Are You a Licensed Social Worker who is:
- Looking for an important role to support and empower individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities?
- An excellent communicator, listener, and team player, able to work with individuals, peers, community supports, funders and families?
- A professional that feels comfortable in new environments and have skills to find, evaluate, and open safe and nurturing homes for those we serve?
- Knowledgeable about developmental disabilities, family systems, as well as Western Massachusetts community and professional resources?
If YES,YES, YES, YES!, we have a great role as a Homestudy and Family Resource Coordinator to help others!
ABOUT PATHLIGHT:
Pathlight (formerly known as The Association For Community Living) has been supporting and empowering individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities (and their families) in Western Massachusetts since 1952.
POSITION TITLE: Homestudy and Family Resource Coordinator
POSITION HOME LOCATION: 220 Brookdale Drive, Springfield, MA 01104 / Western Massachusetts
HOURS: 40hrs per week, Monday - Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (with flexibility for program needs)
SALARY: $52,249.60 - $56,513.60/ year starting range. This position is eligible for hiring to the Discretionary Hire Point.
SUMMARY OF POSITION:
- Conduct comprehensive home study assessments on families and individuals applying to provide care in their homes for adults and children referred to Family Based Living for placement, utilizing clinical assessment skills in determining eligibility.
- Manage and coordinate DCF Family Resource Responsibilities, along with acting as liaison for staff and Care Providers with the Virtual Gateway regulatory requirements.
- Collaborate with Program Directors and Communications and Recruitment Coordinator to facilitate systems and procedures for recruitment, Intake and Referral.
- Monitor and track Care Provider and Respite lists and ensure adherence with regulatory compliance through the vetting process and ongoing.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Responsible for staying current with the regulatory requirements of three funding agencies DDS, DCF, and MassHealth. Respond to emergency and planned placement needs for the various programs.
- Represent and support FAMILY BASED LIVING, and Pathlight relationships with funding agencies on the regional and local levels.
- Maintain confidential care provider records and adhere to the regulatory requirements of the funders.
- Apply DDS, DCF, and MassHealth standards to assess and determine physical safety of homes. Ensure the list of standards are met by conducting in-home assessments in a variety of locations and communities.
- Responsible for screening applicant care providers at orientation visit and, if appropriate, complete comprehensive home study narratives or interviews including background history and provide a clinical assessment of information gathered from visits and ancillary materials.
- Responsible for screening, approving, and maintaining information for respite providers. Ensure that all annual paperwork is completed along with adherence to regulatory compliance standards. Serve as resource for planned and emergency respite.
- Manage the Division's CORI, SORI and Driving Record related processes, along with fingerprinting, and background record checks for all household members fifteen years and older prior to approval as Care Provider for the agency. Work collaboratively with Recruitment Coordinator to ensure systems and procedures for regulatory compliance are followed.
- Responsible for facilitating intake and pre-placement activities for DDS, AFC and DCF referrals. Work collaboratively with Program Directors and Communications and Recruitment coordinator to follow processes and procedures from Intake to Placement. Recommend placement matches based on clinical assessment of the needs of the child/adult referred and the strengths, skills and abilities of the Care Provider.
- Manage, track and monitor all related data regarding intake, home studies, licensing, and closing homes on the Virtual Gateway, ensuring regulatory compliance with licensing standards.
- Serve as agency representative on the Intensive Foster Care Committee for DCF and other regional IFC providers to review and potentially respond to current referrals.
- Meet monthly with DCF care providers. Complete annual evaluations, re-licensing and monthly documentation on the Gateway.
- Serve as consultant and support resource for families providing IFC/Multi-Acute Care. Act as Advisor on a development plan for the Care Provider; emphasizing positive behavior management practices and addressing the provision of trauma- based supports.
- Contribute as productive team member to promote growth and quality in the programs of the Division and in the lives of the Individuals we serve.
- Perform other similar duties as required by responsibility or necessity or as requested by supervisor.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
- Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, or related field. Master's preferred.
- Over 5 years up to and including 7 years applicable professional work experience.
- LSWA license. (LSW or higher preferred)
- Requires Valid driver's license, reliable transportation/vehicle, ability to travel required.
- Strong written and verbal skills required; multilingual a plus.
- Computer skills in data management required.
- Demonstrated experience in managing diverse and complex relationships resulting in positive outcomes.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
Wide variety of duties requiring a general knowledge of related organizational policies and procedures and their application to cases not previously covered. Duties require considerable judgment to work independently toward general results, to develop and administer home assessment programs and to make related decisions controlled by precedent and within limits of established policy.
- Must be able to maintain regular attendance.
- Outside and/or inside contacts involving carrying out home assessment and placement programs and influencing others of improper handling will have a marked effect on results.
- Work with confidential data including provider application, client data and CORI, SORI and Driving Record data which if disclosed, could have major internal or minor external effect.
MENTAL ATTENTION OR VISUAL DEMAND:
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and peripheral vision; reading of written, printed or computer screen data. In addition, the ability to:
- Fully focus and concentrate on the task at hand.
- Demonstrate decision-making ability, considerable judgement.
- Maintain a calm, composed manner.
- Work with unexpected disruptions.
- Actively listen and communicate clearly with staff and others.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
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. Exposure to outside whether conditions when traveling. 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.
- Rarely lifting/transferring person with or without assistance of co-worker with or without mechanical lift
- Occasionally lift and/or move up to or greater than 25 pounds
- Occasionally twisting, bending, squatting with full use of arms/legs
- Occasional stooping, kneeling
- Frequently Reaching above shoulder level
- Frequently climbing stairs
- Continual standing and sitting throughout shift
- Work requiring depth perception
- Frequently driving personal vehicle and/or rarely company van
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:
Reports to Program Director
Works as a Liaison for staff and Care Providers for adherence to Virtual Gateway regulatory requirements and outside funding sources.
Collaborates with Communication and Recruitment Coordinator for facilitation of processes and procedures for Intake and Placement.
Pathlight has demonstrated a commitment to issues of diversity. We welcome all applicants. EOE