Abc Care Coach

Organization:

Area Agency on Aging and Community Action Agency for Northwest Indiana, founded in 1965, the NWICA Mission is to ensure the people who experience financial hardship find opportunities, resources, and respect. We do this by helping individuals of all ages and families, through direct services and referrals. Serving residents in Lake, Porter, Jasper, Newton, Pulaski and Starke Counties

Function:

Reporting to the Community Supports Supervisor, the Care Coach interacts directly with Aged and Disabled waiver participants with a diagnosis of dementia and their caregivers to implement care protocols in collaboration with NWICA waiver Care Managers.  The Care Coach serves as a participant advocate assisting participants in connecting with healthcare and community resources.  The Care Coach serves as a resource to staff on dementia care including support of caregivers and completes assigned special projects.

The Care Coach is expected to be an active participant in the agency’s mission, vision, and values. He/she shall work to ensure consistent, quality services to the agency’s constituents, demonstrate enthusiasm, initiative, and flexibility in assignments and maintain positive working relationships with all agency personnel.

Major Duties:

• Maintains participant and family confidentiality
• Maintains protected health information in accordance with HIPAA privacy guidelines and regulations
• Able to work independently and prioritize tasks
• Capable of handling multiple tasks concurrently
• Demonstrates computer skills required including Microsoft word, excel, outlook and knowledge of electronic record systems
• Exhibits professionalism in both written and verbal communication
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Superior customer relations abilities
• Works effectively with a wide variety of participants and participants families
• Demonstrates positive beliefs and feelings regarding older adults

Customer Service:

• Delivers courteous, sincere, and sensitive customer service
• Models Indiana’s Area Agencies on Aging Values and Mission
• Timely in responding to participant/family/caregivers and other team member needs and requests
• Explains actions reasonably and clearly to participants and caregivers
• Displays positive beliefs and feelings regarding older adults
• Displays level of comfort with older adults, caregivers and home visits

Technology:

• Independently manages data entry into the electronic record as well as documents appropriate information as required
• Acquires and maintains competence in use of program hardware and software applications
• Regularly utilizes technology as part of care delivery

Teamwork and Communication:

• Interacts regularly with all members of the care team to assure care coordination.
• Communicates effectively with cognitively impaired participants
• Remains composed and effective when faced with unexpected and uncomfortable situations
• Participates in team care coordination/case conferences for assigned participants panel

 Care Delivery:

• Conducts the participant/caregiver clinical and psychosocial needs assessments and follow-up visits in participants’ homes and by videoconferencing and telephone
• Independently delivers care protocols in accordance with participant’s brain care plan and departmental standard operating procedures
• Assists the care team in monitoring medication adherence
• Completes accurate, timely, comprehensive documentation
• Schedules participant and caregiver visits in accordance with participant’s brain care plan and departmental standard operating procedures
• Provides community resource referrals, participant advocacy, support, outreach and follow-up
• Provides education, training, and coaching to introduce or improve coping skills of participants and caregivers

Population Health Management

• Participates in regular care coordination meetings/case conferences
• Summarizes each participants’ clinical and psychosocial needs for team discussion
• Demonstrates judgment and critical thinking skills in identifying participant’s needs and escalating to the care team as required by departmental protocols

MIMIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School Diploma/GED required. Associate’s Degree, two years of related experience, and/or Community Health Worker Certification preferred.
• Experience working with older adults preferred
• Prior experience in a healthcare environment preferred
• Valid Driver’s License that meets the agency’s driving policy requirements