Social Worker

This position is responsible, professional counseling work for the patients of Neighbors of Dunn County.
Work involves providing casework services to residents having problems with social and personal adjustment. The objective is to re-institute the normal elements and basic activities of daily social living and to provide opportunities for functioning that will allow for reversal of regression and maintenance of functioning and the stimulation and re-motivation of residents.The following duties are primarily performed and are essential for this position. Employees are expected to be able to perform each of these job duties satisfactorily and successfully to be qualified for the position. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Provides social casework service to needy residents.
• Assists other members of the staff who share responsibility for resident care to understand significant social and emotional factors related to residents' health problems.
• Contributes to the development of comprehensive integrated treatment plans for each resident.
• Acquaints other members of the team with community resources available to assist residents with personal, social, financial, or environmental problems.
• Participates in the required in-service education programs designed to provide an understanding of psycho-social problems of illness and disability and of services available to residents and their families.
• Participates in discharge planning to provide for continuity of care with other agencies in the community.
• Participates with other professional staff in policy development and program planning.
• Maintains a system of recording of pertinent social data on all residents and submits statistical reports at regular intervals to the Director and/or other responsible departments.
• Helps the resident and his family to understand, accept, and follow the treatment plans and assist them with implementation.
• Assists the resident and his family with personal and environmental difficulties which predispose toward disability or interfere with obtaining maximum benefit from medical and rehabilitative services.
• Assists the resident and his family in utilizing community resources which will help the resident to resume life in the community or to learn to live with his disability.
• Communicates with residents' family or friends, securing clothing or incidentals.
• Prepares a social history immediately upon admission of the resident.
• Enters significant social service summaries and progress notes promptly into the resident's central medical record for the benefit of all staff involved in the care of the resident.
• Assumes responsibility for the following contacts between Dunn County Health Care Center and other social agencies:
  1. Referrals from social agencies.
  2. Contacts with or referrals to social agencies.
  3. Financial arrangements concerning other agencies.
• Attends and contributes to teaming of new residents on a bi-weekly basis.
• Responsible for family contacts following admission.
• Provides condolences to family at demise of a nursing home resident.
• Becomes familiar with forms routinely used in the nursing home. Ex.: pre-admission questionnaire, level of care forms, admission summary forms, release of information forms, financial status forms, etc.
• Becomes familiar with overall and departmental policies and procedures.
• Becomes familiar with financial status of each resident as it pertains to monies he has available for his care, spending, clothing, personal items, etc.
• Notifies families when residents are in need of clothing, spending money, transportation, etc.
• Assists credit department in securing payment of resident bills for needy residents.
• Keeps professional matters confidential.
• Assumes responsibility of the department in the absence of the Director.
• Deals with public under all conditions. Much of the work involves tragic circumstances, poverty, ignorance, lack of education and ambition, etc.
• Makes independent decisions as delegated by the Director.

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in social service.
• Minimum of two (2) years experience in case work and/or working with an elderly population.

• Valid driver's license of the ability to travel between work locations.
• Prior to hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

• Knowledge of gerontology.
• Knowledge of Medicare and Medical Assistance.
• Some knowledge of Federal and State codes and regulations.
• Some knowledge of community services available.
• Some knowledge of legal system regarding guardianship, protective placement, etc.
• Ability to maintain a positive spirit of cooperation and pleasant personality.
• Ability to handle sometimes difficult and sordid conditions.
• Ability to relate appropriately and effectively with residents and their families.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and professional working relationships.
• Ability to follow Dunn County policies and procedures including those pertaining to confidentiality.
• Ability to prioritize and organize job assignments.
• Ability to manage time effectively, manage multiple projects, and complete work within established deadlines.
• Ability to work the allocated hours of the position.

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with other staff members, supervisors, and the general public in written and verbal form.
• English skills (oral, written and comprehension) sufficient to effectively communicate with all internal and external customers.

• Ability to understand and effectively carry out verbal and written instructions.
• Must have ability to work accurately with attention to detail.
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate and concise records and reports.

• Ability to make arithmetic computations using whole numbers, fractions and decimals.
• Ability to compute rates, ratios and percentages.

• Physical effort will typically require infrequent exertion of objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Continuous speaking, hearing and using hands dexterously; work frequently requires sitting; and work occasionally requires standing, walking and reaching with hands and arms.
• Work has standard vision requirements.
• The physical and environmental hazards and risks associated with the job can be characterized as minimal.

• Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, moderate traffic).