The Information & Assistant Specialist provides county residents and callers with information, linkage to resources, and assistance with access to services for the elderly, adults with physical or developmental disabilities, family caregivers, and/or individuals with mental health or substance use disorders. The Information & Assistance Specialist is responsible for long-term care options counseling, enrollment in and disenrollment from publicly funded programs (Managed Care Organization and/or Self-Directed Supports) or fee for service options, short-term care coordination, facilitating the long-term care functional screen, and completion of pre-admission consultations.
Distinguishing Features of the Class:
The position works under the general direction of the ADRC Manager. This position performs a variety of duties relating to public and private benefits which requires coordination with other county, community, and government agencies. The individual in this position must be able to research, initiate action, and advocate for solutions to complex situations and skills to be able to provide accurate and complete information to prospective and active ADRC consumers.
Examples of Duties:
Provides information and follow up about services, programs, resources (public and private) that can help elderly and disabled persons experience daily life with dignity and security, maximizing their opportunities for self-sufficiency and choice.
Completes functional screening, options and enrollment / disenrollment counseling for consumers seeking long-term care with a Managed Care Organization (Partnership & Family Care) or Self-Directed Supports (Wisconsin IRIS).
Provides access to publicly funded long-term care programs and services for eligible consumers.
Manages county long-term care wait list, slot and crisis priority allocations.
Assists consumers to understand and apply for financial eligibility in publicly funded long-term care.
Calculates initial medical and remedial expenses for consumers who have a participant cost-share within publicly funded programs.
Provides Pre-Admission Consultation (including functional assessment and options counseling) to individuals who are considering entering a county assisted living facility or nursing home according to State requirements.
Coordinates with families, service and medical providers, and financial eligibility/benefit specialists about care needs and program eligibility.
Provides MA Case Management for those individuals. There are very limited resources for individuals who do not have funding. We also provide short-term care management and advocacy for persons in need, facing a crisis, or experiencing a lack of natural supports.
Completes eligibility and enrollment for persons interested in nursing home relocation program.
Provides services in all areas of St. Croix County, including home visits and/or meetings in assisted living centers and nursing facilities.
Informs ADRC consumers about Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, SSI, SSI-E, SSDI, BadgerCare Programs, Food Share, Energy Assistance, Older American Act services, as well as other community resources that may be available.
Provides transition services to youth enrolling in adult long-term care systems, including outreach to families, providers, and schools.
Completes guardianship petitions, assists families with guardianship process, and provides court testimony as needed for transitioning individuals who have developmental or physical disabilities.
Sends denial notices and explains appeal/grievance process to those individuals who are or become functionally ineligible or are eligible only for limited benefits in a publicly funded long-term care program.
Supports persons facing a crisis situation by connecting them to emergency services. This includes identifying persons at risk or in need of protection and providing referrals for elder abuse and adult protective services, chemical dependency or mental health services.
Records and maintains confidential consumer related information and service plans in SAMS IR and PPS databases per State requirements.
Completes 100% time reporting according to State requirements.
Attends State Division of Long Term Care trainings and meetings.
Participates in the ongoing marketing and outreach of the ADRC, including prevention programs, and public speaking.
Completes initial assessments and monitors recertification for county SSI-E participants.
Completes protective placement reviews and submits the reviews to the court system. If the person contests their protective placement we do the court work that is involved with that process.
Certifies Adult Family Homes in St. Croix County that are not licensed by Community Health Partnership for individual providers
Performs other duties as assigned.
Typical Qualifications:
Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:
Knowledge of social, physical, health, psychological, and economic needs of older persons and persons with physical and/or developmental disabilities, chemical dependency, and mental illness. Knowledge of the principles of outcome based and person-centered care planning, cost-effective decision making in long term care, preventive health measures, legal concerns, employment, and education. Counseling and interviewing skills, with the ability to assess and reframe as the conversation progresses. Ability to conduct comprehensive assessments for individuals with long-term care needs. Comprehensive knowledge of community resources and services available to elderly and disabled persons. Knowledge of Federal and State laws and programs that impact the target population and regulate long term care. Ability to assist individuals to coordinate effective personal planning and assist individuals in following through with the plan. Negotiation and problem solving skills. Ability to de-escalate potentially volatile or symptomatic individuals who have behavioral disabilities in a variety of community based settings. Ability to work in a team setting. Oral and written communication skills. Ability to organize, prioritize and manage work responsibilities independently. Ability to generate timely and accurate service records and reports. Ability to meet required assessment and response times for referrals. Personal qualities: good listening skills, sensitivity, patience, ability to establish trust, creativity, and initiative. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Qualification Requirements:
Bachelors Degree in: Bachelor’s of Arts or Science degree in social work (preferred), a related human service field, or a registered nurse pursuant to Wisconsin Stat. 441.06. One to three years of experience working with individuals who are age sixty and older, and/or individuals who have physical or developmental disabilities. Community-based experience required.
Special Requirements & Certifications:
Must meet Wisconsin Long Term Care Functional Screener qualifications, meet all training requirements specified by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, have experience working with long term care consumers, pass all screener certification exams and maintain certification to complete the screen.
Must be eligible for, apply, and become certified by the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) as a Certified Information and Referral Specialist (CIRS or CIRS-A) within one year of hire.
Must maintain continuing education credits for National AIRS certification for CIRS or CIRS-A.
Must maintain State of Wisconsin Social Work certification or other applicable Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensure requirement per Long Term Care Functional Screen responsibility.
Must maintain a valid driver’s license with the minimum State requirement for insurance as well as have a vehicle available for transportation.
ADA Requirements:
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks.
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