Salary: $88,216.00 - $114,307.00 Annually
Location : Elkhorn, WI
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number:
Department: Lakeland Health Care Center
Opening Date: 09/04/2026
Closing Date: 9/18/2026 11:59 PM Central

Position Summary
The Social Services Manager oversees the planning, implementation, and evaluation of all social services at Lakeland Health Care Center. Reporting to the Nursing Home Administrator, this role manages department operations, supports residents in adjusting to facility life, leads discharge planning, provides family support, and advocates for resident rights. The position ensures delivery of comprehensive psychosocial services while maintaining compliance with regulatory and organizational standards, promoting resident dignity, autonomy, and overall well-being.
SUPERVISION

This position oversees the staff responsible for carrying out social services and admissions activities. Key responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning and coordinating work; assigning tasks; evaluating performance; addressing concerns; and administering rewards or disciplinary actions as needed. The role is an integral part of the senior leadership team and actively contributes to facility-wide strategic planning and budgeting.
SCHEDULE
Days: Monday - Friday

Work Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Hours Per Shift: 8

Shifts Per Pay Period: 10

Position FTE: 1.00, Salaried Exempt
Applications are being accepted from current County employees as well as members of the public.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
To include the following. Other duties may be assigned. This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
Provide daily individual and group supervision, guidance, and consultation to assigned program staff. Responsibilities include reviewing staff assignments, assessing skill levels, identifying training and development needs, and ensuring compliance with program rules and regulations.
Investigate allegations of abuse during and outside of regular business hours. Prepare required documentation, develop recommendations for resolution, and conduct necessary follow-up.
Conduct admission assessments for new residents, develop individualized social service care plans, and address personal, emotional, and social needs.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team, residents, and families to plan safe and appropriate discharges or assist in locating alternative care settings.
Coordinate, develop, and facilitate staff training on residents' rights, psychosocial needs of the elderly, and other facility-relevant topics. Contribute to policy development and budget planning.
Develop department and program policies and participate in administrative and strategic planning meetings.
Identify service delivery issues and implement corrective actions.
Maintain partnerships with area colleges and universities to support meaningful internship opportunities.
Provide updates to the Lakeland Health Care Center Board of Trustees.
Deliver direct social services and manage the admissions process when Social Services Department staff are unavailable.
Recruit participants for the Resident/Family Council and facilitate regularly scheduled council meetings.
Lead quality improvement initiatives, including DHS-required Life Safety meetings. Identify service gaps, implement resolutions, and complete quarterly quality assurance audits.
Support the Administrator during state and federal surveys, including development and execution of plans of correction.
Ensure cost-effective use of resources and provide budgetary input to the Nursing Home Administrator.
Complete cognitive and mood assessments and address related care needs within the Minimum Data Set. Oversee care plans related to mood and behavior.
Assist residents and families with end-of-life concerns and provide information on advance directives.
Collaborate with Walworth County Corporation Counsel on guardianship and protective placement matters.
Facilitate Virtual Dementia and Challenging Behaviors training for internal staff and external partners.
Provide Peer Support to staff experiencing personal, social, financial, or environmental challenges.
Demonstrate ongoing commitment to county-wide safety and risk-management initiatives.

Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor's degree in social work; meet the National Association of Social Workers membership standards (NASW); and have two years of social work experience in a health care setting. A master's degree in social work from a graduate school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) along with 6 months' experience in a health care setting may be substituted for two years of health care social work experience.

Interactions & Communication

Provides specialized information and/or recommendations to others regarding an area of expertise.

Decision Making

This position has authority to make decisions that are consistent with policies and precedents; supervision and managerial direction is available as requested. These decisions directly impact performance in the job and/or the work unit within a department and information is provided with additional research and observations which contributes to the decision-making process.

Thinking & Problem Solving

In relation to established procedures, protocols and policies of the County, challenges in this position tend to be diverse, but are typically covered by precedent or established practice.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Wisconsin social worker license

Tools and Equipment Used

Telephone Copy Machine

FAX Machine Personal Computer/Printer

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to fumes or airborne particles. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals, outside weather conditions, risk of electrical shock, and risk of radiation. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

NEPOTISM OR CONFLICT OF INTEREST COMPLIANCE:

A person may not be offered or hold this position if the employment would result in that person being a supervisor or subordinate to an immediate family member. "Immediate family" includes the employee's spouse, brother, sister, parents, children, stepchildren, father-in-law, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and any other member of the employee's household.

