Independent Living Counselor

Health & Human Services; Asheville (NC); On-site; USD 43,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance options

Retirement plans

Paid vacation and sick leave

Parental leave

Job summary

Health & Human Services in North Carolina seeks an Independent Living Rehabilitation Counselor (ILRC) to assist visually impaired individuals to maintain independence at home or in the community. The role focuses on assessment, service planning, counseling, and referrals, with emphasis on independence and reduced isolation.

The position involves group and individual instruction in daily living skills, adaptive tech, and coordination with other agency programs, plus collaboration with community

Qualifications

• Requires knowledge of or experience in case management.
• Knowledge of or experience working with people with disabilities.
• Experience working with a team of professionals to help a client meet a goal.

Responsibilities

• Conduct community outreach to identify individuals in need of services.
• Complete a comprehensive assessment for each applicant.
• Interpret eye reports to determine level of visual impairment.
• Determine eligibility for services.
• Develop a service plan with independent living objectives.
• Provide guidance and counseling throughout case management.
• Refer to internal/external resources as needed.
• Provide instruction on daily living skills, adaptive technology, cooking, personal care, and communication.
• Coordinate trainings and maintain partnerships.

Skills

Case management experience

Disabilities experience

Team collaboration

Job description

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Description of Work

The Independent Living Rehabilitation Counselor (ILRC) serves individuals who are visually impaired, blind or deaf-blind who need individualized services to maintain independence in the home and/or community. A majority of individuals requiring services are over the age of 55. Services provided by this program assist individuals with adapting to sensory loss to reduce a sense of isolation, increase the ability to engage in meaningful activities and reduce the risk of injuries, depression and nursing home placement.

Job Duties

• Conduct outreach in the community to identify individuals in need of program services.
• Complete a comprehensive assessment of each applicant for services.
• Interpret eye reports to determine the level of visual impairment and to assist with planning appropriate services.
• Determine eligibility for services
• In collaboration with the client, develop a service plan which includes specific independent living objectives.
• Provide guidance and counseling throughout the case management process.
• Make referrals to agency internal staff for specialized services, to other agency programs, including Vocational Rehabilitation, and to external resources needed for the achievement of planned goals.
• Provide instruction on basic daily living skills tasks both one-on-one and in group settings. Instruction areas include but are not limited to basic adaptive technology, cooking, personal care and communications.
• Manage a budget and ensure expenditure meets policy guidelines.
• Hire and train vendors to serve as Daily Living Skills Instructors.
• Coordinate in-person or virtual group training.
• Develop and maintain relationships with community partners in order to best serve clients.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Salary Range: $43,267.00-$75,718.00

Recruitment Range: $43,267.00-$60,000.00

Position is funded in part through federal funds.

Posting closes at 11:59 p.m. the night before the end date

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they have the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement.

The following Management Preferences are not required, but applicants that possess these skills are preferred.

• Knowledge of or experience in case management
• Knowledge of or experience working with people with disabilities
• Knowledge of or experience working with a team of professionals to help a client meet a goal

About the NC Division of Services for the Blind (DSB)

The Division of Services for the Blind provides services to people who are visually impaired, blind and deaf- blind to help them reach their goals of independence and employment.

Compensation and Benefits

• Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis).
• Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave.
• In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees.

Supplemental Contact Information

The North