Outreach Worker (Brain Injury Services)

Overview

As an Outreach Worker, you will provide high quality, direct case management services to the individuals with Brain Injury or behavioral conditions. Your support and instruction will help in developing and enhancing activities of daily living, achieve goals, overcome barriers, and become more independent. In your role you will work together with the people we serve, their families, friends, employers, and other support staff to transform their lives. On a typical day, you may implement Individual Service Plans (ISP), provide transportation, and perform general housekeeping.

Responsibilities

Contributes to high quality case management services for persons served providing direct case management services.

• Implements service plan interventions with persons served.
• Provides direct training and support (instruction, assistance, modeling and reinforcement) for persons served in developing and enhancing their daily living skills, i.e. symptom, medication and money management, cooking, cleaning, recreational activities, personal hygiene, social and interpersonal skills, etc.
• Maintains and updates documentation in individual and program records.
• Acts as an advocate for persons served.
• Communicates verbally and in writing with co-workers, supervisors, and other service providers, including funding agency personnel.
• Escorts persons served into the community using public transportation, company or personal vehicle, as necessary.
• Monitors status of persons served, provides crisis intervention and counseling, as needed.
• Reports incidents to on-call manager or supervisor, as required.
• Performs housecleaning tasks, as assigned.
• Attends in-service trainings and staff meetings, as assigned.
• Provides coverage for the program as required, including overnights, days, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Adheres to established policies and procedures of the program and company as well as internal and external standards and regulations.
• Stores, administers, documents, and disposes of medication for persons served consistent with MAP requirements, funding source regulations, and Company policy (PR).
• May assume on-call duties in some programs.
• May provide outreach to persons served living in their own homes.
• Performs other duties, as assigned.

Qualifications

High School diploma or GED required. A bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, or related field preferred, but experience may substitute for education. 1 year of related experience. Strong time management, organizational and writing skills. All applicants must be at least 21 years of age and have a current, valid, US drivers' license for at least 6 months. Must become CPR, First Aid certified within 2 weeks of employment and MAP certified within 150 days of employment. Must be able to successfully pass a CORI, reference, national fingerprinting and driving record check.

Knowledge and Skills

• Sensitivity to cultural, religious, racial, disability, and gender issues
• Knowledge and use of advocacy techniques
• Knowledge and use of different communication styles
• Participatory skills, collaborative skills, teaching skills
• Knowledge of human, legal, civil rights, community, and other resources
• Knowledge of available equipment, therapies, and service providers
• Knowledge of empowerment and self advocacy techniques
• Knowledge of formal and informal assessment practices
• Knowledge of participatory planning techniques
• Knowledge of required physical personal management skills
• Knowledge of required household management skills
• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques
• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team

Typical Requirements

At least one year work experience in human services with adults with brain injury, psychiatric illness, and/or developmental disabilities is required.

Preferred / Required Education

A high school diploma or equivalent is required; Bachelor's degree in counseling psychology, human services, or related. In some cases, experience may be substituted for academic training.

Driving Requirements

Driving is a requirement for this position using either a Vinfen van or personal vehicle. If using a personal vehicle, you must possess and maintain adequate insurance as well as maintain a safe driving record which is subject to annual checks. A valid driver's license must be presented at the time of employment. Incumbents must be at least 21 years of age, have maintained a valid US driver's license for at least one year, and must be able to pass a driver's screening background check.

Physical Effort

Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, crawl, climb as this is a very physically active position. Must be able to lift at least 25 pounds using proper lifting techniques or the use of a two-person lift. Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment such as a calculator, copier, and printer. Ability to sit, reach, climb stairs, and maneuver through narrow spaces or hallways. Ability to assist clients with tasks of daily living. Ability to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time as needed. Ability to bend, reach, file, sit, stand, and move around the facility. Ability to speak, hear, and communicate with clients, staff, and external representatives. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. For positions in day programs or group residences, the ability to assist in routine living activities including cleaning, meal preparation, vacuuming, shoveling, and grocery shopping.

Required Certifications

• CPR is required within two weeks of hire
• First Aid is required within two weeks of hire
• Safety Care is required within 90 days of hire
• May be required to obtain CBIS certification (Certified Brain Injury Specialist)
• Other training, as assigned