CLIENT SERVICES SPECIALIST

MEALS ON WHEELS PEOPLE INC•Portland, OR

2d•$20 - $22

About The Position

Meals on Wheels People is a community-founded nonprofit dedicated to nourishing older adults in the Portland Metro area through meal delivery and meaningful social connections. Our core values — integrity, commitment, respect, inclusion, creativity, and teamwork — guide everything we do. We are looking for a Client Services Specialist who conducts eligibility assessments for home-delivered meal clients in Multnomah, Washington, and Clark Counties. Serve as liaison between contract partners, participants, and staff to ensure accurate authorization and delivery of services. They will provide in-home and remote needs assessments and resource connections to homebound clients.

Requirements

Associate Degree or equivalent job experience in Gerontology, Counseling, Human Services, or Communication
3 years experience in direct client services in a social service environment preferred
Proficient in computer applications and MS Office
Ability to manage time effectively
Ability to be flexible as new tasks arise
Ability to quickly learn new computer programs; experience with client management systems a plus
Good recordkeeping and organizational skills
Ability to communicate with diverse populations
Any satisfactory combination of experience, training and/or education which ensures the ability to perform the work may substitute for the above qualifications.
Valid driver’s license, auto insurance and personal transportation required
Candidate must successfully pass the Meals on Wheels People pre-employment drug & alcohol test and criminal background check

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of senior services and resources preferred
Bilingual/Bicultural: English/Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Asian, or African languages preferred. An additional $1/hour pay rate is available for candidate who passes a fluency exam in one of these preferred languages.

Responsibilities

Serve as a liaison between referring partners, contract partners, clients, and staff
Provides direct one-on-one and phone screening with clients
Notify appropriate parties of new starts and changes promptly
Communicates with referring partners, case managers, clients, and staff regarding the status of authorizations and potential disruptions of services
Provides guidance and support regarding meals served to both Meals on Wheels People staff, clients, and referring partners
Handles escalated client concerns and comments in a constructive, professional, and helpful manner
Ensures integrity of data in client data management system; updates client information as needed, and corrects inaccurate information as necessary
Conduct home delivered meal eligibility assessments in accordance with the Meals on Wheels People Operating Procedures.
Assess clients met and unmet needs, existing support, and resources to develop an individual service plan:
Provide information and referral to enable clients to access services on their own
Contact resources and make referrals if the client is unable to access services on their own
Assist in reducing barriers to service, including building and increasing communication with community partners and case managers and increasing awareness of community resources across the organization
Train staff members on principal duties within Client Services as needed
Communicate with center staff to ensure efficient delivery of home-delivered meals
Coordinates volunteer projects and voucher processing as assigned
Attend all staff meetings and training
Other duties as assigned