Options Counselor

Eau Claire County; Eau Claire (WI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Eau Claire County is seeking a qualified professional to join its aging and disability resources team. The successful candidate will provide long-term care options counseling, eligibility determinations, enrollment and disenrollment support for state programs.

The role requires thorough assessments, strong interviewing skills, and independent caseload management, coordinating with healthcare providers and community partners to connect individuals with appropriate services and supports.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in health or human service field or equivalent.
• Master’s degree in gerontology, social work or related field preferred.
• LTC Functional Screen certification or ability to obtain within 3 months.
• Option Counseling Standards certification or ability to obtain within 3 months.
• Ability to exercise independent judgement in complex cases.
• Criminal and caregiver background checks required.
• Valid driver's license and insurance required.

Responsibilities

• Provides long-term care options counseling, eligibility, enrollment, and disenrollment counseling for state programs.
• Performs thorough assessments of health, financial, and social needs to advise on options.
• Conducts high-level interviewing and assessment to apply professional judgement per certification.
• Manages resources for older adults and disabled individuals to provide accurate information.
• Develops individualized action plans and tracks progress in case management systems.
• Delivers educational materials and presentations; serves as a resource on aging and disability.
• Independently manage a caseload with ongoing support and documentation.
• Collaborates with healthcare providers, legal professionals, agencies, and community partners.
• Explains complex information to help customers complete resource applications and follows up.
• Uses trauma-informed communication; assists care transitions to home-based services.
• Provides dementia education and memory screening with person-centered follow-up.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with internal and external partners.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Long-term care options counseling

Eligibility determination

Enrollment counseling

Disenrollment counseling

Thorough assessments

Interviewing skills

Professional judgement

Case management

Dementia knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in health or human services

Master’s degree in gerontology or social work

Long-Term Care Functional Screen certification

Option Counseling Standards certification

Tools

Case management systems

Job description

• Provides long-term care options counseling, eligibility determination, enrollment counseling, and disenrollment counseling for the State’s Long Term Care Programs.


• Conducts thorough assessments to understand individuals’ health, financial, and social needs in order to equip them with options to make informed decisions.


• Executes high level interviewing and assessment skills and utilizes professional judgement in order to administer the Long-Term Care Functional Screen per certification requirements.


• Manages available resources and services for older people, adults with physical or developmental disabilities, and adults with mental health and substance use disorders and their families and caregivers to offer accurate and current information to customers on resource eligibility, cost, service descriptions, and method to apply/receive services.


• Develops individualized actions plans and tracks progress through case management systems.


• Develops and delivers educational materials and presentations to individuals with disabilities and elders. Serves as a community resource on issues relating to aging and living with a disability.


• Independently manage a caseload, providing ongoing support, follow-up and documentation.


• Uses extensive knowledge of the needs of older people, adults with physical or developmental disabilities, adults with mental health and substance use disorders and their families and caregivers; assesses customers and their needs to obtain or maintain community based or in-home services; explores needs beyond the presenting problem, looking at short- and long-term solutions.


• Works closely with healthcare providers, legal professionals, government agencies, and community organizations to coordinate benefits and services for individuals.


• Effectively explains complicated information to people of varying physical, cognitive abilities to assist customers in completing community resource applications; maintains contact throughout eligibility and enrollment process and follows-up as needed.


• Uses ability and skill to communicate effectively orally and in writing using trauma informed model of service; provides care transition assistance to customers transferring between community care settings to in-home care; provides outreach and information to young persons with disabilities and their family caregivers, as they transition from school into the adult long-term care system; links at-risk individuals with prevention and early intervention services provided by the ADRC, public health, and other service providers.


• High level knowledge of dementia in order to provide dementia education and support to individuals and their caregivers.


• Administers memory screens and provides person-centered follow-up as needed.

• Approves funding for transportation rides related to 85.21 transportation grant.


• Assesses the need for and provides education on adaptive equipment.


• Employs skill in personal computer operation utilizing a variety of standard and specialized software and online programs to accurately and thoroughly documents each interaction with customers in the case management system with case notes that must meet extensive standards.


• Participates in and conducts agency committees and community and internal focus groups; assists in developing outreach and marketing materials and provide community education and information via public presentations; communicates with general public concerning issues for people served by the ADRC and their family and caregivers.


• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with internal and external partners.


• Performs other related duties as required or assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in a health or human service-related field.


• One year of experience in health or human service field working in an aging or disability related profession.


• Long-Term Care Functional Screen certification or ability to obtain certification within three (3) months of hire and maintain that certification thereafter by passing bi-annual exams.


• Option Counseling Standards certification or ability to obtain certification within three (3) months of hire.


• Ability to exercise independent judgement and make decisions in complex situations.


• Appointment will be conditional upon successful completion of criminal and caregiver background checks.


• Must maintain a valid driver’s license and automobile liability insurance meeting or exceeding Wisconsin’s minimum coverage requirements, with proof of insurance provided upon hire and maintained throughout employment.

• Master’s degree in gerontology, social work or other health and human services related profession.


• Experience with providing information and assistance, long-term care options counseling, care coordination, or case management and the long-term care functional screen.


• Experience working in an agency with government income maintenance program, health insurance, and consumer rights for people with disabilities.


• Experience in the use of adaptive equipment, the ability to assess the need for it and to demonstrate the usage of it.


• Experience with public speaking, preferably with community organizations and health care professionals.


• Experience working with the medical community or other professionals and resources serving the ADRC target populations.


• Direct ADRC work experience, preferably with experience as a long-term care functional screener.