Consumer Direct Services Specialist

About Us

Paraquad champions equity and independence for people with disabilities through services, partnerships, education, and advocacy.

About the Role

The CDS Specialist ensures service delivery monitoring for participants who require home and community-based services and meet nursing home level of care. The CDS Specialist completes monthly service contacts, home visit monitoring, and participant field services for the CDS program and the Veteran's Directed Services program. The CDS Specialist provides customer service to CDS participants and attendants, as well as veterans and their attendants, to help ensure their health, safety, and wellbeing.

Responsibilities

• Service Delivery Monitoring
  • Complete monthly contact and annual home visits with assigned participants to monitor service delivery and ensure participant needs are met; complete required documentation per policy and procedure, including annual paperwork.
  • Utilize telephone and timesheet reports to ensure the highest level of program compliance is maintained; address non-compliance per procedure and as directed.
  • Provide general information or refer to Information and Referral as appropriate to assist participants with short-term needs.
  • Make internal referrals for Paraquad Services to help participants achieve and plan for long-range personal goals.
• Participant Field Services
  • Conduct face-to-face intakes of new CDS Participants, including training new participants and completing all required paperwork.
  • Provide set-up, instruction, and retraining to participants and attendants regarding telephony.
  • Provide training and documents to participants who receive new care plans.
  • Conduct spot-check or unannounced home visits as directed.
• Administrative Duties
  • Track required participant documents, including monthly, quarterly, annual, care plan, training, and intake for assigned administrative caseload.
  • Prepare documents for assigned administrative caseload; receive completed documents from CDS Specialists; review for accuracy and deliver to compliance.
  • Make reports to appropriate hotlines concerning participant abuse, neglect, or exploitation; report program fraud per policy and procedure.
  • Understand and adhere to State CDS and Paraquad CDS program policy and procedures.
• Customer Service
  • Provide support, instruction, and retraining to participants and/or attendants regarding questions or issues pertaining to program requirements, including timesheets, telephony, payroll, hiring, directing, and firing of attendants, and use of services.
  • Document participant case notes in a professional manner using Paraquad's database per procedure.

Requirements

• Education and Experience
  • Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Human Services, or related field preferred.
  • OR relevant experience which includes the Independent Living field or Home and Community-Based Services.
• At least one year of experience in a case management position.
• Extensive regional travel using own vehicle.
• Understanding of and commitment to the independent living philosophy.
• Working knowledge of disability.

Skills

• Positive and courteous interaction with others.
• Strong interpersonal communication and training skills.
• Acute observation.
• Accurate and thorough documentation.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Organized.
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office programs and database environment.

Working Conditions

• Prolonged sitting (6-8 hours/day) with short breaks for standing/walking.
• Occasional standing for meetings or equipment use.
• Prolonged movement required when working in the State Capitol.
• Light lifting (<10-15 lbs) of files, laptops, or supplies.
• Repetitive hand/wrist motions (typing, mouse, handling documents).
• Office environment: indoor, climate-controlled, ergonomic furniture, moderate noise from conversations/equipment.
• Ability to travel to approximately 100 home visits a year, working in both indoor and outdoor environments in all seasons.