Failure to Employ a Qualified Full-Time Social Worker
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to employ a qualified full-time social worker despite being licensed for 132 beds, resulting in a deficiency related to social services staffing. Record review and interview with the administrator and HR Coordinator showed that the previous social worker’s last day was 08/05/25, and from that date the facility did not have a qualified full-time social worker in place. On 09/18/25, the facility hired Social Worker B, who, according to the administrator, did not have a social work license at the time of hire and was only scheduled to take the licensing test at a later date. The job description signed by Social Worker B required at least a bachelor’s degree in social work or secondary education in social services with certification as a social worker designee, along with LTC experience and responsibilities such as developing social histories, social assessments, and care plans addressing residents’ medically related social and emotional problems and needs. The report states that this failure could place residents at risk of not having their psychosocial or discharge planning needs met. The deficiency is based on the facility’s failure, since 08/05/25, to ensure that the social worker position was filled by an individual meeting the stated qualification criteria on a full-time basis, as required for a facility of its size.
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