Human Services Coordinator I

Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Beverly (MA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is offering a career growth opportunity for a Human Services Coordinator I in the North Shore Area Office. The HSC I serves as the primary contact for individuals and families, building partnerships with families, guardians, provider agencies and other stakeholders involved with DDS services.

Responsibilities include coordinating ISP/Life Plan/ITP development, monitoring service delivery, and arranging diverse DDS-funded and community supports to

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and facilitate development of Individual Service Plans (ISP), Life Plans or Individual Transition Plans (ITP) for individuals on the caseload.
• Monitor the implementation of services provided by DDS funded residential, day and support program providers.
• Arrange, organize and coordinate DDS funded and generic supports to meet individuals' needs.
• Maintain communication and outreach with community services and other state agencies.
• Serve in specialized Service Coordinator roles (Transition SC, Adult SC, ASD HSC I, Children HSC I, Self-Direction SC) as required within caseloads.

Job description

The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is excited to offer a career growth opportunity to a motivated and talented individual for the Human Services Coordinator I (HSC I) position in the North Shore Area Office. The Human Service Coordinator I is the primary contact for individuals and families served by the Department and are expected to effectively represent the Area Office by building respectful and collaborative partnerships with individuals, families, guardians, provider agencies and other stakeholder groups involving the work of the Area Office and Department.

The HSC I coordinate and facilitates the development of Individual Service Plan (ISP); Life Plan or Individual Transition Plan (ITP), for individuals on assigned caseload, as well as monitors the implementation of services provided by DDS funded residential, day and support program providers. The HSC I ensure individuals on caseload receive appropriate services through arranging, organizing, and coordinating the Department of Developmental Services funded and generic support services in response to individual's needs, while maintaining communication and outreach with community services and other state agencies.

The role of the Service Coordinator allows for some specialization to best meet the needs of DDS eligible individuals who are Children (under 18 years of age), who are transitioning to adult services, who live with Autism (both with and without an intellectual disability) AND who are adults. The expectations and caseloads associated with each of these Service Coordinator roles vary due to the specialization. The specific Service Coordinator roles are listed below. These descriptions just highlight key job functions and are not inclusive of the entirety of the Service Coordination role.

Transition SC : A transition Service Coordinator works with Chapter 688 (better known as the "Turning 22" law) to provide a planning process for young adults with disabilities as they leave special education and transition into the adult service system. The T-2 SC develops and maintains close working relationships with local school authorities and facilitate a stable transition for individuals from school to adult services. The SC acts as the primary contact for individuals and families served by the Department and are expected to effectively represent the Area Office by building collaborative partnerships with individuals, families, guardians, provider agencies to guide the team through the 688 and transition process.

Adult SC : Adult Service Coordinators support DDS eligible Individuals (and their families) identify, and access needed supports and the mechanism by which those supports will be arranged. The choice between traditional and non-traditional supports, waiver eligibility and other factors are all part of this role. The Adult Service Coordinator keeps in regular touch with the individual to ensure the supports they are receiving are meeting their needs- this includes visits to the service setting to meet with the individual and observe their support firsthand. For those who receive no or limited DDS funded supports the Service Coordinator makes regular contact to ensure the individual is continuing to do well and has no outstanding support needs for supports from DDS.

ASD HSC I: ASD HSC I supports DDS eligible Individuals (and their families) identify, and access needed supports and the mechanism by which those supports will be arranged. The ASD HSC I keeps in regular touch with the individual to ensure the supports they are receiving are meeting their needs- this includes visits to the service setting to meet with the individual and observe their support firsthand. For those who receive no or limited DDS funded supports the ASD HSC I makes regular contact to ensure the individual is continuing to do well and has no outstanding support needs for supports from DDS.

Children HSC I: Children Service Coordinator (CSC) is a motivated team player who supports DDS eligible children and their families. Based on a mutual planning process with the family and assessment of need, the CSC assists caregivers with planning, accessing generic community-based supports, understanding SPED process and the identifying, and referring to internal and external supports. Elements of the role include service coordination, case management, information and referral, data management and interagency linkage.

Self-Direction SC: The Self-Direction Service Coordinator works with individuals in the Participant Directed Program who are directing their own services. In addition to other responsibilities, this requires the Service Coordinator to serve as a 'support broker,' helping the participant draft/revise their individual budget, supporting participants as needed in recruiting/interviewing/hiring workers, and problem-solving payroll and employer issues between participants and their employees.

Additional HSC I responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the