Description

Oakwood Gardens Care Center - Fresno, CA
Starting Pay: $19/hr

Oakwood Gardens Care Center is seeking a compassionate and organized Social Services Assistant to support our residents and Social Services Department. This role helps ensure that the emotional, social, and medically related needs of each resident are met through high-quality, person-centered services.
General Purpose

The Social Services Assistant helps plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the facility's social services programs in accordance with federal, state, and local standards, as well as facility policies. This position ensures residents' medically related emotional and social needs are supported and maintained on an individual basis.
Essential Duties

• Assist the Social Services Director/Consultant in planning, developing, and implementing social services programs.
• Participate in meetings with administration, nursing, and other departments related to social services planning.
• Assist in the development and coordination of department policies and procedures.
• Review policies at least annually and recommend updates.
• Assist in identifying and addressing residents' social and emotional needs.
• Participate in community planning related to resident needs and facility services.
• Support residents in achieving the highest practicable level of independence, well-being, and self-care.
• Provide medically related social services to support physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being.
• Complete required forms, reports, and documentation as directed.
• Provide residents and families with information regarding Medicare/Medicaid and available financial assistance programs.
• Offer consultation to staff and community agencies to assist with resident needs.
• Record and maintain accurate Social Services progress notes.
• Coordinate social service activities with other departments.
• Assist residents and families in coping with emotional stress, anxiety, disability, illness, and transition to long-term care.
• Evaluate social and family information to assist in developing treatment plans.
• Meet regularly with department personnel to identify and correct issues and improve services.
• Assist in obtaining resources from community health, welfare, and social agencies.
• Assist with scheduling outpatient appointments and on-site ancillary services such as optometry, podiatry, dentistry, and psychiatry.
• Support discharge planning, including arranging services, equipment, and referrals.
• Develop and maintain rapport with facility departments and external agencies to ensure effective resident care.
• Participate in orientation and in-service training programs focused on residents' social, emotional, and medical needs.
• Assist in developing the department budget.
• Report suspected or known fraud related to billing, cost reports, or kickbacks.
• Maintain confidentiality of all resident information, including protected health information, and report unauthorized disclosures.

• This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate or Bachelor's degree preferred but not required.
• Prior healthcare or long-term care experience preferred.

• Ability to read and interpret regulations, technical documents, and professional materials.
• Strong written communication skills for reports and correspondence.
• Ability to present information effectively to staff and management.
• Ability to apply basic math concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to handle situations where limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Long periods of sitting, standing, walking, reading, talking, or hearing.
• Frequent use of office equipment such as copier, scanner, fax, telephone, and calculator.
• May assist in evacuating residents during emergencies.
• Prolonged use of computer systems (desktop or laptop).

• Typically a low to moderate noise level.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Oakwood Gardens Care Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and supportive workplace.