Social Worker Iii - Adult Care Home Specialist

(All responsibilities and duties described below are essential to the effective performance of a Social Worker III in this position.)

As ACHS, primary duties are to monitor compliance with state licensing rules and standards, to recruit, license, re-license, investigate complaints, and investigate unlicensed facilities. The ACHS worker develops a knowledge base of licensing rules and standards and provides prospective administrators with information in the areas of philosophy of Adult Care needs of agency and disabled needs for additional beds, the social and economic factors affecting the needs of the home, the statutory framework in which licensure and supervision is carried out; the Civil Rights Act, local zoning ordinances, Resident' Bill of Rights, and the licensing rules and standards. Adult Care Home Specialist will complete an annual assessment and evaluate all licensure requirements with an administrator or designee that may include licensing procedures, medical for staff, contacting reference, requesting floor plans, fire and sanitation reports, reviewing the facilities' policy and procedures, manuals, making the preliminary assessment of existing building, etc. The Adult Care Home Specialist will summarize and evaluate all new licensure materials and submits recommendations to the Division of Facility Services for licensure. The ACHS completes an annual work plan in order to monitor all areas of compliance for the renewal of annual licenses. ACHS is responsible for monitoring all licensed beds in the county to ensure that each resident receives the services that has been ordered by their doctor. The ACHS must be able to work and make life-threatening decisions regarding the client life-threatening situations independently. The ACHS must be able to assess a situation in a facility and determine its severity, based information collected, if immediate action should be taken in order to ensure safety and well-being of residents in the facility. The ACHS makes unannounced monitoring visits to each licensed facility biweekly and more if necessary. The ACHS completes monitoring and correction action reports on the facilities' compliance with standards and rules and communications with Division of Facility Services regarding recommendations. The ACHS assists the administrator in organizing training for line staff through staff development plans and also assists the administrator in reviewing training needs for management as well as line staff to meet their continuing educations requirements. The ACHS ensure all staff is properly tested and has successfully passed all required tests before performing specified jobs. The ACHS has the responsibility of investigating complaints within five (5) working days and assists management staff in developing plans and setting goals to correct any violations cited. The ACHS must be able to assess the violation to determine if it meets the definition for Adult Protective Services (APS) and refer if necessary. This action has to be taken immediately because of APS time restraints. The ACHS will notify the appropriate person if additional intervention is needed. If not, the ACHS notifies administration and initiates corrective action plan and/or monitors the facility for compliance. The ACHS explores with administrator problem-solving techniques regarding residents that may be experiencing difficulty with placement. The ACHS also must ensure that the residents' Bills of Rights is not violated in this situation.

The ACHS provides consultation and technical assistance to assist administrators in meeting the licensing rules and standards, to assist in keeping administrator current of changes in requirements, reporting forms, and other factors affecting the facility, and may provide basic information and suggestions to applicants and administrators in finding alternative methods to company and state standards. The ACHS maintains a file on each licensed facility with current information and assistance toward upgrading care and services in the home.

These services are provided during the day in a community group setting to support the participants' personal independence and promote social, physical, and emotional well-being. Services include a variety of program activities and referrals to and assistance in using appropriate in using appropriate community resources. Transportation is also included. The worker assesses with client or family the appropriateness of and need for Adult Day or Adult Day Health Services. Determine the need and arrange for services to support the client's decision to attend the Adult Care and adult day health services and counseling to help the client to attain and maintain an adequate adjustment at the center.

This Social Worker has the responsibility of monitoring, licensing, and relicensing these facilities. Some of the basic knowledge areas to monitor are food service, drug management, personnel, building, policies and procedures, housekeeping, and furnishings. The Social Worker has to ensure activities and services provided by the center meets the needs of the majority of participants.

The Social Worker explores with the program administrator problem-solving techniques regarding participants that may be experiencing difficulty with the services. The Social Worker provides consultation and technical assistance to aid program administrator in meeting the licensing rules, assists in keeping program administrator current of changes in requirements, reporting forms, and other items affecting the center and may provide basic information and suggestions to participants and program administrators in finding alternative methods to comply with standards. A file is maintained on each licensed center with current information regarding center.

A. Adult Protective Services (10%)

The Social Worker in this position will work closely with the Adult Protective Service Worker in gathering information to substantiate or unsubstantiated an Adult Protective Service referral. The ACHS may be asked to assist in monitoring the Adult Protective Service Worker Plan since this plan will be incorporated in the ACHS Corrective Action Plan. The Social Worker in this position will also assist with intake responsibilities for receiving APS

reports.

