What are the responsibilities and job description for the Case Manager position at AbilityFirst?
Information About Us:
AbilityFirst provides a variety of programs designed to help people with disabilities achieve their personal best throughout their lives. We do this by creating targeted programming to help an individual successfully transition from childhood to adult life.
Our Mission:
Looking beyond disabilities. Focusing on capabilities. Expanding possibilities.
Description of Role:
Supported Employment provides adults with disabilities the level of support they need to find and retain meaningful employment in competitive job markets in their communities. The Case Manager's role is vital to the success of the Supported Employment program because the case manager determines the most appropriate program for participants. Our Case Managers work with parents, care providers, service coordinators, and other professionals. Developing and implementing an effective work program designed to improve vocational skills and ensuring the safety of participants while involved in center programs are some of the additional duties the Case Manager is responsible for.
Summary
Responsible for:
- Working with parents, care providers, service coordinators and other professionals to determine the most appropriate program for consumers and resolve related problems.
- Working with individuals with developmental and/or physical disabilities to identify vocational goals and objectives.
- Developing and implementing an effective work program designed to improve vocational skills.
- Ensuring safety of consumers while involved in Center programs.
Primary duties
- Gathers, organizes, and analyzes information about consumers’ habilitation progress through productivity, attendance records and interviews with professional sources to assess their interests, aptitudes, abilities, and personality characteristics for use in vocational training.
- Assists consumers in understanding and overcoming social and emotional issues through case management.
- Collects all necessary documents for consumer files; establishes and maintains complete and accurate documentation; manages consumer files in accordance with AbilityFirst policies and procedures, and the requirements of state licensing and organizations providing contractual funds; enters current consumer information in case records, initiates completion of financial approval forms, gathers data and prepares a variety of reports on caseload activity for management use and decision-making.
- Coordinates and schedules consumer IHC meetings and other program planning meetings and serves as facilitator for same.
- Schedules and facilitates meetings with floor staff and AVTC Manager to coordinate implementation of habilitation plans and to ensure consumers’ needs are appropriately addressed and reflected in the IHC.
- Acts as an advocate for consumers in all areas of case management.
- Develops and maintains knowledge of AbilityFirst’s program services, policies, and procedures.
- Maintains effective communication with consumers, service providers, and other professionals.
- Conducts interviews with potential applicants and determines the appropriateness of vocational training.
- Identifies, reports, and follows up on unmet services.
- Refers consumers to supported employment and other services as needed.
- Assists consumers in communicating with other agencies and service providers.
- Conducts training as needed in work-related issues such as grooming, hygiene, appropriate work attire and appropriate work behavior.
- Works with other staff members to resolve employment issues and monitor quality of vocational training.
- Develops and maintains professional working skills in the vocational habilitation field through seminars, workshops, or other forms of training/education.
Secondary duties
- Performs any or all duties as required or requested by Center Director or other members of the management team.
Supervisory responsibility
The Case Manager in this position does not have supervisory responsibility. However, he or she is expected to provide professional leadership to other members of staff, consumers and their families or caretakers.
The working environment for this position is an open office that is clean and comfortable. It may include some minor annoyances such as noise, odors, and drafts. The Case Manager is in a non-confined, office-type environment in which he or she is generally free to move about at will. However, when working with consumers, he or she may not leave them unattended until replaced by another staff member or the parent/caregiver. In addition, the Case Manager may work throughout the center’s facilities in which developmentally and physically disabled children and adults are being served. He/she is expected to travel within the community on a periodic basis using his/her own vehicle and/or public transportation.
Physical activity
While performing this work, the Case Manager will spend most of the time sitting, speaking, and listening. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of the job.
Equipment operation
The Case Manager in this position operates the following equipment:
- telephone;
- computer;
- copy machine.
Position requirements
These specifications are general guidelines based upon the minimum ordinarily considered essential to satisfactory performance in this position. Individual skills and abilities may result in some deviation from these guidelines.
To perform effectively in this position, the Case Manager is required to have:
- BA or BS (or higher) by CARF, or AA degree with 2 years of Case Management work experience
- a working knowledge of vocational habilitation for adults with developmental and/or physical disabilities.
- a working knowledge of methods used in sheltered workshops or related functions.
- skills and experience in developing vocational habilitation plans for developmentally and physically disabled adults.
- case management skills.
- demonstrated leadership and team building skills.
- demonstrated conflict resolution/problem-solving skills.
- personal computer skills including database and word processing.
- very effective oral and written communications skills.
- ability to work independently and make mature business decisions.
Typically, these requirements may be met by a combination of education (including a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related discipline) in vocational services, social services, education, or related discipline and several years’ experience in a similar field. Prior education and/or experience in vocational habilitation are preferred.
The Case Manager must be able to perform this job safely, without endangering the health or safety of him/herself or others.
Work Schedule:
- Full Time
- Hybrid
Benefits:
- Medical
- Vision
- Dental
- 11 Paid Holidays
- 401 K
Competencies
Adaptability – Adapts to change. Open to new ideas, responsibilities, and ways of doing things.
Communication – Communicates well; both spoken and written. Able to break down and convey concepts and ideas on the level of the audience. Ensuring that supervisors, co-workers, and clients receive all relevant information is a high priority.
Conflict Management – Good interactive listening skills. Committed to finding solutions (finding the “Yes”). Works well with difficult people.
Customer Service – Promotes a positive image of AbilityFirst and Employment Services. Strives for customer satisfaction.
Dependability – Meets deadlines. Works independently with minimal supervision. High level of accountability. Punctual and maintains a good attendance record.
Quality – Strives to eliminate errors. Makes accurate work a priority. Seeks opportunities to improve services provides.
AbilityFirst
Team Values = Heart
Teamwork
AbilityFirst’s team draws its strength from a shared enthusiasm for each other’s success. We live our mission at work and away. In pursuit of that commitment, we enthusiastically build connections between us to continuously learn from one-another and actively seek feedback to improve our approach to the work.
Kindness
We nurture a warm and engaging work environment with trust and respect for one another. Rooted in our mission, we approach each other with humility, humor, and a generosity of spirit. We value diversity and cultivate open and honest communication to understand each other.
We Get the Job Done
AbilityFirst’s team members are open-minded and innovative leaders, guided by a strong moral compass. We approach problems with creativity and follow-through, holding ourselves and each other accountable for staying focused on the goals we set together.
Monday - Friday
8am - 4:30pm
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