Care Giver Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY: The Caregiver Specialist conducts care planning assessments to identify problems related to caregiving and connect individuals to solutions. The Caregiver Specialist provides caregiver support, information, and outreach for the Caregiver Support Program. They accomplish this by providing needs assessments, caregiver counseling, and identifying / developing resources to meet the needs of the elder or caregiver. The CS maintains visibility in the community and serves as a contact with regional healthcare institutions.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conducts care needs and planning assessments to identify problems and help individuals by providing solutions and next steps.
• Provides caregiver support, information, referral, and outreach through home visits and/or telephone contact.
• Provides caregivers with a person-centered approach that ensures their unique goals and preferences are honored.
• Provides 30 day follow up contact to caregivers to determine the outcome of the case, ensure all resources have been deployed, and complete the state-required survey to each consumer served.
• Develops and updates caregiver resource materials.
• Establishes and conducts outreach activities to educate community partners, including hospitals, rehabilitation and nursing facilities, Councils on Aging and other community agencies and providers to raise awareness of the program and generate mutual referrals.
• Collaborates and coordinates with community partners to increase program visibility and access to seniors or persons with disabilities.
• Provides short-term individual counseling and facilitates support groups and specialized caregiver trainings in the community as needed.
• Promotes and manages the Caregiver Scholarship program, including related record keeping, billing and reporting requirements.
• Meets with others in the caregiver and elder care network on a regular basis for support, to share information, and to work on collaborative projects.
• Compiles all required caregiver demographic information and completes monthly reporting requirements for the state database.
• Completes other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

A Bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field and two years’ experience in casework, or related activity. Experience in the delivery of services to the elderly and disabled population is preferred. Social work licensure is preferred.

The caregiver specialist must be able to work with a diverse population, make mature judgements, possess good communication skills and maintain effective interpersonal relationships. Knowledge of basic medical, mental health, social service delivery systems, as well as acceptable record keeping practices is essential.

A valid driver's license and a legally insured and registered motor vehicle are required. A copy of current license and registration will be on file in the personnel record.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

PHYSICAL:

• Visual, speaking, auditory and mobile capacity necessary:
• Capacity to see computer screen, read written material, and drive a car.
• Capacity to hear and speak on the telephone.
• Capacity to communicate verbally with consumers, caregivers, supervisors and managers.
• Capacity for fine manipulation in the frequent use of office equipment such as computers, copy machines, fax machines, telephones, calculators, etc.
• Capacity to drive in all-weather to visit consumers in their homes
• Capacity to navigate uneven terrain in all-weather to visit consumers in their homes
• Capacity to climb stairs
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
• Occasional reaching and grabbing objects with both hands, twisting of hand and wrist, and pushing and pulling of objects.
• Occasional bending, squatting, and twisting to perform work functions.
• Occasional capacity to lift up to 25 pounds.

MENTAL:

• Ability to understand and/or interpret complicated program instructions and laws.
• Capacity to learn complicated computer software
• Capacity to deal rationally and calmly with varying personalities
• Capacity to work well in fast paced, rapidly changing environment.

ENVIRONMENTAL:

• Work is split between indoor office work and traveling outdoors to meetings, trainings and consumers’ homes.
• Must be able to tolerate odors and pollutants including but not limited to smoke, air fresheners, pet dander, personal odors, etc. from a variety of in-home conditions.
• Must be able to tolerate by-products of office machine operation.
• Must be able to tolerate heat and cold of seasonal changes and indoor temperatures.

ASNCM is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts provides comprehensive information and quality services so that older people, individuals with disabilities, and their families are empowered to make personalized choices to ensure a life of dignity, safety and respect.