Disability Employment Services Case Manager

COOK INLET TRIBAL COUNCIL, INC.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title:          Disability Employment Services Case Manager

Department:    Financial Assistance Department (FAD)

Reports To:      Program Manager, Disability Employment and Financial Assistance

Supervises:      None

FLSA Status:   Non-Exempt

Pay Grade:       N6

Job Type:         Regular, Full-Time

AKBCU:            Yes      ICPA: Yes

General Functions:

Disability Employment Services Case Managers provide case management for Alaska Natives and American Indians living in the Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC) service area participating in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), General Assistance (GA), Disability Employment Services (DES) and 477 service programs. Case Managers work to identify participants’ strengths and skills, solving and overcoming challenges and barriers including personal, vocational, work, and family issues. Case Managers may assist participants who are in crisis and may need an advocate to help them work through the process of accessing internal/external services to reach self-sufficiency. Case Managers will provide referrals and act as an advocate between agencies, career/self-sufficiency plan development, and crisis intervention.  

Duties and Responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• Maintain an active participant caseload. 
• Participate in Integrated Case Management meetings for participants who are working with other internal/external agencies.  
• Conduct home and/or worksite visits with participants
• Provide one-on-one coaching and guidance in job search and life management; provide problem-solving support in resolving issues that could result in job loss.
• Assist participants in developing healthy life skills and goal setting, identifying personal and work strengths to apply transferable skills from one work situation to another. 
• Provide participants with short-term intervention, stabilization, and transitions to long-term assistance or resolution as appropriate. 
• Assist participants in developing realistic self-sufficiency plans by identifying strengths/skills/barriers that lead to self-sufficiency goals for the participant. 
• Refer participants to Life Skills workshops that will lead the participant to self-sufficiency and/or keep their family whole.
• Refer participants to complete a Barriers Assessment when applicable.
• Responsible for obtaining, tracking, and documenting all pertinent information in each participant's file utilizing the appropriate database for data entry (i.e., case notes, payments, goals, terminations, etc.).
• Update and report participant statistics monthly.
• Conduct departmental orientations and peer-to-peer sessions.
• Work as part of a cohesive team that recognizes and understands their role within the larger departmental team. 
• Coordinate internal/external participant referrals.
• Conduct follow-up on referrals as directed.
• Assist participants with supportive services according to program policy, procedure, and budget.
• Attend and actively participate in Department meetings and trainings.
• Attend and participate in all team and community meetings. 
• Coordinate the transport of participants with the FAD driver.
• Act as an on-call case manager when assigned.
• Maintain confidentiality according to regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Perform other related duties as needed and assigned.
• Conduct orientation sessions for the Disability Employment Services (DES) program describing eligibility criteria for potential participants with disabilities.
• Conduct DES interviews with potential participants; explain program services and requirements to all interested referrals and applicants.
• Collect all required DES documentation and determine eligibility for each potential participant. 
• Develop an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) jointly with each participant.
• Conduct or provide assessments and evaluations for DES participants to determine eligibility/services as outlined in the IPE.
• Assist participants in becoming active in his/her rehabilitation program, utilizing informed choices about the selection of vocational and/or other rehabilitation services.
• Develop a knowledge base on community resources to assist participants achieve their vocational goals.  
• Coordinate the delivery of program services with the Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and other Social Services agencies to maximize the availability of services to participants in an efficient, professional, and timely manner.
• Become familiar with the Vocational Rehabilitative process and the numerical status involved in monitoring clients’ progress in their rehabilitation programs.
• Participate in training and professional development activities as scheduled.
• Maintain an active caseload of Disability Services cases, and Cash Assistance cases as assigned.
• Responsible for current statistical database input on participant file activities (progress case notes, expenditure records, monthly status change records, IPE services summary, etc.), and retrieving of monthly statistics for program reports.
• Assist with the management of the CIRI region village caseloads as needed.
• Exercise initiative in identifying community and individual needs for services and assist in research and development of community resources to meet such needs within a geographic, cultural, or program area. 

Job Specifications:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple activities.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to handle crisis situations and make sound judgments.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team atmosphere.
• Knowledge of the area Labor Market and current trends.
• Working knowledge of motivational interviewing techniques.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the social, health, education and training, and cultural needs of the Alaska Native and American Indian communities.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of the social, economic, and cultural strengths, and issues of the service population.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and teach culturally relevant life and work skills that identify and focus on strengths. 
• Demonstrated ability to provide effective intervention on a short-term basis, moving families and participants to other services as soon as possible. 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision. 
• Must be willing to work with participants in various settings (home, community, and office). 
• Maintain confidentiality according to regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Performs all other related duties as needed and assigned.

Minimum Core Competencies: CITC Values, Respectful Leadership, Professionalism, Emotional Intelligence, Problem-Solving/Critical Thinking, Communication Skills 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in human services, Counseling, Social Work, and/or a related field. Relevant year-for-year experience and/or a relevant associate degree may be substituted on a case-by-case basis.
• Two (2) years’ experience in Vocational Rehabilitation or a closely related field.
• Knowledge of federal and state laws, rules, and regulations governing vocational rehabilitation required Under AAC 54.600-630, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended in 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
• Continued employment is contingent upon receipt of a satisfactory state and federal background check. 
• Valid Alaska driver’s license and insurable under CITC’s automotive insurance, which requires a driver to be at least 21 years of age and has had a driver’s license for at least three years.
• SOAR certification or willingness to obtain one within 6 months from the date of hire.

Preferred Qualifications for All Levels:

• Master’s degree in human services, Counseling, Social Work, and/or a related field. 
• Experience in social services or non-profit settings.
• TANF, GA, or State/Federal grant experience.
• Experience working with Alaska Native and American Indian populations with a working knowledge of their values and belief systems and the ability to provide culturally competent services.

Physical Requirements: 

Disclaimer

The information provided in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by incumbents within this job.   It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and working conditions required of employees assigned to this job.   Management has sole discretion to add or modify duties of the job and to designate other functions as essential at any time.  This job description is not an employment agreement or contract.