Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Options Counselor (OC)

Business Unit: Family Caregiver Support Program

Department: Caregiver Solutions

Reports to: Associate Director Caregiver Solutions and Home Care Analytics

FLSA: Exempt

Classification: Regular Full - Time (35 hours)

Grade: 8

Salary Range: $43,515 - $52,000 (commensurate with experience)

SUMMARY OVERVIEW

The goal of the Options Counselor is to assist individuals in need of long-term services and supports (LTSS) to make informed choices of setting and services, resources to help pay for supports and services, referrals to experts in the individual's particular disability as needed, and assistance in connecting with appropriate resources using a No Wrong Door (NWD) approach. Options counseling is a core function of the Suffolk County Aging and Disability Resource Consortia (ADRC).

Additionally, the Options Counselor provides specialized support for grandparents raising grandchildren. This includes guiding them through available resources, financial assistance programs, and connecting them with community support services designed to address the unique challenges they face. The Options Counselor ensures that these families receive comprehensive and tailored assistance to promote stability and well-being for both grandparents and grandchildren.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Duties 1-15 are designated as ADA essential functions and must be performed in this job. All other job duties are secondary functions.

1. Provide Options Counseling, person centered needs assessments, referrals, preliminary care planning, and short- term follow-up for consumers needing long term supports based on their needs and preferences, working with consumers, family members and case workers by phone and in person, including mental; physical; functional; cultural; financial; environmental; and life goals to determine appropriate referrals.
2. Provide Case Management by contacting and meeting with consumers, their family and/or caregiver to assess current situation and care needs and to provide support with care planning options.
3. Offer short-term assistance to consumers and support them with problem resolution by ensuring consumers have access to information about public benefits and other community services and resources.
4. Coordinate all Options Counseling, acting in the capacity of the primary Options Counselor; develop training materials; develop resource information; and provide training to BSHC staff on Options Counseling.
5. Serve as the Options Counselor for BSHC, ensuring all coordination, training, and reporting requirements of the ADRC are met.
6. Provide information and referral to the public regarding aging, caregiver, and disability programs and services by phone and in person.
7. Determine consumer eligibility based on program guidelines.
8. Maintains applicant database.
9. Develop marketing materials and implement strategies to educate public of Options Counseling services and coordinates efforts and referrals with community disability agencies and ADRC partners within the community. May make presentations regarding department programs and services to various groups, and/or participate in various community partnerships.
10. Meet on a regular basis with the ADRC team and adhere to ADRC protocols, standards, and policies.
11. Refer elders and people with disabilities to other ADRC partners and referral sources, based upon established ADRC protocols.
12. Collaborate with other agency programs to optimally leverage resources and supports for program participants and their family members.
13. Create and maintain new partnerships with community
14. Monitor and support group facilitators and grandparent
15. Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES

• Excellent computer skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent customer relations skills.
• Knowledge of procedures and practices relating to the benefits and services available to older adults, children, caregivers and individuals with disabilities.
• Active listening, interviewing, and advocacy skills.
• Knowledge of the long-term care and social service delivery systems, community resources, and the local service system.
• Knowledge of human behavior, family dynamics, interpersonal relations, social interaction and social problems.
• Ability to organize and plan work effectively.
• Ability to handle difficult inter-personal dynamics and situations and take appropriate action.
• Ability to network and maintain positive, effective relationships with the community agencies, providers, families, consumers and the general public.
• Ability to be flexible and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work constructively as a team member.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, copiers, filing cabinets.

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.

• The employee must be able to carry 15 to 20 lbs.
• The employee is regularly required to talk and hear
• The employee is frequently is required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms

POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK

This is a full-time position, Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

TRAVEL

This position requires up to 60% travel. Must be able to travel throughout the community under all weather conditions and perform home visits.

REQUIRED/PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Gerontology, Psychology, Counseling or related field. Master's Degree in Social Work a plus.
• Three to five years' experience in social work, psychology, counseling or related field and experience in coordinating services for one or more of the target populations.

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY QUALIFICATIONS

None required for this position.

WORK AUTHORIZATION/SECURITY CLEARANCE

• Must be able to work in the United States

AAP/EEO STATEMENT

Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Male/Female/Veteran/Disabled - Boston Senior Home Care affirms and supports diversity and inclusion in our workforce and recognizes all EEOC Factors.

OTHER DUTIES

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Given the nature of the organization and the population it serves, all new employees are required to clear a CORI prior to taking on a new role.

Job Tags

Similar Jobs