Social Services Designee

NORTHGATE CARE CENTER; Waukon (IA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

NORTHGATE CARE CENTER in Waukon, IA seeks a Social Worker to address the emotional and social needs of Guests, ensuring individualized care within federal, state, and local regulations. You will participate in care conferences, coordinate admissions, and support discharge planning with Guests and families.

The role emphasizes psychosocial assessments, collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, documentation, and community referrals to meet unmet needs and promote patient-centered care.

Responsibilities

• Keeps up‑to‑date evaluation documentation for each Guest in compliance with Federal, State, and Local regulations.

Job description

In keeping with our organization's goal of improving the lives of the Guests we serve, the Social Worker ensures that the medically related emotional and social needs of the Guests are met and maintained on an individual basis and in accordance with current federal, state, and local regulations.

Essential Functions: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 1. Responsible for keeping up-to-date evaluation documentation on each Guest's activities at the facility which complies with Federal, State, and Local regulations.
• 2. Develops a comprehensive social history and psychosocial assessment that includes the Guest's problems and strengths and preferences, including cultural, religious, and ethnic background and implications for the care plan.
• 3. Orients Guests and families to the facility, its services, its service limitations and Guests' rights.
• 4. Attends scheduled care conferences and identifies and interprets psychosocial needs of Guests for inclusion in the care plan, addressing in particular issues of schedule, treatment and environment that express and reinforce individuality and identity.
• 5. Assists with the coordination, intake, admission and Guest transfer within the facility.
• 6. Discusses the facility rules and regulations with Guests' families and responds to questions with regard to these rules.
• 7. Coordinates the inspection of Guest's belongings to ensure they are properly labeled and inventoried.
• 8. Attends Interdisciplinary Team and Unit Care conferences, Assesses Guests for psychosocial groups, and supervises implementation and documentation.
• 9. Completes mandatory documentation within timelines established by applicable regulations.
• 10. Provides consultation to Guests on a regular or as needed basis to discuss problems encountered by Guests and assists with the implementation of solutions.
• 11. Mediates issues that arise among Guests, families and staff. Social Services Designee
• 12. Provides linkage with appropriate community resources by maintaining knowledge of other systems, making referrals and identifying unmet needs (e.g., recreational transportation, adaptive phone equipment, etc.)
• 13. Develops a comprehensive discharge plan in collaboration with Guests, Guests' families, multidisciplinary staff, and referral agencies.
• 14. Provides informal counseling when needed to uncover any problems which might interfere with the Guests' socialization and participation in activities.
• 15. Establishes, develops, maintains and updates filing system for the Social Services Department.
• 16. Reports all hazardous conditions, damaged equipment, accidents/incidents and supply issues to appropriate persons.
• 17. Assure that established infection control and prevention practices and standard precautions are maintained at all times.
• 18. Follows established safety precautions when preforming tasks and using equipment and supplies.
• 19. Maintains the comfort, privacy and dignity of Guests and interacts with them in a manner that displays warmth, respect and promotes a caring environment.
• 20. Communicates and interacts effectively and tactfully with Guests, visitors, families, peers and supervisors.
• 21. Ensure each Guest receives person centered care.
• 22. Answers and respond to call lights promptly and courteously when working in Guest care areas.
• 23. Attend and participate in departmental meetings and in-services as directed.
• 24. Recognize your role as part of the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) efforts of your organization.
• 25. Attend trainings to build understanding and capacity to undertake QAPI work.
• 26. Carry out QAPI roles and responsibilities as assigned.
• 27. Follow established policies and procedures in support of QAPI efforts.
• 28. Any noted opportunities for improvement will be shared with leadership in the organization.
• 29. Communicate to leadership upon witnessing a positive outcome of a QAPI project or detecting barriers preventing project success.
• 30. Support QAPI efforts both verbally and non-verbally (i.e., via actions and attitude), including adjusting performance and practice in accordance with QAPI initiatives and findings.
• 31. Participate in compliance trainings as scheduled and adhere to compliance plan.