Social Services Assistant Full-Time

About the role

Oakwood Gardens Care Center

Pay Range

$19.00-$21.00 per hour, based on experience

Support Residents and Families Through Every Stage of Care

Oakwood Gardens Care Center is seeking a compassionate, organized, and resident-focused Full-Time Social Services Assistant to join our interdisciplinary team.

Under the direction of the Social Services Director, this position helps address residents' medically related emotional, social, and psychosocial needs. The Social Services Assistant also supports care planning, discharge coordination, resident advocacy, community referrals, and communication with families.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist the Social Services Director with planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating the facility's social services programs.
• Help identify and address residents' medically related social, emotional, and psychosocial needs.
• Support residents in achieving their highest practicable level of independence, self-care, and well-being.
• Assist residents and families with concerns related to illness, admission, disability, loss, anxiety, stress, and adjustment to facility life.
• Gather social and family information and assist with developing individualized social services plans.
• Complete required forms, reports, assessments, progress notes, and other documentation.
• Maintain regular social services progress notes that describe residents' adjustment and response to care plans.
• Participate in care conferences, interdisciplinary meetings, and discharge-planning discussions.
• Assist with discharge planning, including community services, medical equipment, transportation, placement, and agency referrals.
• Connect residents and families with appropriate community, health, welfare, and social services resources.
• Provide general information regarding Medicare, Medi-Cal, and other assistance programs.
• Schedule outpatient appointments and coordinate on-site ancillary services, including optometry, podiatry, dentistry, and psychiatric services.
• Coordinate social services activities with Nursing, Rehabilitation, Activities, Dietary, Business Office, and other departments.
• Communicate professionally with residents, families, physicians, employees, community agencies, and outside providers.
• Participate in community planning related to residents' and families' needs.
• Assist with developing and updating department policies and procedures.
• Support departmental orientation and in-service education related to residents' emotional, medical, and social needs.
• Assist with identifying service concerns and recommending improvements.
• Participate in facility surveys and provide requested documentation as directed.
• Assist with departmental budgeting and resource planning.
• Advocate for residents' rights, dignity, preferences, and quality of life.
• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident information, including protected health information.
• Promptly report suspected abuse, neglect, fraud, grievances, or unauthorized disclosure of information.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Social Services Director or facility leadership.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Associate or bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field preferred but not required.
• Previous healthcare, skilled nursing, long-term care, social services, or customer-service experience preferred.
• Compassionate and respectful approach to working with residents and families.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organization, documentation, and time-management abilities.
• Ability to handle sensitive situations with professionalism, patience, and discretion.
• Ability to understand policies, procedures, regulations, and written instructions.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Basic computer skills and proficiency with standard office equipment.
• Experience with PointClickCare or another electronic health-record system preferred.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Dependable attendance and a collaborative, team-oriented attitude.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Physical Requirements

This position requires regular sitting, standing, walking, speaking, hearing, reading, and prolonged computer use. Frequent use of telephones, copiers, scanners, fax machines, calculators, and other office equipment is required.