Director of Social Services

About this role

• **Director of Social Services** **Location:** Guardian Angels Care Center - Elk River, MN **Salary Range:** $68,000 $90,000 (Based on Experience) **Posting ID:** 3357 **Proudly recognized as a 2026 Star Tribune Top Workplace**, Guardian Angels is committed to creating an exceptional environment for both our employees and the seniors and families we serve.
• **Position Summary:** The Director of Social Services provides leadership and oversight of social services for residents and patients in the Long-Term Care (LTC) and Transitional Care Unit (TCU).
• This position supports residents, patients, and families throughout the continuum of care, with particular emphasis on psychosocial well-being, discharge planning, adjustment to changes in health and independence, and coordination of services.
• The Director works closely with nursing, therapy, rehabilitation, medical providers, residents, families, and community resources to promote quality outcomes and successful transitions of care.
• **Schedule:** * Full Time **Responsibilities:** **Summary of Essential Job Functions:** * Direct and oversee the Social Services Department in accordance with facility policies, regulatory requirements, and professional standards.
• * Provide psychosocial assessment, intervention, support, and advocacy for residents and TCU patients.
• * Complete and maintain required social-services documentation, assessments, progress notes, care plans, and other records in accordance with applicable regulations and facility requirements.
• * Participate in the development, implementation, and ongoing review of individualized care plans.
• * Facilitate and/or participate in interdisciplinary care conferences and collaborate with nursing, therapy, dietary, activities, medical providers, and other members of the care team.
• * Serve as a key liaison between residents/patients, families, facility staff, providers, and community agencies.
• * Provide counseling, emotional support, crisis intervention, and adjustment assistance related to illness, hospitalization, disability, changes in functional status, loss, grief, and transition to long-term care.
• * Assist residents and families with adjustment to admission, changes in level of care, changes in condition, and end-of-life needs.
• * Coordinate and facilitate discharge planning for TCU patients, beginning at admission and continuing throughout the rehabilitation stay.
• * Collaborate with the in-house therapy program to support rehabilitation goals, discharge readiness, caregiver education, equipment needs, transportation, home services, and community resources.
• * Maintain regular communication with therapy staff regarding patient progress, barriers to discharge, anticipated discharge dates, and psychosocial factors affecting rehabilitation outcomes.
• * Assist patients and families in understanding therapy recommendations, discharge requirements, available resources, and post-discharge services.
• * Coordinate referrals to home health, hospice, home care, medical equipment providers, transportation services, behavioral health services, senior services, and other community resources as appropriate.
• * Participate in discussions regarding discharge disposition, including return home, assisted living, long-term care, higher levels of care, or other appropriate placements.
• * Identify psychosocial, financial, environmental, and family-related barriers that may affect successful discharge or rehabilitation outcomes and assist in developing solutions.
• * Conduct or assist with family meetings and care conferences to promote communication, education, and collaborative decision-making.
• * Respond to resident and family concerns, grievances, and requests and facilitate appropriate resolution in collaboration with facility leadership.
• * Promote resident rights, dignity, choice, privacy, independence, and self-determination.
• * Assist residents and families with advance directives, healthcare decision-making, guardianship/conservatorship concerns, and other psychosocial or legal-resource needs within the scope of the position.
• * Provide information and referrals regarding financial assistance, insurance resources, Medicaid/Medicare-related resources, benefits, and community support programs as appropriate.
• * Monitor psychosocial needs of residents and patients and make appropriate referrals to behavioral health, counseling, psychiatric, spiritual care, or other supportive services.
• * Assist with identifying and addressing signs of depression, anxiety, isolation, grief, adjustment difficulties, or other psychosocial concerns and communicate concerns to appropriate clinical professionals.
• * Support transitions between hospital, TCU, LTC, home, assisted living, and other care settings to promote continuity of care.
• * Develop and maintain positive relationships with hospitals, clinics, home health agencies, hospice providers, senior service organizations, county agencies, and other community partners.
• * Assist with admissions and provide psychosocial orientation and support to new residents/patients and their families.
• * Participate in quality assurance and performance improvement activities related to social services, discharge planning, resident satisfaction, readmissions, and transitions of care.
• * Maintain knowledge of applicable federal and state regulations, professional standards, resident rights, and facility policies affecting social services and discharge planning.
