About Job

The Social Worker – Independent Living, is responsible for promoting the overall well-being of Independent Living residents through providing assessment services with an attention to individual needs, interests and lifestyles, as well as supplying appropriate resources to residents, family members, etc. and arranging respective health care services for Independent Living residents. Also serves as a critical role in establishing and maintaining a person-centered, elder-directed culture.

Essential Functions

Ø Coordinates admission process for IL residents in conjunction with other appropriate departments

o Conducts assessments in conjunction with the Wellness Coordinator and understands the health and wellbeing needs of new residents in order to determine level of care needs during preadmission

o Orients new residents to available in house and community resources

Ø Assesses mental, cognitive and psychosocial needs of residents

o Identifies services and approaches to ensure residents can achieve the highest practical state of wellbeing

o Develops and maintains good rapport with all outside providers of health and wellbeing services

o Assists residents and families in location and using financial, legal, mental health and other community resources

o Assists residents in maintaining familial and community (internal/external) ties

o Aids residents and loved ones in coping with illness, disability, depression, loneliness, dying, and death through individual or group support

o Acts as primary liaison with a psychiatrist, psychologist and other mental health providers when necessary

o Provides consultation or backup for Assisted Living and Skilled Living residents as needed

o Encourages and helps residents maintain current medical information (i.e. blue baggie program)

Ø Participates in resident discharge procedures from skilled or hospital care

o Communicates with residents/families regarding discharge goals

o Conducts follow up and records progress of discharges with care team; arranges for home care and/or other community-based services to continue with resident after discharge as needed

Ø Serves as liaison with providers for on-site services for Independent Living residents

o Assists in identifying opportunities for potential service relationships

o Provides orientation and general information regarding the campus to providers as needed

o Communicates with outside service providers, as needed, for residents needing additional services

Ø Coordinates processes for supporting at-risk residents

o Facilitates campus wellness meetings held on a regular basis to discuss at-risk residents

o Monitors wellbeing of residents identified as at-risk and reports charges to appropriate members of wellness team

o Facilitates transfer of residents to health care areas of campus based upon changing health needs

o Maintains effective interdepartmental communication to achieve consensus in decision-making

o Follows progress of residents in health care for short-term stays

o Meets with residents and loved ones to discuss level of needs and develops a plan

Ø Ensures clinical and professional standards are maintained through developing and consistently following documentation standards utilizing the Electronic Medical Records (EMR)

o Serves as liaison with professionals that provide services to Independent Living residents

Ø Facilitates or arranges for family support/discussion groups

o Serves as a resource regarding advanced directives, guardianship and surrogate decision making

o Maintains a reference library of resource and educational materials for use by residents, families, loved ones, staff, etc.

Ø Contributes to The Admiral’s vision and field of practice

o Participates in planning and policy development as needed

o Supervises fieldwork of social work students, as well as students in other health care professions

o Participates in appropriate and approved research, which may benefit the field

o Contributes to the development of community resources by participating in community groups to initiate, plan, and carry out programs concerned with the physical health, mental health and other welfare needs of elders

Ø Performs other duties or assignments as assigned

Competencies

o Ability to listen and communicate with residents, their loved ones, staff, vendors/providers, etc.

o Thoughtful and proactive self-starter

o Organized and detail oriented, with capability to prioritize tasks

o Leadership skills and comfortability with speaking one on one, small group and publicly/large settings

Education and Experience

o Possess Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, required

o Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), preferred

o Previous experience in a heath care facility

o Minimum two years of experience in field of aging

o Experience working with individuals with dementia