Supportive Services Specialist - Fond du Lac & Winnebago Counties

Job Description – Supportive Services Specialist –

Fond du Lac & Winnebago Counties

Job Purpose

A Home Care and Support Services Specialist supports individuals with mental health challenges in their home and the community. Home Care and Support Services include, but are not limited to:  Medication monitoring, transportation and appointment support, food management, light housekeeping, daily living support, personal cares, and emotional and social support.

A Supportive Home Care and Support Services Specialist empowers clients to obtain a maximum level of independence, functioning, and mental health which makes it possible for them to live safely at home and in the community. The goal is to strive for independence in activities of daily living while building or bridging interdependence in community social relationships.

Job Responsibilities

• Become knowledgeable of the client’s treatment plan and perform tasks identified in the plan with the client.
• Documents services provided to the client in a timely and accurate manner consistent with established policy and procedure.
• Monitors the client’s mental and physical health and reports to the identified treatment team members and/or the Director of Home Care and Support Services and changes when observed.
• Assists clients in implementing daily routines through the use of calendars, tracking tools, schedules, alarms, etc.
• Provide education in the use of public transportation and/or provide transportation as authorized.
• Mobility assistance if needed to include lifts and transfers.
• Knowledgeable about the range of effective communication strategies and skills necessary to establish a collaborative relationship with the client as well as to assist the client in establishing collaborative relationships with others in their environment.
• Provide emotional and social support to clients in a variety of settings, including but not limited to; family gatherings, hobbies, social events and other outings.
• Provide medication management services by assuring that medications are taken appropriately via the use of blister packs or a medi-set pill organizer; Documents timely and accurately consistent with established policy and procedure.
• Provide verbal prompts and assistance if need to support maintaining proper hygiene habits. To include bathing, grooming, and dressing.
• Provide meal prep, meal planning, grocery shopping/pick up and feeding if necessary.
• Assists the client in understanding how to maintain a safe and sanitary home. For clients who are not able to complete tasks independently, light housekeeping may be required. For those clients who are able to gain independence, educate and demonstrate housekeeping activities encouraging the client to build and maintain independent skills.
• Recognizes and responds appropriately to crisis and emergency situations.
• Participates in caseload review with supervisor.
• Attends and actively participates in team meetings, agency meetings, and trainings/in-services.
• Performs other duties or tasks that are identified and assigned.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must have a high school diploma or GED, unless still active in high school setting
• Must be willing to complete the Wisconsin CBRF certification classes. Fire Safety, Standard Precautions, First-aid and choking, and Medication Administration. As well as participate in ongoing agency trainings as assigned.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, insured vehicle, and good driving record as determined by company insurance carrier
• Must be able to pass a criminal and caregiver background check
• CNA Preferred

Professional Competencies

• Possesses time management skills in order to be able to complete assigned tasks in the time allotted.
• Ability to accurately document client observation and the completion of tasks.
• Ability to provide information to clients in a direct, but respectful manner.
• Can effectively communicate and interact with clients, professionals, colleagues, and community members.
• Demonstrates respect of client time by active engagement with the client (i.e. no personal cell phone calls, no texting, and no personal engagements).
• Demonstrates the ability to function without daily supervision (i.e. does not require ongoing assistance from supervisor or colleagues in order to perform job)

AGENCY COMPETENCIES

TRAUMA INFORMED CARE COMPETENCIES

• Collaboration and Mutuality: Seeks to partner with colleagues and clients to achieve desired results. Engages clients with the goal of them becoming active participants in decisions. Recognizes that each individual brings different skill sets and life experiences, each of which can contribute to solutions. Understands the interests and significance of the concerns of others. Communicates openly with colleagues or clients with whom they are working. Consciously ignores any idea that one person’s views hold more value or importance than that of another.
• Cultural, Historical, and Gender Awareness: With both clients and colleagues, actively moves past cultural stereotypes and biases based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, religion, gender-identity, etc. Offers access to gender responsive services, leverages the healing value of traditional cultural connections, and recognizes and addresses historical trauma.
   As an employee of the organization, suggests additions or changes as identified to corporate policies and procedures that are responsive to the racial, ethnic, and cultural needs of individuals served, recognizes and addresses historical trauma.
• Empowerment, Choice, and Voice: Readily recognizes the strengths and experiences of others, validates, and then builds on them. Encourages others to lead utilizing their strengths and experiences.  Seeks opportunities, even if seemingly insignificant, to give authority or power to others. Involves others in decision making processes.
   Seeks out opportunities to offer choice and control to colleagues and clients.  Employs personal creativity to identify ways to introduce choice to others. Respects the choices of others even if (and especially when) they do not align with personal beliefs.
• Trustworthiness and Transparency: Believes that the organization, its employees, and clients have the ability to do what they say they will do and that the action(s) will be done in a fair and just manner. Share information freely in an effort to benefit the organization and its people.
   Understands the benefit of honest, forthright communication but delivers in a way that does not create further trauma that can be caused by manipulation, backstabbing, offensive speech and/or behavior, and harassment. Makes others feel comfortable by responding in a way that conveys interest in what they are saying.
• Safety Minded: Strives to contribute to a workplace environment in which fellow colleagues and clients feel physically and psychologically safe. Accepts a level of responsibility for maintaining a physically safe environment for colleagues, clients, and visitors. Supports an environment where colleagues and clients feel welcome, respected, and supported. Maintains communication with colleagues and clients that is honest, respectful, and compassionate.

WORKPLACE COMPETENCIES

• Communication: Ability to articulate thoughts and express ideas and complex information effectively using oral, written, visual and non-verbal communication skills along with employing listening skills to gain thorough understanding of facts. Asks clarifying questions of clients and colleagues to ensure understanding. Ability to communicate with compassion and empathy. Notices and accurately interprets what others are feeling, based upon their choice of words, tone of voice, expressions, and other nonverbal cues. Anticipates how others will react to a situation. Finds non-threatening ways to approach others about sensitive issues.
• Problem Solving: Employs analytical skills along with innovative and creative thinking to identify solutions. Ensures decisions are made based on policies, rules, and organizational procedures. Examines different perspectives and options when considering solutions. Seeks to meet the needs of different constituents in the solution of problems.
• Time Management Skills: Organizes and plans how to divide time among a number of competing obligations. Able to adapt schedules to accommodate changing priorities.

Work Environment

The work is performed in client homes, potential exposure to pets, smoke filled, poor state of cleanliness or disrepair. Work may also be performed in community venues. Potential to deal with exacerbation of mental health issues requiring immediate response. Work hours vary depending upon the caseload need. Requires weekends and holiday rotations.

The work entails being mobile and the ability to get from one location to another via personal car; If client transport is required, use of company vehicle is required.

DIRECT REPORTS

There are no direct reports for this position.