B. Placement Services (3%)

This Social Worker will make referral to placement worker when resident is requesting assistance with placement. The ACHS will explain different levels of care if family members make request.

C. Disaster Duty (2%)

This Social Worker, as all other staff, performs disaster-related duties within and outside the agency. Duties may be within or outside normal business hours.

D. Other

This Social Worker will be required to perform other duties as assigned by the social work supervisor, program manager, deputy director or director.

A. Accuracy in Work

Great precision is required in this work. The worker must correctly interpret rules and standards according to the state. The worker must apply that interpretation when monitoring the facilities to ensure all areas are in compliance, especially areas that could be considered life threatening. Documentation of monitoring reports, corrective action reports, time reports, day sheets, and other state and county forms must be completed accurately and timely.

B. Consequences of Error

If errors are made in interpreting of the Adult Care Homes state rules and standards along with incomplete and inaccurate corrective action reports could result in being costly to the owner of the facility, which may result in the agency a negative sanction.

C. Instruction Provided to Employee

Instructions are provided in written and oral form. Bi-monthly unit meetings and staffing of situations helps the worker to develop and receive instructions on policies and procedures. Worker has scheduled conferences with supervisor. Manuals and administrative letters provide instructions. The worker attends appropriate workshops regarding policy, procedures, and social work trends. Worker receives instruction by attending regional support groups, and quarterly meetings. Division of Facility Services provides semi-annual consultation visits.

D. Guides, Regulations, Policies, and References Used by Employee

? Service Information System Manual

? A Model for Excellence in Adult Services

? A Guide to Recordkeeping for Adult Services Social Worker

? North Carolina Diet Manual

? Physician's Desk Reference

? Model for Prevention and Remediation of Elder Abuse

? Adult Protective Services Basic Ski]] Training

? Social Services and Related Laws of North Carolina

? Adult Foster Care Basic Orientation and Training Workshop Resource

Manual October. 1099

? Rules for the Licensing of Adult Care Facilities

? Adult Care Facilities Procedure Manual, May 1991

? North Carolina Personnel Regulations

? Agency Personnel Handbook

? Instruction from Director, Assistant Director, Program Administrator,

Supervisor and Regional Consultants

? Health Care Personnel Registry and Investigations Information Manual

? Abstracts of Interpretations of Adult. Care Home Rules and Residents'

Bill of Rights

? Adult Day Care/Day Health Manual, Volume V, VI, VII

E. Supervision Received by Employee

This employee receives supervision by scheduled conferences, meetings, informal interactions, reports, and an annual performance appraisal. Review for quality is also received through periodic random case review and reading of monitoring and corrective reports completed on all facilities. Regional Consultant, Medicaid Consultant, and Division of Facility Services Consultant do the random monitoring.

F. Variety and Purpose of Personal Contacts

The employee has contact with unit staff and other staff within the agency. Since the majority of worker time is fieldwork, contacts will be made with staff at the facilities as well as private office of worker. Worker also make contacts with local health care providers, out of county health care providers, mental health, crisis organizations, churches, civic organizations, State Office personnel, law enforcement, doctor, nurses, hospital Social Workers, building inspectors, environmental health personnel, court officials, and the general public. These contacts may be needed when gathering information in order to complete monitoring or corrective action reports or ill the process of licensing, re-licensing, and monitoring Adult Care facilities. Worker will serve as an agency representative on various committees and will act as liaison between the numerous persons and agencies involved in the delivery of services to clients and advocate for client rights. Employee will also handle and resolve complaints from clients, interpret programs, policies, and procedures on an individual basis.

G. Physical Effort

Employee must have the stamina to continue to maximum performance at all times. At times, efforts are needed in assisting clients with mobility. Physical efforts are needed for employees to move within the agency, climb stairs, and use office equipment.

H. Work Environment and Conditions

Work is performed in the field and in a private office in the agency. Employee is placed in unpleasant conditions when investigation complaints are in facilities. Employee is occasionally exposed to infectious diseases such as scabies, flu, AIDS, TB, etc. All staff are aware of precautions to take when such event occurs.

I. Machine, Tools, Instruments, Equipment, and Materials Used

Employee uses laptop computer, copier, calculator, automobile, telephone, water temperature thermometer, tape measure, cellphones, and camera in order to perform duties. County cars are provided; however, employee must have a vehicle available for use at work in the event a county car is not available.

J. Visual Attention, Mental Concentration, and Manipulative Skills

All areas of this job require close visual attention because accuracy is very important. The activities performed in this job requires most intense mental concentration in areas such as engaging client trust, determining the reality of the situation, problem-solving, goal planning, and interpreting legal mandates as it a...