Failure to Employ Full-Time Qualified Social Services Director
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to employ a full-time, qualified social services worker to meet residents' individual needs. Interviews and document reviews revealed that the facility did not have a full-time social services director on-site. The social services assistant confirmed she did not have the qualifications to serve as the director, and the current social services director was reported to be working remotely, primarily during evenings and weekends, rather than being present in the facility. Further interviews established that the social services director had accepted full-time employment elsewhere and was only working part-time at the facility as needed, focusing on audits and compliance checks rather than providing direct, full-time services. Prior to this change, the director was responsible for trauma screenings, psychosocial assessments, MDS reviews, and direct support to residents and families. The absence of a full-time, qualified social services director resulted in the facility not meeting the requirement to provide adequate social services staffing for its residents.