Lead Qualified Disability Professional

Cardinal Services, Inc. of Indiana; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Company-Paid Life Insurance & Long‑Trm

Voluntary Life Insurance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Retirement Plan

Vacation, Sick and Personal Time

Holiday Pay

Flexible Scheduling

Paid Training & Continuing Education

Tuition Assistance

Employee Referral Bonus

Job summary

Easterseals Northern Indiana seeks a Lead Qualified Disability Professional to provide operational and clinical leadership for the Hourly Supported Living department. They will oversee all aspects of the caseload, ensure regulatory compliance, manage staff, and safeguard program quality under the Director’s guidance.

The role requires strong leadership, regulatory knowledge, and the ability to coordinate services, budgets, and stakeholder collaboration to achieve exceptional participant outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• Minimum three years of experience supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Minimum two years of leadership or supervisory experience preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Medicaid Waiver services, person-centered planning, and regulatory requirements.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
• Ability to analyze problems and develop practical solutions.
• Valid driver's license and insured vehicle.
• Ability to pass all required background screenings.
• Ability to obtain and maintain all required certifications

Responsibilities

• Oversee regulatory compliance for the Hourly Supported Living program, ensuring services comply with all applicable Medicaid Waiver, BDS, State, Federal, and agency requirements.
• Develop, implement, and maintain processes that promote regulatory compliance and quality service delivery.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and complete documentation for all participants receiving Hourly Services.
• Lead preparation for local, state, and federal surveys and reviews, including coordinating corrective actions and ensuring sustained compliance.
• Monitor service documentation, billing requirements, participant finances, and required records for accuracy and compliance.
• Serve as the department subject matter expert regarding documentation standards, waiver requirements, and person-centered service delivery.
• Provide direct supervision of Qualified Disability Professionals and other assigned staff.
• Recruit, interview, hires, orients, trains, coaches, evaluates, disciplines, and terminates assigned personnel in accordance with agency policies.
• Determine staffing assignments and caseload distribution to ensure quality services and efficient utilization of resources.
• Review and approve staff schedules, PTO requests, and staffing adjustments as appropriate.
• Develop staff through coaching, mentorship, training, and performance management.
• Provide participant-specific training regarding Individual Support Plans, Behavior Support Plans, High Risk Plans, and other required supports.
• Foster accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and continuous improvement throughout the department.
• Oversee the daily operations of the Hourly Supported Living program.
• Maintain an assigned participant caseload while balancing leadership responsibilities.
• Coordinate service delivery to ensure participant needs are met in accordance with authorized services.
• Respond to participant crises and complex service issues, providing guidance and leadership to staff.
• Serve as the primary operational decision-maker for the Hourly Services program.
• Collaborate with the Call Center regarding staffing requests, after-hours concerns, emergency approvals, and service coordination.
• Coordinate with internal departments and community partners to ensure continuity of participant services.
• Develops and manages the Hourly Supported Living operating budget.
• Monitors staffing utilization, service authorizations, and productivity to maximize available resources.
• Ensure services are delivered within approved funding while maintaining quality outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency without compromising participant care.
• Collaborates with Fiscal and agency leadership regarding billing, utilization, and resource management.
• Oversees development, implementation, and monitoring of Individual Support Plans and Person-Centered Plans.
• Monitors participant progress and ensures services are delivered consistent with identified goals and outcomes.
• Coordinates interdisciplinary services including medical, behavioral, therapeutic, vocational, educational, financial, and community supports.
• Serves as primary liaison with participants, families, guardians, case managers, providers, and community partners.
• Coordinates crisis intervention, participant advocacy, and complex case management as needed.
• Ensures participant health, safety, rights, and quality of life remain central to all service delivery decisions.
• Monitors program performance and identifies opportunities for continuous quality improvement.
• Reviews trends in documentation, incidents, participant outcomes, and regulatory compliance to recommend operational improvements.
• Assists with development and implementation of department policies, procedures, workflows, and best practices.
• Participates in strategic planning and program development initiatives for the Supported Living department.
• Leads or participates in special projects as assigned to improve service quality and operational effectiveness.
• Upholds agency mission, vision, values, and policies.
• Maintains confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and all applicable laws and regulations.
• Builds collaborative relationships with participants, families, employees, community partners, funding sources, and regulatory agencies.
• Demonstrates professionalism, integrity, accountability, and leadership in all interactions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Decision making

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Days to be worked: Monday - Friday 8a-5p

Job Summary:

The Lead Qualified Disability Professional provides operational and clinical leadership for the Supported Living department. This position oversees all aspects of their caseload, including participant services, regulatory compliance, personnel management, financial stewardship, and program quality while maintaining an assigned caseload.The Lead QDP exercises independent judgment in directing department operations, supervising staff, and ensuring exceptional participant outcomes, serving as the primary leader for the Hourly Supported Living service line under the direction of the Director of Supported Living.

