Information and Assistance Specialist - ADRC

Part-time (28 hours 4 days/week)

Nonexempt

Starting hourly pay range: $29.48 - 31.94

Job Summary

The Information and Assistance (I&A) Specialist provides unbiased accurate and friendly customer service responses to requests for information about an array of topics and for access to long-term care resources. The I&A Specialist provides resources, options counseling, and enrollment and disenrollment services for Wisconsin long-term care programs to elders and adults with physical or developmental/intellectual disabilities. This position is a certified Adult Functional Screener and assesses functional eligibility for publicly funded long-term care programs and assists consumers through the eligibility determination and enrollment process.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

The following duties are primarily performed and are essential for this position.  Employees are expected to be able to perform each of these job duties satisfactorily and successfully with or without reasonable accommodations to be qualified for the position.  Other duties may be required and assigned.

90% Information and Referral; Options Counseling; Adult Long-term Care Functional Screener; Enrollment and Disenrollment Counseling; Medicaid application support

• Provides accurate and friendly customer service responses to requests for information about a variety of topics and for access to long-term care resources.
• Collects consumer information to assist in identifying consumer/family needs, options, capacities, and personal preferences as it relates to long-term care options, goods and services.
• Provides information and assistance, assessment, and long-term care options counseling services for elders and adults with physical or developmental/intellectual disabilities and youths transitioning from school/youth programs to adult services in Ozaukee County. 
• Provides follow-up as needed to determine outcomes and provides additional assistance in locating resources and arranging services.
• Locates and assists with urgent services and short-term case management by coordinating necessary supports and services.
• Provides client advocacy on behalf of individuals and groups when needed services are not being adequately provided by an organization within the service delivery system.
• Provides information about publicly funded long-term care and assists consumers throughout the eligibility determination and enrollment process.
• Administers the Long-Term Care Functional Screen to determine functional eligibility.
• Collects preliminary financial data (including medical and remedial expenses) and refers to the Economic Support Unit for financial eligibility determination.
• Assesses an individual’s financial eligibility for State and Federally funded Long Term Care Programs.  Provides hands on assistance in completing complicated Federal Medicaid applications for clients who are unable to independently do so on their own.
• Completes and maintains appropriate and timely documentation in consumer records and client tracking database systems in accordance with ADRC policies and State requirements.
• Completes and maintains required agency documentation including 100% Time Reporting.
• Attends and participates in staff development programs, including in-service training, staff meetings, and professional seminars including certification requirements in Information and Referral through Alliance of Information and Referral Services (AIRS) and Adult Long-Term Care Functional Screen Certification.
• Provides phone coverage, answers email service inquiries, and meets with walk in customers to handle client intakes and/or urgent needs. 
• Provides assistance for clients relocating from nursing home to community. 
• Provides data and input regarding State mandated quality assurance projects.
• Provides identification of Aging and Disability Resource Center customers who may be at risk of abuse, neglect, or self-neglect or financial exploitation and who need elder adult/adult at risk or adult protective services. 
• Complies with applicable federal and state laws, administrative rules, established agency procedures and accepted professional standards.
• Participates in Aging and Disability Resource Center staff meetings, multidisciplinary team meetings and Department of Human Services staff meetings.
• Has a “Duty to Report” during a community emergency/disaster according to the Aging and Disability Resource Center Emergency Preparedness Plan.

10% Education and Outreach

• Maintains current information on a wide variety of topics related to aging, physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, chronic illness, and long-term care.
• Conducts educational and informational presentations and outreach activities for older adults, their families, caregivers, and the general public on programs, services, resources, and care giving issues. 

• Contributes articles or materials for the development of the ADRC’s quarterly newsletter.
• Participates in the ADRC, Human Services and/or community committees as needed.

Supervision Exercised

None

Minimum Education Qualifications

Education and/or Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, Nursing, Psychology, Counseling or Related Field. Master’s degree in social work, Nursing, Psychology, Counseling or Related Field preferred.
• Three to five years of case management in a social work, psychology, counseling or related field with experience in coordinating services for special populations (elderly, adults with developmental disabilities, adults with severe physical disabilities, and cognitively, physically, and emotionally disabled children transitioning from the school system to the adult services system)
• Two years of experience working with publicly funded long-term care programs.

Licenses, Certifications, and Other Requirements:

• After hire, obtain certification as a Certified Information and Referral Specialist with specialty in Aging and Disability from the National Alliance of Information and Referral Systems.
• Within three months after hire, obtain certification from the State of Wisconsin as a Certified Adult Functional Screener.
• Successfully complete and pass every other year the State of Wisconsin’s Continuing Skills Test and must remain certified as an Adult Functional Screener
• After hire, successfully complete training modules and obtain Options Counseling Certification.
• Successfully complete training for the following: Memory Screens: Animal Naming Test and Mini-Cog Memory Screen; Motivational Interviewing; Ethics and Boundaries; Dementia; Time and Task Reporting; Ongoing ADRC Specialists Skills training.
• Complete DHS training including, but not limited to: Trauma Informed Care; HIPPA; Equity/Diversity training, MANDT; Active Shooter/Safety.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Qualifications

In order to perform the functions and responsibilities of the position (listed above) the following knowledge, skills, and abilities are essential.

• Strategic thinking skills along with excellent oral, written, and computer skills.
• Excellent interviewing skills and customer relations.
• Good knowledge of procedures and practices relating to both private and public benefits and services available to the elderly, physically disabled, and developmentally disabled populations.
• Good understanding of the aspects of aging – physical, social, psychological, spiritual, etc.
• Ability to work constructively as a team member.

In evaluating candidates for this position, Ozaukee County may consider a combination of education, training, and experience which provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position. 

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• May experience frequent periods of standing or walking.

Work Environment

Work is typically completed in the ADRC office, in homes, in community environments, and remotely from home.

EOE / ADA Statement

Ozaukee County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Ozaukee County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Nothing in this job description limits management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.  The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.  The job description does not constitute an employment agreement or affect the at-will nature of the employment arrangement between the employee and company and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Ozaukee County offers a generous benefits package including: health, dental, life, & vision insurance; free employee health clinic & Teladoc; paid holidays, vacation, & sick time; state of Wisconsin WRS defined benefit pension program; bonus opportunities; employee fitness room; wellness program & wellness reimbursement; tuition reimbursement & continuing education opportunities; and more! Please note some that benefits offered are dependent on full-time/part-time status.

Ozaukee County prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type against applicants and employees on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap, disability, genetics, veteran status or military service, marital status or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic or status protected by federal, state or local laws. Ozaukee County also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws.