral member of
the IDT on a continual basis and at the Resident Care Plan
Conferences. This also involves documenting the
social/emotional/mental needs related to the resident's
illness/disability, adjustment to placement, cognitive,
emotional/mental (mood), psychosocial functioning and the
absence/presence of any behaviors (verbal/nonverbal) within the
supportive network, and his/her response to the
treatment/rehabilitation/need for placement according to each
individual residents' case. Based upon these, the SSA-D, under the
direction of the SSD, will make specific recommendations to assist
in the resident's overall care and genuine well-being within the
care plan for the best IDT approach.
- Imitate, facilitate, and/or participate in the written
discharge plan which states the resident's specific need to be in
the facility or if the resident is expected to be able to function
in a more independent setting. The discharge plan should include
consultation with other disciplines, the family and of course the
resident. The plan of care will involve working with physician,
OT/PT/ST, family, and resident to refer as needed to social, health
and community agencies for the purpose of referral. These agencies
include, but are not limited to: Home Health Agencies, Hospice, The
Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities,
Department of Public Aid, Department of Rehabilitation Services,
Veteran's Administration, community mental health centers,
sheltered workshops, hospital programs, shelters, social clubs,
weekly hotels, etc. Document as required by policy; State
regulations expect referral collaboration within 10 days of the
date when resident expressed the desire to be feasibly
discharged.
- Make supportive visits to residents, writing progress notes at
least quarterly, earlier when there is a notable change in
condition. Each note should document progress made towards social
service-oriented goals, provide significant information about the
individual and serve to communicate with the IDT involved in the
resident's treatment.
- Provide good rapport through active listening with residents
who express the need to talk and must be available to provide
supportive counseling and behavioral intervention/programming as
identified through oneself and/or community programming. Must
assist the resident to participate in individual and/or group
programs and to utilize these programs to full advantage when
offered in order to empower residents for a better quality of life.
Documentation and care planning will be completed.
- SSA-D must act as resident advocate, as well as a liaison
between the resident and his/her family, the facility and community
agencies.
- Maintain adequate record system for obtaining, recording, and
filing of social service information. Participate in the
development, maintenance, and implementation of the facility's
Quality Improvement Programs.
- Participate in the facility safety committee, as
assigned.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
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Social Service Goals
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- Establish and monitor achievement of facility and program goals
through a team approach.
- Develop and maintain a therapeutic person-centered social
service program which constantly strives to enhance the quality of
life and meets the needs of each resident.
- Maintain all Social Services Policies and Procedures and State
and Federal regulations.
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Assessments/Documentation
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- Conduct, oversee, and complete initial and all on-going
assessments and MDS, CAAs and care planning initiatives, including
but not limited to social, medical, cognitive, physical,
neuro-psychological, behavioral, communication abilities and
spiritual needs (in conjunction with/at the lead of the Activity
Department), amongst others as it relates to individual social
service needs, and as assigned by the SSD.
- Entering an initial assessment note in the social service
section of the chart within 48 - 72 hours of admission, completing
assigned sections of the MDS and CAAs, and completing the
comprehensive set of social service assessments to be completed
within 14 days of admission, re-evaluation of the resident on a
quarterly basis (sooner when a significant change/behavioral
incident occurs) with documentation, and a comprehensive
re-evaluation annually with documentation.
- Assessment, intervene, document and follow-up with all
behavioral incidents, as necessary.
- Complete all required documentation.
-
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Social Service Education
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- SSA-D must receive continual education per year to maintain
licensure and/or to continually be involved with educational
opportunities.
- Conduct all-staff trainings (required at least 1x/monthly), at
the discretion of the SSD.
- Provide scheduled and/or spontaneous education for families,
residents, and staff.
- Educate by modeling appropriate interactions and
approaches.
- Model and teach by being a presence on the floors.
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Daily Life of Social Service Program
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- Provide clean, safe, non-hazardous units for the residents and
staff.
- Facilitate family and community involvement, such as inviting
the families and community into the facility to assist in enriching
the residents' lives.
- Directly supervise all assigned staff to ensure continuity of
care within the IDT, at the discretion of the SSD, the Director of
Nursing, and the Administrator.
- Marketing the Social Service Program
- Develop and maintain relationships with all area's senior
services, organizations, health care services, and community
services.
- Develop and maintain a marketing collateral and communication
with all appropriate area organizations, healthcare services, and
other professionals.
- Become a knowledgeable and experienced leader in the area in
regards to the social service field and the program.
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Other
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- Perform any other related or necessary duties that would
promote or execute the needs of the Social Service Program, the
facility, the Administrator, DON, Corporate Coordinator of the
Social Services Program, Director of Operations of Clinical
Programs, corporate, and/or the residents or their responsible
parties.
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Keywords: Alden Des Plaines Rehabilitation and Health Care C, Des Plaines , Social Services Aide/Designee, Other , Des Plaines, Illinois
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