IRIS Consultant

Job Purpose: The IRIS Consultant is a professional position that provides ongoing support and assistance to participants enrolled in the IRIS program.  The role of the IRIS Consultant (IC) is to assist participants in self-directing services that will meet their long-term care goals and life outcomes. These services are provided through a community-based network of supports chosen by the participants.
Essential Job Functions:
(Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.)

• Completes home visits and phone contacts in accordance with DHS guidelines to assist participants with self-directing services and to ensure the health and safety of participants. Travels in a three-hour radius on a regular basis and farther distances between regions when needed to provide coverage for other ICs.
• Responsible for accurate and timely completion of Individual Support and Services Plans (ISSP), Critical Incident Reports (CIR), Notice of Actions (NOA), and all other required forms, assessments, and documentation as indicated by IRIS program policies and procedures.
• Directs collaboration between participants, natural supports, service providers, community resources, and others to assist participants in meeting their life outcomes. 
• Provides assistance to other ICs during times of absences and provides training to new ICs as needed.
• Works effectively with participants in maintaining financial eligibility by keeping record of when Medicaid reviews are due and by assisting participants in completing forms, making copies of verification items, and submitting paperwork to the Income Maintenance (IM) department. 
• Attends and participates in regularly scheduled phone conferences and face-to-face team meetings as required by the Regional Supervisor.
• Attends all DHS and CFI required orientation and trainings.
• Partners with the quality department to develop appropriate measures in support of program outcomes.
• Other duties as assigned 

Required Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure and Credentials: (Where appropriate, education and/or experience may be substituted)

Minimum Required Education: High school diploma or equivalent required. Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, human services, counseling, nursing, special education, or a closely related field preferred.

Minimum Required Experience: With high school degree or equivalent, four years of experience related to the delivery of social services to the targeted groups serviced (intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, and frail elders) is required. With bachelor’s degree, one year of experience is required.

Travel Type: Up to 50%

Required Valid Driver’s License: Valid driver’s license 

Required Auto Insurance: Vehicle liability insurance in accordance with Agency policy 
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Must be able to travel in a three-hour radius on a regular basis and farther distances between regions when needed to provide coverage for other ICs by personal vehicle within agency’s requirements or public transportation reliably.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and use sound judgment in making independent decisions to effectively address needs and concerns.
• Ability to demonstrate flexibility and willingness to shift priorities in accordance with daily demands.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and ability to effectively interact with persons from a variety of different backgrounds and experiences in a professional and courteous manner.
• Skill and ability to seek solutions using appropriate methodologies.  Problem solving ability to apply an appropriate combination of independent thinking, consultation with relevant staff and the collection of facts and data.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the range of needs of adults living in the community and the disability service providers in the region you serve.
• Ability to use a laptop computer, cell phone and other mobile equipment in order to work remotely and from a home-based office. 
• Takes personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work and achieves results with little oversight.
• Earns others’ trust and respect through consistent honesty and professionalism in all interactions.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Access to reliable personal vehicle. 

Physical Requirements, Visual Acuity, and Work Conditions: 

Physical Requirements: Must be able to communicate with participants, providers, and staff in an effective manner via the telephone, in person, and electronically. Occasionally ascends/ descends stairs at various client residences to complete home visits. The person in this position needs to move about inside the participant’s residence and must be able to make observations of the participant and home environment during home visits. While in the community, the person in this position regularly documents participant home visit information on their laptop and must be able to use a cell phone to contact participants, staff, supervisors, etc. Must be able to detect smells to address participant health concerns and concerns related to the participant’s home environment.

Visual Acuity: The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal.

Working Conditions: Travel outside to conduct home visits that may or may not meet general public standards of cleanliness and safety, including smoking and pets. Regular hours are 8:00am-4:30pm, however may require some flexibility outside of these hours.