Caseworker 37.5 FT

County of Lancaster•Lancaster, PA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position performs comprehensive assessments for individuals seeking long-term care services who require public funding or home and community-based services. The role involves face-to-face visits with consumers to conduct thorough assessments of their medical and healthcare needs to determine the most appropriate and least restrictive Level of Care. Collaboration with family members, physicians, hospitals, and agencies is essential to gather necessary information. Assessments must be completed within a standard of 10 business days and entered using Tablets according to Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) guidelines. The Caseworker also completes required forms for specific programs, performs Level II assessments, and maintains accurate records in compliance with HIPAA. Additionally, the role involves preparing for and providing testimony at appeal hearings related to level of care determinations. The position requires the employee to use their own transportation for home visits and other job-related appointments. The Caseworker must maintain accurate knowledge of aging program policies and procedures, community services, and collect financial information when appropriate. They will also provide benefits counseling, interpret policies, write reports, and adhere to confidentiality standards.

Requirements

Two (2) years of casework experience including one (1) year of experience performing assessments of clients' functional ability to determine the need for institutional or community based services and a Bachelor's Degree which includes or is supplemented by 12 semester hours credit in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, or other related social sciences; or
One (1) year of assessment experience performing assessments of clients' functional ability to determine the need for institutional or community based services and a bachelor's degree with a social welfare major; or
Any equivalent combination of experience and training including successful completion of 12 semester hours of college level courses in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, or other related social sciences.
Knowledge of current regulations and policies governing the long-term care assessment program.
Knowledge of modern medical terminology.
Knowledge of individual and group behavior and ways of working effectively with older adults who have social, economic, emotional and/or health problems.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, other members of the staff, outside agencies, institutions and general public.
Ability to plan and organize work, prepare adequate records and reports, set priorities and maintain a caseload of clients in an effective manner.
Ability to maintain agency confidentiality standards.
Ability to understand and accept the needs and rights of other persons and to work with older adults who are physically disabled and/or economically disadvantaged.
Acceptable Pre-Employment Criminal Background Check
Acceptable Pre-Employment Child Abuse Clearance
Acceptable Pre-Employment Drug Screening
Acceptable Driver history in accordance with County Policy
Must pass the Assessor Credentialing Exam and receive accreditation as an assessor, through Aging Well, PA, LLC, within the first four months of employment.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of WellSky and PIA software

Responsibilities

Makes face to face visits with consumers seeking long term care services or Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) to complete thorough and comprehensive assessments.
Thoroughly reviews all medical and healthcare needs to issue the most appropriate and least restrictive Level of Care.
Works with family members, significant others, physicians, hospitals, and/or agencies to obtain necessary information to complete assessments and determine appropriate levels of care.
Completion of assessments must meet set standard of 10-business days.
Enters assessments according to Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) guidelines by use of Tablets.
Completes required forms and documents for Dom Care Home and Personal Care Home residents applying for state SSI supplement.
Performs Level II assessments and completes necessary forms and documents required by regulations and procedures.
Completes and maintains accurate records of consumer assessments and other information required for Agency and PDA reporting purposes and in accordance with HIPAA requirements.
Documentation of contacts/actions to include date of initial contact, consumer visit, and assessment completion are to be completed within specified timeframes.
Prepares for appeal hearings and provides testimony relative to level of care determinations, which are appealed.
Maintains accurate knowledge of all aging program policies and procedures.
Maintains current and thorough working knowledge of all community services for individuals age 18 and older.
Collects financial information using screening tool when appropriate for HCBS.
Provides benefits counseling by informing consumers and families of programs, services and entitlements.
Interprets aging program policies and procedures to individuals, groups and agencies in the community.
Writes letters, reports, etc. to consumers, physicians, agencies, etc., as needed.
Attends relevant and/or required trainings as specified.
Follows HIPAA standard of confidentiality with consumer information.
Performs other duties as required.
Knowledge and adherence to all County and Agency Policies/Procedures demonstrated.