Position Title: Home Care Services Coordinator

General Description: Linked to Life, servicing the Coffs Harbour Local Government area, aims to further enable the independence, quality of life and social well-being of frail older people and their carers, by providing a range of services which respond to their individual needs, including companionship, practical assistance and support and information.

Key Performance roles: The Home Care Coordinator will primarily be responsible for coordinating and overseeing client services for home care package recipients, ensuring that services are tailored to meet individual needs and are delivered efficiently. Additionally, the Coordinator will be required to perform a coordination role for CHSP services when needed.

Responsible To: The Home Care Service Coordinator is directly responsible to the Program and Operations Manager.

Award: Social, Community Health & Disability Services (SCHADS) Commonwealth award, level 4 pay point 4

Employment Basis: 28 hours per week, spread across five days, with four days from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM and one day from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Each day includes a 1-hour unpaid lunch break.

Employment Terms: Fixed-term 12-month position, serving as parental leave cover.

Qualifications:

Essential:

• Demonstrated recent experience in working in with older people and their carers and/or representatives;
• Sound knowledge of My Aged Care and an ongoing commitment to flexible person-centered service delivery principles;
• Demonstrated service coordination experience including assessing, analysing and responding formulating care plans that are consistent with client goals;
• Sound knowledge of community services networks;
• Excellent communication skills – oral and written;
• Ability to work in a self-directed and independent manner;
• Understanding of legal issues and ability to implement EEO and WHS principles;
• Excellent computer skills – competency in MS Word, Excel, MS Outlook, Powerpoint;
• Current drivers licence and own reliable vehicle.

Desirable:

• Tertiary qualifications in Social Science/Welfare or related field;
• Recent experience in Home Care Package Coordination;
• Experience in use of client management software;
• Strong career development aspirations;
• Current first aid qualifications and National Police Check clearance;
• Previous experience in working in a community-based service;
• Problem solving and negotiation skills;
• Experience in working with people from diverse cultures

The broad-ranging requirements of this position would also require the Home Care Coordinator to have the following personal attributes:

• Ability to empathise with target group;
• Ability to deal effectively with conflict;
• A desire to strive toward social justice for target group;
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback;
• Ability to be flexible, innovative and adapt to changing needs;

Home Care Service Coordination:

• Retrieve client referrals in My Aged Care portal;
• Work with individual home care clients to develop a care plan of services and supports that are specifically tailored to their individual needs;
• Prepare an individualised budget that is within the client’s allocated funding and ensure that all client services are within their budget;
• Prepare a Home Care Agreement to be discussed and signed by each client;
• Develop links with and liaise with external contractors, suppliers or service providers who may be engaged to provide services, supports and/or equipment to clients;
• Ensure that minimum of 2 quotes are sourced for all home modifications and final accepted quote is signed off by client and/or their representative.
• Ensure clients get value for money for all equipment/products sourced by Linked to Life
• Develop system to check accuracy of master roster and for new permanent shifts.
• Ensure that a ‘duty of care’ toward clients is maintained at all times;
• Monitor clients services and supports on an ongoing basis;
• Schedule and monitor annual service reviews for clients and adapt the care plan to meet their changing needs and goals;
• Schedule and monitor clinical assessments and reviews
• Ensure that clients have access to relevant and current information regarding all aspects of their package;
• Provide information and consult with clients regarding their rights and responsibilities with Linked to Life, and their rights as detailed under the Charter of Aged Care Rights;
• Actively promote a person-centered care approach to Service delivery, Encourage clients to self-determine and play a major role in decision making regarding all aspects of their care.
• Advocate on behalf of clients as individuals, on request.
• Maintain confidentiality of clients and information relating to clients at all times;
• Ensure that services are non-discriminatory, and are specifically adapted to meet the needs of individuals from diverse cultures;
• Deal with client complaints in an appropriate manner and report as required.
• Maintain a sound awareness of Serious Incident Reporting (SIRS) to ensure incidents are reported in accordance with government timeframes
• Educate support staff on SIRS incidents
• Request formal reviews on behalf of clients to seek approval for higher level of package.
• Seek informal & formal feedback from clients and evaluate services at regular intervals;
• Develop a system for scheduling introductory visits by Support worker

Coordination of Direct Care Staff & Volunteers:

• Educate new staff on use of Time & Attendance app functions and ensure they are competent in its use;
• Regularly monitor rostering completed by the support worker for accuracy each fortnight prior to payroll processing.
• Provide feedback to operations manager for care worker training needs.
• Provide direct support and debriefing for staff and volunteers;
• Ensure that staff and volunteers have knowledge of and adhere to organisations policy and procedures.
• Actively seek informal or formal feedback from staff and volunteers and action changes if required;
• Effectively resolve conflict as it arises, taking into consideration the needs of all concerned, and negotiate accordingly;
• Maintain the privacy and confidentiality of staff and volunteers at all times.
• Promote a safe, healthy and positive work environment;

Home Care Services Administration:

• Complete Aged Care Entry Record on the PRODA portal for all new Home care package clients;
• Upon request, assist manager in monthly Home care package claims process accuracy in TRACCS and DHS portal;
• Monitor all hospital, transitional and social leave is registered in TRACCS and on Department of Human Services (DHS) portal;
• Ensure client’s monthly income and expense statements are distributed by reception staff in timely manner;
• Regularly check, approve, print invoices from various contractors and pass to the accounts team for payment;
• Monitor client budgets and expenditure to ensure expenditure does not exceed income.
• Complete client’s package level transition process for clients.

Developing and Maintaining strong networks:

• Promote a positive image of the service and the target group within the wider community;
• Establish and maintain solid relationships with local contractors and medical and other professionals to ensure clients have access to the most appropriate services to meet their needs
• Be involved in developing and implementing innovative strategies for promoting the organisation widely in the community to clients and potential staff;
• Actively seek opportunities to educate the community about the service and represent the organisation at various meetings, forums as delegated by the manager.

Maintaining Accountability:

• Participate in monthly supervision sessions with the Operations Manager.
• Discuss and assist the Manager in identifying ongoing training needs of direct care staff;
• Maintain an awareness of organisation’s policies and procedures and adhere to same;
• Participate in regular performance appraisal;
• Regularly report and document any incidents, complaints or other relevant issues to the Manager;
• On request provide necessary data/statistics, reports etc to the Manager in a timely manner, to ensure ongoing efficiency and effectiveness and smooth operation of the service;
• Work as part of a cohesive team;
• Ensure that premises, equipment and motor vehicles are secured and maintained in good working order and report issues to the Manager.
• When a staff member is absent or on leave, all other staff members are required to fulfil necessary duties (delegated based on level of training and skill) that may not be part of their ‘regular’ job descriptions.

Direct Supervision and support to Support staff:

• Effectively delegate responsibilities and tasks to all support staff in accordance with their role;
• Provide mentoring and support on regular basis;
• Provide direct supervision to support staff and ensure that work is completed within a reasonable time frame;
• Encourage growth and ongoing professional development of support staff by training support staff to cover your role in times of longer absence from the organisation.

Continuous improvement :

• Seek opportunities to contribute ideas and suggestions for innovation/change;
• Facilitate and participate in monthly meetings with registered nurse for ideas, suggestions, planning in clients clinical needs.
• Participate in the implementation and facilitation of improvements, change and innovation strategies;
• Monitor quality of service through feedback and service evaluation – monitor client service reviews and clinical reviews are completed in timely manner.
• Seek opportunity for ongoing training and development to enhance performance, career advancement and personal creativity;
• Evaluate own work on ongoing basis and develop systems for improving time management and productivity;