HICAP Counselor

Self-Help for the Elderly•San Mateo, CA

45d•$24 - $27

About The Position

Responsible for counseling Medicare beneficiaries for San Mateo HICAP. This role involves providing guidance and support to Medicare beneficiaries and those soon to be eligible, assisting them in making informed decisions about their healthcare needs while maintaining impartiality, privacy, and confidentiality. The position requires adherence to guidelines set by the California Department of Aging (CDA), accurate record-keeping, and participation in training and outreach activities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent training with a minimum of two years of experience working in senior services, preferably in a non-profit setting.
Must complete HICAP counselor training and/or registration within 2 months of employment, depending on program needs. Must maintain current registration standards as outlined by the CDA.
Must abide by the HICAP Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest Guidelines as outlined by the CDA and HICAP. These include having no past or present employment or financial interests and investments, or personal affiliations that may affect their ability to provide HICAP services in an objective and unbiased manner.
Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, and experience in group presentations.
Must be self-motivated, organized, and able to multitask under minimal supervision.
Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
Sensitive to the needs of the elderly and disabled adults from diverse ethnic and minority cultures.
Proficient in MS Office and the Internet.
Must have and maintain a valid CA driver's license, satisfactory driving record, and auto insurance coverage as specified in Self-Help’s policy.

Nice To Haves

Experience in counseling and/or working with volunteers is preferred.
Knowledge of Medicare, Medi-Cal, Medigap, managed care, long-term care insurance, and health care delivery systems preferred.
Bilingual in English and Chinese/Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

Counsel Medicare beneficiaries and those soon to be eligible for Medicare on their benefits, rights, and options; assist them in making decisions on their healthcare needs, maintaining impartiality, privacy, and confidentiality. Provide guidance and support during the counseling appointment and post-appointment follow-up.
Follow all guidelines as outlined by the California Department of Aging (CDA). Responsible for maintaining accurate records on all client contacts and services provided using the CDA HICAP database (SHARP). Submit monthly completed intakes and reports as requested by the Program Manager. Maintain the security of client information and ensure its proper disposal.
In accordance with program guidelines, assist individuals as appropriate to ensure the clients’ rights and privileges under Medicare and other applicable laws or regulations are upheld, make appropriate referrals to legal services and other agencies, and offer other referrals and/or interventions as needed and appropriate.
Assist the Volunteer Coordinator with on-site observations of volunteer counselors to evaluate their skill level and interactions with clients, document observations, and report them to the Program Manager; provide technical assistance to interns and registered counselors regarding Medicare topics or program procedures as needed.
Assist with ongoing training to interns, administrative volunteers, and registered counselors in using the state-mandated SHARP system.
Substitute for volunteer counselors at counseling sites when needed.
Assist with updating counselors’ files in SHARP by inputting volunteer hours in it; this includes in-service hours and non-counseling hours by the 15th of every month for the previous month. Update volunteer files as needed throughout the year.
By the 5th of every month, assist with verifying that counselors have entered their client intakes in SHARP for the previous month and reviewing all intakes for accuracy and compliance under the direction of the Program Manager.
Identify potential counseling sites in target areas and initiate a conversation with the Site Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, and Program Manager about hosting HICAP counseling there. Revise the counseling site agreement as needed. Responsible for getting counseling site agreements signed yearly.
Assist with training staff and volunteers on the CDA HICAP database (SHARP) in accordance with CDA guidelines.
Assist the Program Manager in ensuring program compliance with its contractual obligations regarding the volunteer component of the program.
Make presentations to community groups and participate in community outreach events to provide information regarding HICAP services and promote program publicity.
Perform other duties as assigned.