Director of Social Work

Director of Social Services

ARK Healthcare and Rehabilitation at Branford Hills

Position Summary

The Director of Social Services is responsible for overseeing the social services department and providing comprehensive psychosocial support to residents and their families in a skilled nursing and rehabilitation setting. This position advocates for residents’ rights, coordinates services, assists with discharge planning, and works collaboratively with residents, families, nursing staff, physicians, and interdisciplinary team members to promote each resident’s emotional, social, and overall well-being.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct psychosocial assessments and identify residents’ social, emotional, and adjustment needs.
• Provide individual support, counseling, crisis intervention, and ongoing psychosocial services to residents and families.
• Advocate for residents’ rights, preferences, dignity, privacy, and quality of life.
• Coordinate admissions, transfers, and discharge planning in collaboration with residents, families, caregivers, and the interdisciplinary team.
• Assist residents and families with adjustment to the skilled nursing environment, changes in health status, and transitions in care.
• Participate in care plan meetings and interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Maintain accurate and timely social services documentation in accordance with facility policies and regulatory requirements.
• Communicate with families, healthcare providers, community agencies, hospitals, and other outside resources as needed.
• Assist residents and families with accessing community resources, benefits, insurance information, transportation, housing, and other supportive services.
• Address resident and family concerns, complaints, and grievances and assist in resolving issues appropriately.
• Assist with advance directives, healthcare decision-making, guardianship, and other psychosocial matters within the scope of the position.
• Monitor residents’ psychosocial adjustment and identify changes that may require additional intervention or referral.
• Support residents during end-of-life situations and provide appropriate emotional support to residents and families.
• Develop and maintain relationships with community agencies and referral sources.
• Provide education and support to staff regarding residents’ psychosocial needs and rights.
• Ensure social services practices comply with applicable federal and state regulations and skilled nursing facility standards.
• Maintain confidentiality and protect sensitive resident and family information.
• Perform other duties as assigned by facility administration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work; Master’s degree preferred.
• Previous experience working with older adults, individuals with disabilities, or residents in a skilled nursing/rehabilitation setting preferred.
• Knowledge of psychosocial assessment, discharge planning, care planning, resident rights, and community resources.
• Strong communication, organization, advocacy, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team.
• Ability to handle sensitive situations with professionalism, empathy, and discretion.
• Knowledge of applicable skilled nursing facility regulations and documentation requirements.
• Social work licensure/certification as required by state and facility requirements.

Key Competencies

• Resident advocacy
• Compassion and empathy
• Care coordination
• Discharge planning
• Family communication
• Conflict resolution
• Interdisciplinary collaboration
• Documentation and organization
• Knowledge of long-term care regulations
• Professional ethics and confidentiality