Social Services Assistant

Establishes course of action by exploring options; setting goals with resident and their families. Assist residents in achieving the highest practicable level of self care, independence and well being. Provide medically related social services so that the highest practicable physical, mental and psychosocial wellbeing of each resident is attained or maintained. Evaluate social and family information, psychological and emotional needs to assist in assessing social services needs as well as develop care plans for social services issues. Provide emotional support and address emotional problems including assisting residents and family with difficulties in coping with physical disabilities, fears related to health conditions as well as grief related to loss of ability and/or death. Assist residents with health care decisions. Assist with personal shopping. Assist in inventory and tracking patient belongings. Coordinate response to reports of missing, lost or stolen belongings. Assist in obtaining resources from community and social services agencies as well as health and welfare agencies to meet the needs of the resident. Assist in securing appropriate prosthetics and assistive devices. Develop and maintain a strong working relationship with other departments in the facility, and outside community agencies, so that social services can be provided to meet the needs of the residents. Document regarding resident social service status. Assist in making outpatient appointments as ordered and schedule on site ancillary patient services to include optometry, podiatry, dentistry and psychiatric services. Assist in discharge planning with appropriate agencies, entities or individuals to include agency services, equipment and agency referrals. Coordinates with interdisciplinary team. Provide in service training to the staff as requested. Counselling residents and family members. Supervisory Requirements This job has no supervisory responsibilities. Qualification Education and/or Experience Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or in Human Services and 2 years of supervised social work experience in a health care setting working directly with individuals. MSW preferred Language Skills Ability to read technical procedures. Ability to read and comprehend policy and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers and employees. Mathematical Skills Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations. Reasoning Ability Ability to solve practical problems. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Certificates, Licenses, Registrations Knowledge and experience with PCC preferred. Physical Demands The essential functions of this position require the following physical abilities: Standing and /or walking very frequently. Sitting occasionally. Reaching with hands and arms frequently, pushing/pulling very frequently. Talking and /or hearing very frequently. Tasting and /or smelling very frequently. Lifting up to 25 pounds frequently. Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, or crouching occasionally. Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate. Additional Information Note: Nothing in this job specification restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Critical features of this job are described under various headings above. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons. The above statements are strictly intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this position.