ABOUT PATHLIGHT: Founded in 1952, Pathlight (formerly known as The Association For Community Living) partners with people with disabilities to create opportunities and build relationships throughout their lives. We are the parent company of Autism Connections, Whole Children, Milestones, Whole Selves, Family Empowerment, and the Down Syndrome Resource Group of Western Massachusetts.

DIVISION: Family Based Living (Shared Living + Adult Family Care programs)

TITLE: Homestudy and Family Resource Coordinator/ Social Worker

LOCATION: 75 South Church St, Pittsfield, MA 01201

GRADE: Grade 12 Exempt

PAY: $52,249.60 - $56,513.60/ year

Please Note: This is the perfect time to join Pathlight's Team! The person hired for this role is eligible to receive a Retention Bonus up to $3,500 within the first year!

Ideal Candidates would ...:

• Have the desire to support and empower individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities!
• Be knowledgeable about developmental disabilities, family systems, as well as community and professional resources.
• Have case management and advocacy experience.
• Have experience in the field, using databases, monitoring expenditures, and composing reports.
• Be a great communicator, listener, and team player (You will be working with individuals, peers, community supports, funders, etc.)

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

• Conduct comprehensive home study assessments on families and individuals applying to provide care in their homes for adults and children referred to Family Based Living for placement, utilizing clinical assessment skills in determining eligibility.
• Manage and coordinate DCF Family Resource Responsibilities, along with acting as liaison for staff and Care Providers with the Virtual Gateway regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with Program Directors and Communications and Recruitment Coordinator to facilitate systems and procedures for recruitment, Intake and Referral.
• Monitor and track Care Provider and Respite lists and ensure adherence with regulatory compliance through the vetting process and ongoing.
• Carry a partial caseload:
  • Provide overall case management of individuals with developmental disabilities placed in Adult Family Care, Shared Living homes, or Intensive Therapeutic Foster Care.
  • Coordinate/monitor delivery of services to those supported by Care Providers, Foster Parents, Primary Support Staff, Individual Support Specialists and Respite Providers to ensure conformity to funding agencies regulations, internal Policies, procedures and quality standards, and to applicable program model.
  • Identify stressors and conflicts and strategize appropriate interventions to maintain stability.
  • Provide supervision to Individual Support Staff (ISS) and Personal Support Staff (PSS) employees.
  • Work collaboratively with funders and other state and/or private agencies. Prepare all required reports assessments, etc. as they relate to the caseload in a concise, comprehensive, and timely manner.
  • Provide crisis intervention services as needed and participate in a program on-call system.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Responsible for staying current with the regulatory requirements of three funding agencies DDS, DCF, and MassHealth. Respond to emergency and planned placement needs for the various programs.
• Represent and support FAMILY BASED LIVING, and Pathlight relationships with funding agencies on the regional and local levels.
• Maintain confidential care provider records and adhere to the regulatory requirements of the various funders.
• Apply DDS, DCF, and MassHealth standards to assess and determine physical safety of homes. Ensure the list of standards are met while conducting an in- home assessment in a variety of locations and environments.
• Responsible for screening applicant care providers at orientation visit and, if appropriate, complete comprehensive home study interviews including background history and provide a clinical assessment of information gathered from visits and ancillary materials.
• Responsible for screening, approving, and maintaining information for respite providers. Ensure that all annual paperwork is completed along with adherence to regulatory compliance standards. Serve as resource for planned and emergency respite.
• Manage the Division's CORI, SORI and Driving Record related processes, along with fingerprinting, and background record checks for all household members fifteen years and older prior to approval as Care Provider for the agency. Work collaboratively with Recruitment Coordinator to ensure systems and procedures for regulatory compliance are followed.
• Responsible for facilitating intake and pre-placement activities for DDS, AFC and DCF referrals. Work collaboratively with Program Directors and Communications and Recruitment coordinator to follow processes and procedures from Intake to Placement. Recommend placement matches based on clinical assessment of the needs of the child/adult referred and the strengths, skills and abilities of the Care Provider.
• Manage, track and monitor all related data regarding intake, home studies, licensing, and closing homes on the Virtual Gateway, ensuring regulatory compliance with licensing standards.
• Serve as agency representative on the Intensive Foster Care Committee for DCF and other regional IFC providers to review and potentially respond to current referrals.
• Meet monthly with DCF care providers. Complete annual evaluations, re-licensing and monthly documentation on the Gateway.
• Serve as consultant and support resource for families providing IFC/Multi-Acute Care. Act as Advisor on a development plan for the Care Provider; emphasizing positive behavior management practices and addressing the provision of trauma- based supports.
• Manage a partial case load
• Coordinate services following the differing regulations of multiple funding departments.
• Provide crisis intervention services as needed.
• Coordinate effectively with Nursing Staff and other Clinical Team members in the provision of services to program members.
• Emergency on call responsibilities: provide scheduled emergency on-call support as part of the on-call system, which may include direct support to individuals served, if necessary. Contact/Communicate with supervisor or others in more unusual, difficult or complex situations to obtain direction and/or guidance.
• Responsible for adhering to regulatory standards as approved CORI Authorizer's.
• Perform other similar duties as required by responsibility or necessity or as requested by supervisor.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, or related field. Master's preferred.
• Over 5 years up to and including 7 years applicable professional work experience.
• LSWA license (or eligible)
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation/vehicle.
• Strong written and verbal skills required; multilingual a plus.
• Computer skills in data management required.
• Demonstrated experience in managing diverse and complex relationships resulting in positive outcomes.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:

Reports to Program Director/Associate Program Director

Works as a Liaison for staff and Care Providers for adherence to Virtual Gateway regulatory requirements and outside funding sources.

Collaborates with Communication and Recruitment Coordinator for facilitation of processes and procedures for Intake and Placement.

Pathlight has demonstrated a commitment to issues of diversity. We welcome all applicants. EOE equal opportunity employer.

Social Work | Case Work | Case Management | Advocacy | Home Assessments | Physical Standards | Family Systems | Developmental Disabilities | Intellectual Disabilities | Autism | Psychology | Foster Homes | LSW | LSWA | Inclusion | Support and Empower Others | Human Services