Job Description:
Be Part of a Great Team!
Independence First is looking for awesome people to join our team!
You
are just the person to join our growing team if you are...
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Looking for an Excellent Benefits Package
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Passionate About Helping Others
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Prefer Bilingual in English, Spanish, Hmong or Russian (Not required)
Benefits include:
* 12 sick days, 13 vacation days and an additional 11 paid holidays a year
* Employer paid Dental, Life Insurance (twice annual salary),
AD&D, Short and Long Term Disability
* Health Insurance Benefits (partially employer paid, depending on coverage)
* Low-cost Vision Insurance
* Employer-matched 403(b) Retirement Account
* Fitness Center On-site
* Annual Health Risk Assessment
* Annual Flu Shot
* Comprehensive Wellness Program
* Tuition Reimbursement Program
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position: Hospital to Home Transition Specialist
Status: Full Time, Hourly
Reports to: Community Living Transition Policy Specialist
Position Summary: Facilitate and coordinate
transition services to individuals with disabilities from hospitals to
a safe environment. Diverting an individual entering a nursing home
environment is the primary role. In addition, individuals may be
transitioning from, Nursing Homes, Community Based Residential
Facilities, Prison System, etc. Position will work with consumers,
families, discharge planners, healthcare workers, other service
providers involved in transitioning to coordinate services for a safe
transition from a facility to community living. Duties include
participation in discharge planning, identifying needs such as
housing, housing start-up items, personal care, benefits counseling,
assistive technology, and other social services needed by the consumer
and working toward resolution. Provide independent living services to
individuals with disabilities residing in the agency service area.
Coordinate with Department and Agency management teams as well as the
Community Living & Transition Policy and Branch Office Services
Specialists to improve reach and quality of all Independence First
transition-related services.
Position Expected Hours of Work: This is a Full-Time
position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to
4:30 pm, however there may be some variability in the weekly schedule
due to consumer need driven by compliance as well as by agency need.
Occasional evenings and weekends. Staff is expected to be able to work
in the office, remotely, or a hybrid of both, during regular business hours.
Transitional Services Essential Functions of the Position:
- Facilitate transition services for individuals residing in
long-term care facilities such as Nursing Homes, Hospitals,
Community Based Residential Facilities, Prison System, etc.
- Facilitate self-assessment and identification of transition
related services needs of the consumer.
- Facilitate the development of the transition goals with the
consumer. Regularly revisits these goals, updating as needed and
noting progress.
- Promote self-advocacy by teaching individuals how to access
services, assert their rights, and obtain funding for the purpose of
reaching their goals.
- Establish good working relationships with healthcare providers,
social service workers, and other professionals involved in the
transition process.
- Provide information, referral and training to consumers and the
community in the Independence First service area on independent
living issues and services.
- Will participate in discharge planning, identifying needs such as
housing, housing start-up items, personal care, benefits counseling,
assistive technology, and other social services needed by the
consumer and working toward resolution.
- Develop and maintain appropriate collaborative relationships with
other organizations/service providers to enhance the goals of
independent living.
- Coordinate with Department and Agency management teams to improve
reach and quality of all Independence First transition-related services.
- Work with the Community Living & Transition Policy Specialist
as well as the Branch Offices Services Specialist to coordinate
Transition services throughout the four county service area. Will
bring in AT or Benefits staff as needed.
- Participate as a member of the Independent Living Services team by
attending agency meetings and events.
- As time allows, will learn and perform AT and home modification assessments.
- Complete agency required documentation in agency database.
Disability Policy Change Essential Functions of the Position:
- Participate in individual and systems advocacy activities by
voicing opinion at public hearings and educating public officials
through letter writing or other appropriate means on issues relating
to independent living.
- Actively participant in agency advocacy team.
- Present testimony on disability issues by writing, email, and fax,
in person testimony to legislative bodies on the local, state and
federal levels. This includes contacting congresspersons, senators
and giving opinions on pending legislation.
- Assist consumers with their advocacy needs.
- Participate in Disability Policy Change Events.
Work Environment:
- Work environment is generally performed in an office setting with
minimal to moderate noise level.
- 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.
Disclaimer:
The above statements reflect the general details necessary to
describe the principle functions of the occupation described and
shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work
requirements that may be inherent in the occupation.
As an Independent Living Center, it is required that 51% of
Independence First’s staff have a disability. Independence First is
an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages people with
disabilities to apply for this position.