Child Care Specialist - Akron, United States - Summit County (OH)

Description

Job Description

General Overview

Under general direction, determines initial and ongoing eligibility for child care services in accordance with federal, state, and agency regulations.

Conducts certification/re-certification of family day care providers. Interprets, monitors and ensures provider compliance with federal, state and local mandates. Recruits and evaluates private homes that provide direct child care services. Reviews and monitors clients' use of services as well as the functioning of providers. Coordinates and assesses information with other divisions and agencies as well as service providers. Enters information and data into CRIS-E system or other authorized computer system. Obtains and/or assists with obtaining necessary verifications and documentation. Computes budgets. Prepares and processes support documentation. Assists clients in developing child care service plan to address family needs. Reviews and monitors clients' use of services. Communicates with clients and providers on an on-going basis. Prepares and maintains correspondence, assessments, dictation, records and reports. Develops and maintains working relationships with agency staff, clients, and service providers. Conducts provider home visits to enforce program mandates. Participates in outreach activities. Provides technical assistance, support, and conducts training. Provides quality customer services to clients and providers. Performs other related duties as requested, assigned or directed.

Required Qualifications

Any combination of training and work experience which indicates possession of the skills, knowledge and abilities listed below.

Bachelor's degree in social work or other related discipline, plus one (1) year experience as a Social Services Worker 2, or equivalent combination of training and/or experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of interviewing, social work techniques, agency and department policies and procedures*; community resources and services; case management; social services policies, programs, rules and regulations; intermediate mathematical procedures.

Ability to understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, or regulations to specific situations; define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; prepare accurate documentation; communicate effectively; develop and maintain effective working relationships; maintain accurate records; travel to and gain access to work site; train or instruct others.

(*Indicates developed after employment).

Job Duties

Client Functions

Utilizes interactive interview process with applicants, clients, family members, and/or representatives, and other related parties, through agency appointments, office, institutional and home visits, phone, and email to screen and determine client's initial and on-going eligibility and needs; *reviews financial resources, family composition, employment and/or training schedules, hours of child care need, and geographical concerns; *consults with social workers/case managers, schools, medical providers and authorized representatives to determine eligibility and evaluate support needed; *provide assessment, counseling, and referral to community resources for child care placement problems; *provides evaluations and monitoring of child development, progress, and recommends corrective procedures; *refers client to home providers if available; *assists clients in developing child care service plan to address family needs; *advises applicants, clients, and/or representatives of available programs, services, and requirements and community resources and assists with and coordinates determination of level of need, eligibility, and provision of services; *explains client rights and responsibilities as well as pertinent state, federal, and agency programs, rules, regulations and procedures; *assists with completion of applications when requested; *processes all referrals relating to client's case; *responds to and processes case changes that affect client's assistance; *coordinates, monitors, and enforces client's adherence to program guidelines; authorizes expedited services; *completes phone interviews when necessary to determine client need; *notifies clients of verification needed and obtains and/or assists with obtaining necessary documentation; to process application; *notifies clients of status changes (i.e. suspension, reduction, repayment, authorizations, termination); *conducts and/or attends case conferences with involved parties to resolve concerns and facilitate effective and/or improved service delivery; *processes and records changes affecting client eligibility status; *enters and updates information and data into CRIS-E system; processes alerts generated by CRIS-E.

• Denotes essential functions of the job.

Provider Day Care Certification Functions

Certifies family day care homes; *interprets, implements, and ensures compliance with federal, state and local day care requirements; *provides technical assistance in recruiting, evaluating, and monitoring federally funded family day care programs.

*receives, interprets, implements and ensures requests comply with state and local day care requirements to assist in provider certification process; *generates and evaluates state required inspection reports; *monitors day care providers for compliance with rules, regulations and laws in a functional supervisory capacity; *assists providers in recognition of child abuse and neglect; conducts monthly home inspections according to program mandates, policies and procedures.

• Denotes essential functions of the job.

Training Functions

Assists in the development of training programs and materials; *researches and reviews all areas of day care (e.g.

providers, state mandates, etc.) needs; *facilitates parent/provider relationship to ensure maximum benefits for all parties; *provides initial and ongoing training to all participants in family day care programs; *develops and implements professional training to professional day care providers; *provides and monitors training materials (e.g.

shapes, toys, books) and equipment to providers; provides and monitors gift cards given to the providers; acts as member of development team to review, revise and design assistance programs.

• Denotes essential functions of the job.

Communication Functions

Develops and maintains effective working relationships with agency staff, clients, community agencies, governmental agencies, and service providers to facilitate efficient and cost effective service delivery; *receives, responds to, and resolves inquiries, complaints, and/or problems generated from clients, providers, authorized representatives, program staff, and all related parties; *facilitates the provision of services to a target population; *maintains effective working relationships with providers; *communicates client information to other departments within the agency; communicates with community representatives and service providers to resolve questions and/or concerns; *acts as liaison between client and service provider to resolve problems and concerns; *organizes, makes presentations, and/or participates in meetings and trainings with community organizations to explain program criteria and mandates, and service delivery; communicates with State of Ohio regarding interpretation of mandates.

• Denotes essential functions of the job.

Documentation Functions

Prepares, completes, updates, and maintains current, accurate, and well organized case records (manual or through computerized systems) with complete documentation on client and provider eligibility as well as communication with providers, clients, and referral agencies and other pertinent information; maintains records of providers, pending providers, notices, and request for payment forms.

*enters data into a computerized system; *prepares random moments, and audits; *processes eligibility/employment verification forms; *processes ending services notices; *reproduces client information case data (e.g. school schedules, pay stubs, financial, etc.); *maintains filing system (e.g. on-going and closed cases, file purging, overpayment, etc.); *processes and records changes affecting client and provider eligibility status; *assists clients with obtaining information through available sources and enters into computerized systems; *monitors, coordinates program and service delivery, program and procedural compliance *prepares and maintains reports; *uses state generated reports and CRIS-E to review provider and client program participation; prepares reports, documentation, and correspondence; receives and responds to inquiries in both oral and written form; processes changes and corrections; operates personal computer to enter and retrieve data; categorizes, indexes and scans case documents; prepares notification letters of approval, denial, , or termination of benefits and all other documentation required; reads, interprets, and applies pertinent program provisions, transmittal letters, CRIS-E procedural information and related updates; performs and maintains document imaging on all cases.

• Denotes essential functions of the job.

Complaints and Investigation Functions

Receives and responds to complaints; *institutes over-payment alerts; *refers cases of over-issuance or suspected fraud to the appropriate investigative unit; *processes referrals to investigative units; *prepares summaries of case histories as requested; *attends and participates in hearings as directed.

• Denotes essential functions of the job.

Other Functions

Provides quality customer service by assisting clients, agency staff, community agencies, medical providers, governmental agencies, and service providers in resolving inquiries, complaints, or problems; *presents self in a professional, ethical and culturally sensitive manner to co-workers, staff, other agency personnel, clients, partners, and the public; *adheres to all policies and procedures (e.g. division, agency, county, federal and state); *attends meetings, conferences, workshops, seminars and training to remain current and knowledgeable on agency, provider, and program rules, policies, regulations, procedures and to receive information on available resources and eligibility requirements as directed; *examines professional and technical publications to remain current on social problems, techniques, and procedures; *demonstrates regular and predictable attendance.

• Denotes essential functions of the job.

Position :

Code :

Type :
INTERNAL & EXTERNAL


Group :

JOB AND FA

Job Family :

SOCIAL SERVICES
Posting Start : 04/29/2024

Posting End : 12/31/2024


MINIMUM HOURLY RATE:
$22.00