A person may not be offered this position if employment would create either an actual conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest.

HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (HIPAA):

Employees of Lakeland Health Care Center are expected to respect resident's privacy and provide confidentiality of all Protected Health Information (PHI). HIPAA, the first comprehensive Federal protection for the privacy of personal health information was passed by Congress in 1996 and implemented in April 2003.

Employees will have access to all information that is needed to perform their job, but they shall not have, or seek to gain, access to PHI that is not necessary to perform their job.

Every employee, even one who does not use protected health information in their work duties, is obligated under the provisions of HIPAA. All employees must protect resident privacy and respond to situations that may put a resident's privacy in jeopardy.

Selection Process
Formal electronic application; rating of education and experience; verification of social work license; oral department interview; reference check; background check; post-offer medical examination including drug screen. Other job related tests may be required.

A final candidate for this position may request consideration for additional Scheduled Time Off (STO) based on five years or more of continuous related experience per Ord. Sec. 15-515 (e).
WALWORTH COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT SUMMARY
I - Salaried Exempt Employees
BARGAINING UNIT: Salaried Exempt Employees
DATE: January 1, 2019

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: All employees of Walworth County are at-will employees.

BASIS OF PAYMENT: Salaried, FLSA Exempt. You are not eligible for overtime or compensatory time. You are required to account for all time absent from your regular work schedule.

SCHEDULED TIME OFF: Accrued based on salary each pay period. All accrued scheduled time off hours are available for use, subject to approval of your supervisor. You accrue scheduled time off (pro-rated for part-time) equivalent to the following:
15 days per year after 1 year of Walworth County Service
20 days per year after 5 years of Walworth County Service
25 days per year after 15 years of Walworth County Service

*may be considered for additional Scheduled Time Off (STO) based on continuous related experience per Ord. Sec. 15-515 (e)

PERSONAL TIME OFF: Employees will receive 64 hours of personal time off as a lump sum at the beginning of each year (pro-rated for part-time and newly-hired employees). At the end of each calendar year, an employee may request to move remaining personal time off hours to the extended sick leave bank. If no request is made, any remaining hours shall be paid out on the employee's last pay date of the calendar year.

EXTENDED SICK LEAVE BANK: Used for time off of work for more serious health conditions that require three or more consecutive days off or when on an approved leave of absence.

HOLIDAYS: Ten paid holidays each year. As a part-time employee, you receive pro-rated holiday pay based on your positions budgeted FTE.

INSURANCE: Employees hired into a .75 FTE or higher position are eligible for Health, Dental, Life, Vision Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability insurance benefits on the first of the month following 30 days of service provided you complete enrollment forms within 30 days of hire. Employees hired into a .50 FTE or higher position are eligible for all benefits listed below except Health insurance. Employees hired into a .49 FTE or less position are eligible to participate in Short-Term Disability only.

Health Insurance: You can choose Tier 1 or Tier 2. Tier 1 is a standard co-pay plan. Tier 2 is a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). The County will contribute an amount approved by the County Board, payable as a lump sum to your HSA for Tier 2. You may also elect to contribute to your HSA up to the IRS maximum. You may elect either family or single coverage. The monthly premium will be split between the County and the employee.

Dental Insurance: You may elect either family or single coverage. The county shall pay 100% (single or family) of the premium for a full-time and 50% (single or family) of the premium for a part-time employee enrolled in dental insurance.

Life Insurance: The County provides you with term life insurance in an amount equal to $50,000. You have the option of purchasing additional coverage for yourself, spouse, and/or dependent children.

Short-Term Disability Insurance: The County provides you with Short-Term Disability Insurance with premiums paid by the employer.

LTD Insurance: The County provides you with Long-Term Disability Insurance. The monthly premium is 0.83% of your insured monthly wages. The County shall pay 67% of the premium & the employee shall pay 33% of the premium.

Vison Insurance: You may elect to participate in Vision insurance. The employee electing coverage shall pay 100% (single or family) of the premium for vision insurance.
WISCONSIN RETIREMENT: You are covered under the Wisconsin Retirement System if you are expected to work a minimum of 1200 hours per year for a period of one year or more. The WRS provides you with separation, disability or retirement benefits upon termination. The payment is split between the county and employee, as prescribed by state law. Employees expected to work less than 1200 hours per year will not receive this benefit.

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE: After completing 6 months of employment, you are eligible to participate in the Educational Assistance Program and receive partial reimbursement for tuition upon completion of approved courses.

TAX-SHELTERED BENEF