Senior Information & Referral Specialist

DuPage County; Wheaton (IL); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in community services is seeking a Senior Information and Referral Specialist. This role is crucial in assisting individuals with their needs, providing advocacy, and connecting them with appropriate resources. The successful candidate will have a strong background in social services, excellent communication skills, and the ability to perform data analysis. If you are passionate about helping others and making a difference in your community, this opportunity offers a fulfilling career path with the potential for personal and professional growth.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in Information and Referral or Social Services required.
• Completion of mandated training for Senior Health Insurance Program certification.

Responsibilities

• Assist clients in identifying needs and providing referrals.
• Conduct assessments and enter data into multiple databases.
• Perform community outreach and represent the unit with service providers.

Skills

Crisis Counseling

Data Analysis

Client Advocacy

Public Speaking

Community Outreach

Education

Associate’s Degree in Human Services

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology

Tools

Database Management

Communication Tools

Job description

We are pleased to offer the opportunity to work as a Senior Information and Referral Specialist within the DuPage County Department of Community Services. This position supports the department through responding to requests for assistance in gathering, analyzing, and evaluating data relating to needs, and determining appropriate referrals.

This position is dependent on available funding.

DuPage County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Responsibilities include:

• Assist individuals in focusing on particular needs and identifying problems.
• Screen clients either by phone or in person for eligibility for programs or services offered and complete calls.
• Answer and return calls on multiple phone lines, including 211 and a comprehensive information & referral line.
  Complete assessments with call-in and walk-in clients by gathering demographic, income, assets, and needs information.
  Enter demographics and assessment information into multiple database(s).
  Assist clients with the completion of applications, applying for assistance, setting appointments, or finding appropriate referrals.
• Provide advocacy and short-term crisis counseling for persons in extreme states of stress, and link them with appropriate resources.
• Mail, text, or email resource information when needed and follow up with individuals and/or referral agencies to ensure client needs are met.
• Provide counseling on health insurance options.
• Screen calls for complaints against long-term care facilities.
• Complete intake reports for allegations of abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect.
• Compile data on the number of calls, follow-up calls, source of referrals, and tabulate reports for review by supervisor.
• Conduct inquiries and basic research to determine if unknown types of services are available.
• Attend meetings and programs related to relevant social service programs the County supports.
• Prepare and present public information material, educational workshops, and represent the unit with service providers.
• Perform community outreach in the form of public speaking and educational workshops.

Requirements include the following experience or equivalent combination of training and experience:

• Completion of an Associate’s Degree in Human Services, Psychology, or a related field.
• Five years of experience in Information and Referral or Social Services.
• Must possess and maintain in good standing a valid Illinois Driver’s License.
• Completion of mandated training for Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) certification within one year.
• Must obtain an Inform USA (formerly AIRS) Certification, timeframe for obtaining certification is dependent on education level and prior Information & Referral experience.

Additional certifications and/or licenses may be required, dependent on the specific program.

A pre-employment background check is required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are