Failure to Maintain Required Full-Time Social Worker Coverage
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to employ a qualified full-time social worker despite having a licensed capacity of 130 beds, exceeding the 120-bed threshold that requires a full-time social worker. Review of the SSA Facility Summary Report showed the facility’s licensed capacity and license expiration date, and review of the staff roster provided on 3/17/2026 revealed no staff member with the position title of social worker. Human Resources reported that the last full-time social worker resigned in mid-December 2025 and that there was no social worker on a full- or part-time basis from that time until 3/16/2026. During this period without a social worker, RN A, who had been acting as interim ADON, stated she attended care plan meetings but that no one had been assigned to perform the social worker duties in those meetings. A licensed social worker interviewed on 3/18/2026 reported he began working part-time on 3/16/2026 and confirmed that prior to that date no one was maintaining the social worker’s responsibilities, and he was then working on uncompleted reports and residents’ discharge needs. He stated that not having a social worker could result in residents’ discharge needs not being met or unidentified admission, discharge, or social barriers affecting their care. The interim Administrator confirmed he had just started on 3/16/2026 and that the facility only had a part-time social worker at that time.
