Start of Care Specialist

Home Instead - Dubuque, IA•Dubuque, IA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a field-first role for someone who doesn’t just notice problems — they help solve them. The Start of Care Specialist will work primarily in client homes during the critical period when new care is being established. The role involves participating in new Starts of Care, working alongside Care Professionals for hands-on training and support, helping Care Professionals understand client needs and preferences, observing care in real life, coaching Care Professionals with feedback, identifying safety concerns and care gaps, partnering with internal teams to solve barriers to stable care, documenting observations and next steps, and maintaining an active group of new clients working toward stability. The goal is to help create Stable Care by ensuring the Plan of Care works, the client and family feel confident, the Care Professional feels prepared, and a consistent schedule is maintained.

Requirements

Strong hands-on client-care experience and feel confident working in private homes.
Ability to notice the little things other people may miss.
Ability to quickly build trust with clients, families, and Care Professionals.
Comfortable demonstrating care, observing others, and providing respectful coaching.
Ability to give direct feedback without making someone feel defeated.
Ability to stay calm when a situation doesn’t go according to plan.
Ability to ask good questions instead of guessing.
Knowledge of when something can be coached and when it needs to be escalated.
Clear communication with both field and office teams.
Ability to take ownership and follow issues through instead of simply passing them along.
Ability to adapt to different personalities, homes, routines, and care situations.
Belief that documentation and communication are part of delivering excellent care.
Meaningful client-care experience and confidence in the field.
Strong observation and critical-thinking skills.
Clear, professional communication and documentation.
Emotional steadiness and sound judgment.
Strong professional boundaries.
Confidence coaching and giving feedback.
Willingness to collaborate across departments.
Reliable transportation and the ability to travel throughout the service territory.
Ability to use required systems for scheduling, communication, care planning, and documentation.
Willingness to complete required company onboarding, orientation, training, and competency requirements.

Responsibilities

Participate in new Starts of Care based on client needs and stabilization priorities.
Work alongside Care Professionals when hands-on training and support will help them succeed.
Help Care Professionals understand each client’s routines, preferences, care needs, home environment, and Plan of Care.
Observe care in real life and identify when written instructions don’t match what is actually happening.
Coach Care Professionals with respectful, direct, in-the-moment feedback.
Identify safety concerns, care gaps, caregiver-fit concerns, and other issues before they become larger problems.
Partner closely with Client Care, Scheduling, Care Pro Success, and Operations to solve barriers to stable care.
Document what you observe, what was done, what needs to happen next, and who owns the next step.
Maintain an active group of new clients working toward stability and help move each one forward.