Museum Research Worker jobs in Parkersburg, WV

The Center for Excellence in Disabilities at West Virginia University Research Corporation is currently accepting applications for a hybrid Social Worker/Family Based Care Specialist (2 openings).

About the Opportunity

This position works within the realm of the Specialized Family Care (SFC). The primary purpose of this position is to recruit, train, and maintain a network of homes that provide foster housing and care to adults and children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Specifically, the incumbent conducts regional recruitment activities to increase the number of SFC provider homes available, coordinates specialized training for SFC home providers, conducts regular inspections of the home and certifies that the home meets standards of health and safety for the persons that are or may be placed there. The employee provides technical, resource, and referral support to provider/foster families, organizations, and communities relating to individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities placed within SFC provider homes. The employee also serves as a support/service contact relative to the position field of expertise.

At WVU Research Corporation, we strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU Research Corporation offers a comprehensive benefits package with a variety of options to suit your needs:

• 13 paid holidays ()
• PTO
• 403(b) retirement savings with a fully vested 3% employee contribution match, (Employees have the option of contributing an additional 1-3% of their earnings to the plan, which is also matched by the WVURC)
• A range of
• Dependent Education Scholarship
• WVU Perks
• And More!!

What you'll do:

• Responsible for the quality assurance of up to 30 Specialized Family Care (SFC) provider homes throughout a particular region. Error in judgment could cause displacement of persons with disabilities, non-payment of funds for services to providers and litigation.
  Provide quality assessment support for regulatory, contract, policy and/or program activities and matters based on applicable laws, policies, and standards. Comply with existing state laws, regulations and guidelines for Medley Case Management and Specialized Family Care homes.
  • Assess and evaluate foster care providers and their homes for placement of adults and children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) for both long term and respite (part-time or occasional) care.
  • Conduct monthly home visits in the homes of providers, visiting with both the providers and persons in placement, and reviewing and inspecting the homes in an effort to assure the health, safety, and security of the home environment of the person placed in the home.
  • Assure that SFC home providers successfully complete all annual training requirements in order to maintain their certification to care for individuals with I/DD.
  • Assure that certification information and back-up documentation is received, reviewed, and approved on an annual basis and in a timely, complete, and accurate fashion.
  • Make final recommendations to the Program Manager as to the status of the provider home (i.e., continued approval, placement on improvement plan, closure).
• Serve as a resource to SFC home providers, other Family Based Care Specialists, and various representatives in state and local agencies and consumers on a daily basis.
  
  • Maintain regular contact with providers through home visits, emails, letters, and phone calls to offer support to the SFC home provider and provide continued assessment of the functioning of the home and needs of the provider or person in placement.
  • Interface regularly with employees and supervisors of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR), as many of the persons placed in SFC provider homes are also clients of this agency. Case consultation and referrals are also a regular part of the work completed with WVDHHR.
  • Interface regularly with service coordinators and therapeutic consultants of local behavioral health centers, as the persons placed in SFC provider homes are also clients of these agencies.
  • Advise outside organizations on area of expertise, which may include funding, guardianship, general policy, I/DD Waiver, Medicaid Personal Care, and other resource referral issues.
  • Plan and/or participate in regional and statewide meetings on a variety of programmatic issues impacting the Specialized Family Care Program and/or persons with disabilities.
  • Train new Family Based Care Specialists and associated Medley Team members and may provide input into the development and modification of agency policies and procedures impacting Specialized Family Care.
• Manage quality assessment documents and databases.
  • Maintain comprehensive and detailed records for all activities, events and initiatives impacting each individual placement including on-going contact and monitoring of the Specialized Family Care Home through monthly visits, quarterly reports and annual home recertification.
  • Complete entries into a statewide computerized database.
  • Make regular reports of data and outcomes to the Center for Excellence in Disabilities in order to have detailed program information included in both federal and state activity reports.
  • Provide up-to-date data and information as requested for programmatic audits and inquiries.
• Participate as a member of an interdisciplinary team collaborating with state and local agencies as it relates to the housing of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
  • Attend Individual Education Plan meetings for children in placement, Individual Program Plan meetings for adults in placement, and Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings for persons in placement who are also connected to the WVDHHR.
  • Provide SFC home providers with support and advocacy in relation to the interdisciplinary team.
  • Ensure the focus and attention of the interdisciplinary team to the critical importance of the home placement of the person with I/DD.
  • Assist with the transition of children in placement to adult placements as they age out of the child foster care system.
  • Inform team of case issues needing addressed.
  • Serve as a policy resource to interdisciplinary team members.
  • Assist with appeals filed by SFC home providers.
  • May serve as a historian, of sorts, giving perspective of the home and the person in placement over time.
• Perform some administrative functions.
  • Complete purchase requests and inventory sheets for equipment in his/her care.
  • Use state purchasing card to pay for travel and other authorized expenses.
  • Complete travel requests and reimbursement forms.
  • Maintain compliance with Social Work licensure through the completion of training documentation and other required documents.
  • Type letters and emails to SFC home providers and other professionals, as well as reports and database entries.
  • Complete requests for Medley Demand payments to SFC home providers for expenditures that fall outside of the normal home operation.
  • Review the SFC home providers' personal care billing prior to submission to Molina Medicaid.
• Conduct outreach to educate the community, other agencies, and the public about the Specialized Family Care Program and in an effort to recruit new homes into the program.
  
  • Receive and respond to inquiries from the general public to become new SFC home providers.
  • Receive, submit, and respond to referrals of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities for placement in provider homes.
  • Disseminate flyers and promotional materials related to the program.
  • Participate in booth fairs (i.e., community health fairs, professional training booths, etc.).
  • Design and present training programs and strategies for the general public and professionals.
  • Create informational workbooks and manuals.
• Travel as needed to homes, meetings, trainings, and other activities. Some overnight travel is required.

• Bachelor's degree in human services or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and directly related experience. Master's degree preferred.
• A minimum of five (5) years of related work experience. This provides the incumbent with a general knowledge of I/DD issues and associated training and care required to address specific consumer needs noting limitations and expectations.
  
  • Incumbent must have experience and skill in working as an interagency team member in planning community placement.
• Advanced knowledge of processes and procedures, the service and/or product and its application.
• Knowledge of available services, state policy and program limitations relating to individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to work and meet established deadlines with the ability to effectively communicate orally and narratively with consumers, professionals, providers and co-workers.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.
• A knowledge of Family Based Care, Foster Care and Adult Family Care programs and all related I/DD services.
• Incumbent will be required to work and respond to a variety of different and unique situations independently using a variety of criteria with a minimum of supervision.

Certifications:

• Must have or be eligible for licensure as a Social Worker or certified Social Worker by the West Virginia Board of Social Work Examiners.

• Valid US drivers' license.

The WVURC was created as a not-for-profit corporation in 1985 to support research (R1) at West Virginia University. We provide evaluation, development, patenting, management, and marketing services for inventions of the faculty, staff and students of the University.

The WVURC receives and administers funds awarded by external agencies for research and other activities and is responsible for helping protect intellectual property through patents, copyrights and licensing agreements for start-up companies based on University research.

Creating an inclusive, engaged, and dynamic environment is core to WVURC's mission. We welcome candidates who can contribute a range of ideas, approaches and experiences.

West Virginia University Research Corporation is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. We value diversity among its employees and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.