Area Manager | East

Inspire Greatness Within•Aurora, IL

About The Position

The Area Manager oversees residential services across assigned homes, ensuring safe, person-centered, effective support and compliance with applicable Medicaid Waiver, Rule 115, Rule 116, and internal standards. The role monitors resident progress and quality of life, conducts regular home visits and audits, and supports accurate and timely documentation and operational practices. The Area Manager coordinates medical care and appointments, including transportation, follow-up, collection of provider recommendations, and coordination with nursing staff. The position supervises and develops House Managers and Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), contributes to recruitment, and maintains staff records and credentialing processes. The role also coordinates Medicaid redeterminations and Social Security benefits-related appointments and records, collaborating with guardians, case managers, funding entities, and agency leadership. The Area Manager maintains communication with stakeholders, responds to DHS-DDD correspondence and directives, and develops tools and documents to improve program efficiency and compliance. Responsibilities may evolve based on program needs.

Requirements

Strong working knowledge of Medicaid Waiver requirements, Rule 115, Rule 116, and other applicable residential regulations.
Excellent organizational, documentation, and multi-site time management skills.
Strong communication and interpersonal abilities to work effectively with residents, families, employees, and community partners.
Ability to prioritize competing tasks, work independently, and lead a team in a fast-paced environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and standard documentation systems.
Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and willingness to transport individuals as needed.
Must pass background checks and any other required screenings.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in a related field such as Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, or similar is preferred but not required.
Experience supervising residential or community-based programs for individuals with developmental disabilities is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee residential services across assigned homes to ensure safe, person-centered, and effective support.
Review, implement, and monitor individual implementation plans to promote resident progress and quality of life.
Plan for and participate in support team meetings to coordinate care and address resident needs or concerns.
Visit each assigned home at least weekly to evaluate service quality, staff performance, resident well-being, and environmental safety.
Conduct quarterly audits to ensure appointments and follow-ups are completed on schedule.
Complete semi-annual agency-wide audits, identify trends, and implement corrective or improvement plans.
Ensure homes maintain complete, accurate, and timely documentation, including emergency drills, temperature logs, communication logs, medication counts, MAR/TAR records, incident and shift documentation, vehicle logs and safety checks when applicable, and environmental checks.
Train and support House Managers and DSPs on documentation standards and timelines.
Monitor documentation systems for compliance with Medicaid Waiver, Rule 115, and internal quality standards.
Schedule, coordinate, and track routine, specialty, and follow-up medical appointments for individuals served.
Arrange transportation and staff coverage for medical appointments; personally transport or accompany individuals as needed.
Collect, review, and distribute physician orders, visit summaries, and treatment recommendations to appropriate staff.
Ensure medical documentation and health-related follow-ups are completed and filed correctly.
Coordinate with nursing staff on ongoing health monitoring and Rule 116 compliance.
Supervise, coach, and evaluate House Managers.
Provide staff development through training, mentoring, performance feedback, and corrective action as needed.
Participate in DSP recruitment and selection, including interviews and hiring recommendations.
Maintain staff folders and oversee annual background checks and credential verification.
Ensure DSP registry enrollment and updates are completed accurately and on schedule.
Prepare and submit training reimbursement documentation to DHS as required.
Complete and monitor Medicaid redeterminations and submit accurate documentation by required deadlines.
Gather, organize, and submit supporting documents for redeterminations and eligibility reviews.
Schedule, coordinate, and attend Social Security appointments as required.
Assist with Social Security benefit setup and ongoing coordination, including communication with SSA offices and follow-through on requested paperwork.
Maintain records of benefits appointments, deadlines, outcomes, and related documentation in individual files.
Collaborate with guardians, case managers, and funding entities to prevent eligibility lapses and maintain uninterrupted benefits.
Maintain open communication and promptly address inquiries, concerns, and service updates.
Collaborate with operations, clinical, and nursing leadership to resolve service gaps and improve resident outcomes.
Create and update documents, templates, and tracking tools to improve efficiency, consistency, and compliance.
Respond to and ensure compliance with correspondence and directives from DHS-DDD.