LONG-TERM CARE SPECIALIST

DEFINITION

This is professional social service work for the Department of Health and Senior Services in providing care coordination to adults with complex medical, social, and mental health needs.

This description may not include all of the duties, knowledge, skills, or abilities associated with this classification.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

Performs social service work to address the needs of senior and/or disabled adults.

Provides leadership in staffing of complex cases with other staff and agencies, assessing social, medical, and mental health care needs; monitoring client needs; determining medical/functional level of care; and performing crisis intervention, case management, counseling, and information/referral services.

Coordinates overall complex medical and mental health programs at the regional level.

Performs crisis intervention and stabilizes potentially dangerous situations.

Prepares case documentation, testifies in court guardianship and conservatorship hearings, and utilizes the standard rules for providing testimony and case histories.

Performs assessments to determine client's needs and functional level of care.

Develops individualized care plans by coordinating with the client and their support system.

Assists clients and families to attain and maintain independence through identification and resolution of problems.

Secures and coordinates community services to enable clients to remain in the least restrictive environment.

Coordinates care plans with providers to ensure adequacy and timeliness of services according to medical and social needs of the client.

Maintains case records and prepares all required reports.

Provides or assists in obtaining legal intervention on behalf of eligible adults.

Acts as liaison on behalf of eligible adults who need intervention through the Office of General Counsel.

Assists individuals in accessing available agency and community resources.

Represents the Department of Health and Senior Services by making formal presentations to area, state, and local agencies.

Exercises independence and initiative in the performance of responsibilities; receives general administrative direction.

Performs other related work as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs)

Comprehensive knowledge of gerontology and individual, family, and group dynamics.

Comprehensive knowledge of social service work practices, techniques, and ethics as they apply to intervention programs for adults.

Comprehensive knowledge of available community resources.

Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and methods of interviewing.

Comprehensive knowledge of the provision of state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to alternative services programs for adults.

Intermediate knowledge of the social, emotional, and financial effects of disease and physical and mental disabilities on adults, their families, and the community.

Intermediate knowledge of Missouri's guardianship and conservatorship statutes and requirements necessary to document the need for guardianship or conservatorship.

Intermediate knowledge of purchased services, standards of provider conformance, and provider monitoring.

Intermediate knowledge of basic medical terminology.

Intermediate knowledge of court procedures.

Intermediate knowledge of investigative techniques and procedures.

Ability to provide protective services to adults according to established rules and procedures.

Ability to work independently.

Ability to communicate effectively and interpret and apply laws and regulations.

Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with staff of state and local agencies, attorneys, law enforcement, and medical professionals.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

(The following requirements will determine merit system eligibility, experience and education ratings, and may be used to evaluate applicants for Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System positions not requiring selection from merit registers. When practical and possible, the Division of Personnel will accept substitution of experience and education on a year-for-year basis.)

Two or more years of experience as an Adult Protective and Community Worker, Social Service Worker, or Children's Service Worker with the Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System.

OR

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Gerontology, Nursing, Health Care Administration, Education, Counseling, Criminal Justice, or closely related social or behavioral sciences; and,

Two or more years of professional experience in the delivery or coordination of social, protective, medical, mental health, or rehabilitative services for senior or disabled adults, children, or families in a public or private agency.

(24 earned graduate credit hours from an accredited college or university in the specified areas may substitute for one year of the required experience.)

OR

A Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Gerontology, Nursing, Health Care Administration, Education, Counseling, Criminal Justice, or closely related social or behavioral sciences.

(Revised 5/1/09)