Key Responsibilities:

Maintain Compliance with All Regulatory Bodies

• Oversees regulatory compliance for the Hourly Supported Living program, ensuring services comply with all applicable Medicaid Waiver, BDS, State, Federal, and agency requirements.
• Develops, implements, and maintains processes that promote regulatory compliance and quality service delivery.
• Ensures accurate, timely, and complete documentation for all participants receiving Hourly Services.
• Leads preparation for local, state, and federal surveys and reviews, including coordinating corrective actions and ensuring sustained compliance.
• Monitors service documentation, billing requirements, participant finances, and required records for accuracy and compliance.
• Serves as the department subject matter expert regarding documentation standards, waiver requirements, and person-centered service delivery.

2. Lead the Hourly Supported Living Workforce

• Provides direct supervision of Qualified Disability Professionals and other assigned staff.
• Recruits, interviews, hires, orients, trains, coaches, evaluates, disciplines, and terminates assigned personnel in accordance with agency policies.
• Determines staffing assignments and caseload distribution to ensure quality services and efficient utilization of resources.
• Reviews and approves staff schedules, PTO requests, and staffing adjustments as appropriate.
• Develops staff through coaching, mentorship, training, and performance management.
• Provides participant-specific training regarding Individual Support Plans, Behavior Support Plans, High Risk Plans, and other required supports.
• Fosters accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and continuous improvement throughout the department.

3. Direct Hourly Supported Living Operations

• Oversee the daily operations of the Hourly Supported Living program.
• Maintains an assigned participant caseload while balancing leadership responsibilities.
• Coordinates service delivery to ensure participant needs are met in accordance with authorized services.
• Responds to participant crises and complex service issues, providing guidance and leadership to staff.
• Serves as the primary operational decision-maker for the Hourly Services program.
• Collaborates with the Call Center regarding staffing requests, after-hours concerns, emergency approvals, and service coordination.
• Coordinates with internal departments and community partners to ensure continuity of participant services.

4. Manage Resources Responsibly

• Develops and manages the Hourly Supported Living operating budget.
• Monitors staffing utilization, service authorizations, and productivity to maximize available resources.
• Ensures services are delivered within approved funding while maintaining quality outcomes.
• Identifies opportunities to improve operational efficiency without compromising participant care.
• Collaborates with Fiscal and agency leadership regarding billing, utilization, and resource management.

5. Ensure Individualized, Person-Centered Services

• Oversees development, implementation, and monitoring of Individual Support Plans and Person-Centered Plans.
• Monitors participant progress and ensures services are delivered consistent with identified goals and outcomes.
• Coordinates interdisciplinary services including medical, behavioral, therapeutic, vocational, educational, financial, and community supports.
• Serves as primary liaison with participants, families, guardians, case managers, providers, and community partners.
• Coordinates crisis intervention, participant advocacy, and complex case management as needed.
• Ensures participant health, safety, rights, and quality of life remain central to all service delivery decisions.

6. Promote Quality Improvement and Program Development

• Monitors program performance and identifies opportunities for continuous quality improvement.
• Reviews trends in documentation, incidents, participant outcomes, and regulatory compliance to recommend operational improvements.
• Assists with development and implementation of department policies, procedures, workflows, and best practices.
• Participates in strategic planning and program development initiatives for the Supported Living department.
• Leads or participates in special projects as assigned to improve service quality and operational effectiveness.

7. Positively Represent Easterseals Northern Indiana

• Upholds agency mission, vision, values, and policies.
• Maintains confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and all applicable laws and regulations.
• Builds collaborative relationships with participants, families, employees, community partners, funding sources, and regulatory agencies.
• Demonstrates professionalism, integrity, accountability, and leadership in all interactions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Experience:

Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience required.

Minimum three years of experience supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Minimum two years of leadership or supervisory experience preferred.

Demonstrated knowledge of Medicaid Waiver services, person-centered planning, and regulatory requirements.

Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and decision-making skills.

Ability to manage multiple priorities independently.

Ability to analyze problems and develop practical solutions.

Valid driver's license and insured vehicle.

Ability to pass all required background screenings.

Ability to obtain and maintain all required certifications

Work Environment/Conditions:

Lead QDPperforms duties in a standard office environment.Lead QDPworks with minimum supervision, both alone and with others in a team environment.Lead QDPfrequentlyworks on several tasks at the same time, often under time pressure. Work may requiremoderate to heavylifting.Lead QDPoccasionallyworksextended hours,weekendsand/or evenings, and occasionally travels out of town, sometimes overnight. Position does require direct client care if needed.

Physical Requirement:

Work mayrequiremoderate to heavy lifting up to 75lbs while working with clients. Incumbent may work with violent/physically aggressive participants and respond to emergency situations involving potential physical harm to self and others.

• Health Insurance:Employee, Employee Child, Employee Spouse, or Family coverage.
• Company-Paid Life Insurance & Long-Term Disability
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Retirement Plan
• Vacation, Sick and Personal Time
• Holiday Pay
• Flexible Scheduling
• Paid Training & Continuing Education
• Tuition Assistance
• Employee Referral Bonus

EEO/ADA Compliant

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.