Nursing Home Social Services Reference/Career Paths/Corporate Social Services

Corporate Social Services focuses more on administration, systems management, leadership, policy development, training, compliance compared to completing only resident care. Positions in this area are usually titles like Regional Social Services Consultant, Clinical Operations Director for Social Services, VP of Social Services, Corporate Director, ect. They usually represent the company and oversee a number of nursing homes. This position is necessary due to the design of social services departments within the NH. Typically, even the Social Services director is focused on only their own department and also has a lot of resident focused duties. The Corporate Social Services position sees the bigger picture and is able to try to bring some cohesiveness to all the departments in the different nursing homes. They serve as a mentor to social service department employees. Day to Day The Bad A Corporate Social Services position likely requires travel among different NH's which would include working with many different teams and other departments. This position also holds a lot of responsibility in ensuring NH's they oversee are in compliance with state regulations and are implementing what they teach. At times, they must respond to and handle emergencies which can distract from the day-to-day tasks they need to accomplish. Flexibility and ability to pivot on a whim is required. The Good A Corporate Social Services position is able to dictate their own schedule aside from during emergency situations. They are autonomous in how they work and how they teach while traveling to different NHs. They don't often have direct reports rather they work as a consultant to all social services departments. They are also a valuable asset to administrators/directors when looking for advise on certain situations. This is a highly respectable role that comes with its challenges but is rewarding work. When NHs social services departments are operating efficiently, this trickles down and improves the quality of care for the residents. Skills Needed More often than not, a License in Social Work is necessary. A licensed social worker is able to provide supervision to social workers working in a nursing home if they are hoping to get their license also. Otherwise, an advanced degree like Masters in Public Policy, Masters in Business, ect., is beneficial. Transitioning to corporate roles requires additional skills including; Leadership and supervision capabilities and experience Public speaking and training ability Specialized knowledge of NH rules and regulations Organizational and operational skills Survey preparation expertise Quality improvement Conflict management Strong communication skills are one of the most sought-after skills to develop if this is the career path you choose. In fact, communication skills is translatable to most positions available beyond that of a NH social services employee.