• * Monitor department compliance with documentation, care-planning, discharge-planning, and regulatory requirements.
• * Supervise, train, mentor, and evaluate social-services staff as applicable.
• * Participate in staff education and interdisciplinary education related to psychosocial care, communication, dementia care, resident rights, discharge planning, and family support.
• * Assist with survey preparation and respond to social-services-related regulatory requests.
• * Promote effective communication and teamwork among Social Services, Nursing, Therapy, and other departments.
• **Therapy Program Collaboration:** The Director of Social Services serves as an integral member of the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team and works closely with the in-house therapy program to: * Coordinate psychosocial services with physical, occupational, and speech therapy goals.
• * Identify social, emotional, cognitive, financial, environmental, or family barriers that may interfere with rehabilitation.
• * Support patient and family understanding of therapy goals and expected outcomes.
• * Coordinate family participation in therapy-related education and discharge planning.
• * Assist in arranging transportation, durable medical equipment, home modifications, home services, and community resources necessary for a safe discharge.
• * Communicate changes in patient circumstances that may affect participation in therapy or discharge planning.
• * Participate in interdisciplinary discussions regarding functional progress and discharge readiness.
• * Help establish realistic discharge plans based on the patient's clinical, functional, psychosocial, and environmental needs.
• * Follow up after discharge as appropriate to help promote continuity of services and reduce avoidable barriers to successful transition.
• **Leadership Expectations:** * Demonstrate strong communication, organization, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills.
• * Promote a resident-centered and patient-centered approach to care.
• * Foster collaboration between Social Services, Therapy, Nursing, and other departments.
• * Maintain professional relationships with residents, families, staff, providers, and community partners.
• * Demonstrate sound judgment when addressing complex psychosocial, family, and discharge-planning situations.
• * Maintain professionalism, confidentiality, and ethical standards at all times.
• * Stays up to date on Social Services trends and best practices, continuously seeking ways to improve processes and outcomes.
• * Supervises social workers and household coordinators.
• * Responsible for interviewing, hiring, mentoring, coaching, and supporting staff development.
• * Promotes a culture of appreciation, communicates, and celebrates team members' achievements.
• * Provides guidance and corrective feedback as needed.
• * Participates in Manager on Duty (MOD) rotation.
• * Assist in providing a dignified, respectful, resident-centered environment for residents.
• * Follow universal precautions, facility infection control guidelines, sanitation and safety standards of practice in all work and activities.
• * All duties are performed in accordance with current standards, guidelines, state and federal regulations.
• * Maintain appropriate confidentiality and safeguard protected health information (HIPAA) in accordance with applicable privacy requirements.
• * Uphold the mission, vision, and values of the Guardian Angels.
• * Performs other duties as assigned.
• **Qualifications:** * Licensed Social Worker in the State of Minnesota and hold a current social worker license required.
• * Five years' prior experience as a social worker in a healthcare setting or related experience required.
• * Three plus years prior supervisor experience required.
• * Ability to collaborate with other health care professionals, institutions, and agencies.
• * Strong computer skills required.
• Experience with PCC a plus.
• * Demonstrated integrity, discretion, and professionalism in handling confidential information.
• * Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
• * Excellent verbal and written (read, write) communication skills.
• * Self-motivated, ability to prioritize.
• Self-starter and quick learner.
• * Maintains good attendance and punctuality.
• **Benefits Include:** Competitive wages with credit for experience.
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account (HSA) - 3:1 Employer Match, 403(b) Retirement Plan with Employer Match, Employer Paid Life Insurance, Pet Insurance, Paid Time Off/ESST, 11 Holidays, Referral Bonus, Employee Support Program (EMPOWER), and Free Gym Membership - Club GA & Gym 365 Locations.
• All benefits are subject to the eligibility requirements of each benefit plan.
• **Mission:** Guardian Angels provides exceptional health care, housing and supportive services to seniors and their families in the spirit of Christ's love **About Guardian Angels:** Guardian Angels Senior Services is a trusted provider committed to the well-being of seniors through a range of specialized offerings.
• With a focus on personalized care, our dedicated team ensures that individual needs and preferences are met with compassion and expertise.
• We serve more than 3,000 individuals and their families each year in the communities of Albertville, Becker, Elk River, Otsego and Zimmerman.
• We are blessed with a dedicated, compassionate staff of approximately 500, as well as hundreds of volunteers, members of the Friends of GA and loyal donors.

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