Transition Specialist

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

12d • Hybrid

About The Position

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage. Come work in an environment where we truly value and respect those we serve and believe in the mission that all people can achieve a higher level of wellness and independence. The state supported living centers serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are medically fragile or who have behavioral problems. The centers provide campus-based direct services and supports at 13 centers located throughout the state. If you are looking for a place to work where you can establish a career that is filled with purpose, this is the job for you! Performs routine consultative services and provides technical assistance to interdisciplinary team (IDT) members including individuals served at a State Supported Living Center (SSLC) regarding community services. Assists in planning, developing and implementing educational opportunities for individuals, legally authorized representatives (LARs), families, SSLC staff, community providers and Local Authorities. Assists the IDT in the identification of obstacles to community transition, development of action plans to address the obstacles and initialization of programming to overcome identified obstacles. Serves as liaison to community providers and Local Authorities to ensure current information regarding community resources is available to IDT members. Works under moderate supervision of the Transition Specialist Coordinator and with guidance from the Admission/Placement Coordinator at each SSLC with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Travel (up to 80%) is a requirement of this position.

Requirements

• Ability to prepare reports and communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to work professionally with individuals with intellectual disabilities, family members, staff, community providers and others.
• Knowledge of HHS community programs including ICF/ID and waiver programs.
• Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts and to devise solutions to problems.
• Computer skills in WORD, EXCEL, and other Microsoft Office products.
• Must possess a valid Texas driver’s license or obtain it no later than 90 days after hire date. Applicants with an out-of-state driver’s license must provide an original certified driving record from the state of driving licensure. Eligible driving record required based on HHSC Fleet Management policy.
• A Bachelor’s degree with a major in a human services field and one year of experience working with individuals with intellectual disabilities or other disabilities.
• Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aide, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct and HHS OIG List of Excluded Individuals/ Entities.
• All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility.

Nice To Haves

• Preferred experience with community ICF/IID and HCS waiver programs.

Responsibilities

• Attends work on a regular basis and may be required to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
• Provides consultative services and technical assistance to the SSLC interdisciplinary team regarding identification of needed supports and services for individuals referred for alternate placement, identification of barriers to alternate placement and initialization of programming to overcome the barrier.
• Assists in the development of tools to educate individuals, LARs/families, and interdisciplinary team members regarding living options and the transition process. Schedules and conducts training regarding community living options, the transition process and planning for transition.
• Assists Admission/Placement staff in the development of the annual obstacle report and other reports that are prepared for the SSLC administrative/management team.
• Provides support, collaboration and assistance in the planning and coordination of at least annual Community Provider Fairs.
• Coordinates and schedules tours of community provider group homes, day habilitation programs and vocational programs for individuals and other interdisciplinary team members to facilitate community provider selection.
• Serves as a liaison to individuals, LARS/families, interdisciplinary team members, staff, community providers and local authorities to provide information regarding the community referral and transition process.
• Consults with the local authority and community providers for resource identification and maintains a Resource Guide detailing community support/services currently available in the geographic area of the SSLC.
• Maintains reports and logs of transition activities, educational opportunities, tours, in-services, etc.
• Performs related work as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Benefits

• Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees