Code of Maine Rules › 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › 144 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - GENERAL › Chapter 110 - REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE LICENSING AND FUNCTIONING OF SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES AND NURSING FACILITIES › Section 144-110-14 - Social Services

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
14.A.
Social
				Services
The facility must provide social services to attain or
				  maintain the highest practicable physical, mental or psychosocial well-being of
				  each resident and address associated family issues. Social services shall be
				  provided in accordance with clearly defined written policies and procedures.
				  The facility shall have written policies and procedures for obtaining social
				  services from appropriate community resources, when a resident requires
				  services that the facility staff is not able to provide.
14.A.1.
Social Services Staff
Social services will be provided by social workers holding
				  current and valid licenses as required by State law.
14.A.2.
Staff Hours
Facilities shall employ social services staff at a minimum
				  ratio of 1/2 hour, per resident, per week.
14.A.3.
Administrative Support
The facility shall provide office space for the provision of
				  social services. This space shall be accessible to residents and shall afford
				  privacy for discussion with residents and/or families. Social services staff
				  shall receive sufficient administrative support to function effectively.
14.A.4.
Responsibilities for
				Social Services Staff
a. Obtaining the
				psychosocial history and participating in the comprehensive assessment and
				development of the care plan by the multidisciplinary team (MDT).
b. Participating in the assessment of the
				resident on a quarterly basis or when there is a significant change in the
				resident's status.
c. Planning and
				coordinating discharge planning as directed by the MDT.
d. Assisting the resident and family with
				discharge plans, including an evaluation of the environment to which the
				resident will transfer, and referring to appropriate supportive
				services.
e. Assuring that a
				resident who displays psychosocial adjustment difficulty receives appropriate
				treatment and services to achieve as much remotivation and reorientation as
				possible.
f. Making subsequent
				visits in a timely manner in order to identify the resident's medically related
				social and emotional needs and to provide ongoing services, as
				needed.
g. Maintaining contact with
				the resident's family and involving them in the resident's care, as
				appropriate.
h. Maintaining contact
				with other staff members relative to the resident's needs, and sharing
				pertinent information.
i.
				Advocating for the rights of the resident and the resident's family.
j. Arranging and coordinating supportive
				community services as needed.
k.
				Preparing and maintaining progress notes as needed, but at least quarterly if
				problems are identified on the care plan in which the social worker is
				involved.
l. Recording of
				significant events, interventions with, or on the behalf of, the resident,
				discharge planning efforts and referrals made to other agencies or community
				resources.