Family Caregiver Support Program Specialist

AgeSpan•Lawrence, MA

3d•$29 - $31•Hybrid

About The Position

AgeSpan has been supporting individuals' desires to make their own decisions, secure their independence, and remain living independently in the community since 1974. The agency is a thought-leader and a nationally known generator of new ideas, welcoming creativity and employee ideas. It is an outstanding place to work, offering a stimulating, friendly, and collaborative environment with competitive salaries, generous vacation time, and an excellent work/life balance. AgeSpan values diversity and encourages career growth. The agency offers a supportive, collaborative, and encouraging culture for diverse perspectives and backgrounds, with a focus on innovation and opportunities for employee development. It provides a satisfying balance between work and personal life, including a flexible workplace, generous paid time off, and wellness programs. Benefits include flexible schedules, hybrid work opportunities, competitive salaries, healthcare (medical, dental), a 403b Retirement Plan with agency match, 20 Vacation Days, 12 Sick Days, 12 Paid Holidays, a Social Work Licensing Program, and license renewal paid by the agency for RNs and Social Workers.

Requirements

BS/BA degree in social work or related field with 3 years' experience working as a clinical caseworker addressing family dynamics and caregiver situations preferred.
Experience in needs assessments, care management, and care planning for older adults with chronic conditions and disabilities required.
Solid understanding of family dynamics and experience in mediation and facilitating family meetings.
Familiar with local state and national caregiving and aging network resources and public benefit programs.
Excellent interpersonal communication skills to communicate effectively with individuals and in group settings.
Comfortable working independently but also understands being part of a team with multiple priorities.
Willing to travel throughout AgeSpan service area; must have reliable transportation.
Willing to take certification classes related to caregiving.
Willing to think "outside the box" in casework efforts.
Flexible attitude, compassion, and sense of humor a must.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual/bicultural a plus (Spanish or Khmer).
LSW license or license eligible is a plus.
Experience counseling families with AD and related dementias a plus.
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide consultation and support to individuals caring for older adults, as well as grandparents who are financially and legally responsible for raising grandchildren.
Help caregivers navigate their unique situations through problem-solving, assessment, care planning, education, emotional support, advocacy, and training that promote caregiver wellness.
Connect caregivers with community resources.
Serve as a liaison to other agency programs.
Work collaboratively with the Family Caregiver Support Program Director and FCSP team to expand programming and support services through outreach and education.
Provide counseling, information and referral, training, education, and ongoing support to caregivers.
Conduct in person and telephonic needs assessments as assigned.
Mediate family meetings with caregivers as appropriate.
Create action plans to support caregiver unique needs and to identify and access subsidy funds for respite care, adaptive equipment home modifications, and/or caregiver self-care.
Collaborate with the Family Caregiver Support Program team to promote, develop and facilitate caregiver support groups.
Train as a GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) Care Team Navigator, a CMS model, to provide structured care navigation, caregiver education, support, and community integration services that align with CMS requirements and person-centered care standards.
Collaborate with FCSP Director and team to coordinate and deliver presentations on the FCSP program and related community resources.
Work with FCSP Director to develop and implement outreach strategies that effectively engage caregivers and the aging network to increase awareness and utilization of services.
Participate in team, agency and statewide efforts related to FCSP planning.
Assist with FCSP events and workshops as requested.
Maintain accurate, up to date files, and comply with all statistical and reporting requirements.
Document all consumer and service-related information using the statewide database as required.
Become trained as a class leader in caregiver evidenced-based programs. This includes co-leading the workshop series in the community and conducting case leader trainings as requested.
Keep current on local, state, and national trends and programs related to caregiving.
Attend monthly all staff and department meetings and regularly scheduled FCSP team meetings.