Social Service Director

The Social Services Director (SSD) answers to the Administrator and his / her responsibility will be to provide for the physical, psychological, and social needs of the residents and all other duties assigned. Additionally, the SSD shares a responsibility toward creating and sustaining an environment that humanizes and individualizes each resident.

Independence is committed to providing care that recognizes each resident’s physical, emotional

and spiritual needs beyond traditional nursing procedures and protocols. The SSD must perform all of the duties and responsibilities outlined below using available resources to effectively assist residents to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental and psychosocial well-being for each resident.

The SSD’s main responsibility will be to motivate all residents to make healthy adjustments to the nursing facility, by their participation in activities and social events. Informal counseling will be a part of the SSD’s job responsibilities, and they will attempt to uncover any problems which might be interfering with the residents’ socialization and participation in home activities. The SSD will be available to help any resident who feels a need to share personal problems. The SSD, when feasible, will have daily contact with all residents, providing residents with opportunities to make vocal their problems and reassurance that staff at the home cares about, and is interested, in their welfare. The SSD will be called upon to find solutions to issues concerning the resident, family and facility. All grievances must be reported to the administrator.

Duties will also include :

Resident Evaluation

The SSD will be responsible for keeping up-to-date evaluation documentation on each resident’s activities at the facility. This documentation must comply with all state and federal requirements and will contain specific resident information relating to :

• Nature of the disability
• Activities and program participation
• Psychological disposition and adjustment
• Family contact
• Special problems
• Prognosis

Social Services

The SSD must be able to assist residents or responsible parties in processing forms or applications in the effort to obtain outside services. This includes but is not limited to Social Security, Medicaid, SSI or any other service to which the resident may be entitled.

Family Contact

Part of the SSD’s job responsibilities will be to :

Counseling

The SSD will serve as an advisor for all residents and their families involved in or residing at individual homes with the following caveats :

additional times of need.

Confidentiality

It is also understood that :

Recreation :

The SSD will create and present programs and activities, which will be structured to provide the residents with opportunities to become active and creative. Programs will be tailored, when feasible, around the residents’ interests and limitations.

Referrals :

Psychological Services .

Other Functions

The SSD will function in the capacity of Admissions when directed. This includes potential resident / family tours, paperwork, and the physical move of new or existing residents.