Children's Autism Specialist

Overview The Autism Support Broker (“ASB”) works with families of individuals with an autism diagnosis to help them build a team, communicate with various service providers, research, and acquire additional funding and support systems and build a self-directed network. Through a collaborative team effort, the ASB helps facilitate communication and relationships through multiple disciplines of service providers. The ASB also ensures proper standards and regulations are adhered to as set forth by the funding sources. Ensures programs meet the quality standards and provide value to the public.

Responsibilities The essential job duties/responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to the information listed below:

Meets with families in their homes a minimum of once a month, and often more frequently to meet the needs of the family. Will schedule and attend quarterly progress review meetings for each waiver participant on their caseload

Meets at least monthly with DDS Autism Clinical Manager and/or other relevant DDS staff to review individual cases.

Remains available, accessible, and flexible to respond to and meet family needs on a regular basis; is flexible to meet the needs of families on their caseload including weeknights and weekend days as needed; may also need to be available by phone, text, or other forms of communication on flexible hours.

Facilitates the development of the child’s person-centered Autism Support Plan and participates in the development and implementation of the Autism Plan of Care, including entering and maintaining data in the consumer databases used by DDS.

Supports the family in developing a budget based on the Autism Support Plan and Plan of Care.

Assists the family to review on a monthly basis the waiver participant’s budget with support from the Fiscal Employer/Agent (FEA) website and the monthly reports it produces.

Assists the family in the identification of a wide range of potential service providers using the web-based provider list, by helping families identify individuals in their own network of supports and conducting ongoing outreach to service providers.

Assists the family in the selection of service providers. In this process, he or she must remain a neutral party and refrain from recommending or referring families to their own agency for services; must maintain a firewall between themselves and the services their parent organization/agency offers to avoid conflict of interest.

Assists the family to work with the FEA to recruit, screen, hire, train, schedule, monitor, and pay support workers.

Assists the family in accessing services and setting up these services in accordance with the parameters of the Autism Waiver Program.

Maintains required documentation in the DDS system of record.

Facilitates community access and inclusion to other state and local resources (e.g., MassHealth, private insurance ABA, Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative {CBHI} services, housing, nutrition, other sources of funding, and local resources for support), etc.

Maintains professional relationships and boundaries with families and other providers.

Notifies the Autism Clinical Manager via cell phone within 2 to 3 hours in the event that an emergency occurs when the Support Broker is in the home or during the provision of Waiver services. For major incidents, as appropriate, the Support Broker will contact local emergency personnel, and/or the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

Complies with responsibilities as mandated reporters when situations that meet these standards occur.

Reports critical incidents and other related incidents in the DDS systems provided.

Facilitates the transition to the DDS Area Office or other DDS programs.

Maintains an appropriate interface with other state agencies including DCF and MassHealth.

Directs and manages the activities of program staff. Hire staff appropriate to the position. Utilizes staff appropriately with the goal of optimizing effort and achieving operational and financial goals.

Ensures that the intake of prospective persons served is completed in a timely, professional manner; arrange and perform intake procedures, conduct initial assessment of persons’ served appropriateness for program.

Provides problem resolution for families and persons served; fosters teamwork and leadership in all environments.

Ensures current knowledge or all autism services updated policies and directives.

Is responsible for the quality and timely completion of all clinical, recordkeeping, and service/support/action plans and documents for persons served.

Ensures compliance with all internal quality and external licensing, certification and accreditation standards and regulations, as well as program specific policies and procedures.

Assists in the development of, and manage adherence to, Autism Waiver Program budgets.

Represents Vinfen in professional, trade, regulatory and funding source organizations; participate in committees, meetings, and other activities as requested.

Serves as a resource for program staff, family and friends of persons served, neighbors, public officials, and other providers.

Manages adverse events (such as medication occurrences, physical restraints, and other critical incidents); ensure plans and corrective actions are implemented and reported.

Respond to internal and external data collection and reporting requests.

Ensures program quality and achievement of goals and objective, as well as managing quality improvements.

Maintains and enhance knowledge of human services issues, trends, and techniques.

Ensures maintenance and safety of physical sites.

Perform other related duties, as required.

Knowledge and Skills:

Knowledge of human services relative to current assignment

Extensive knowledge of in-home programming, skill acquisition programs, and functional communication.

Experience working with families with issues such as poverty, domestic violence, child abuse, substance abuse and other social determinants in the community.

Knowledge of different clinical interventions and resources for individuals with ASD, and competency in assessing individual and family needs, and utilizing a variety of planning and problem-solving approaches.

Knowledge of trauma-informed service delivery and experience working with families who face a variety of social and economic challenges, such as substance use disorder, housing instability, etc.

Knowledge of public benefits, entitlements, and generic resources available in the geographic areas in the Greater Boston Area, which are relevant to families at different life stages.

Knowledge of operations management procedures and practices

Sensitivity to cultural, religious, racial, disability, and gender issues

Knowledge and use of advocacy techniques

Knowledge and use of different communication and learning styles

Knowledge of organizational, strategic, participatory, collaborative skills

Knowledge of human, legal, civil rights, community, and other resources

Knowledge of available equipment, therapies, and service providers

Knowledge of empowerment and self-advocacy techniques

Knowledge of formal and informal assessment practices

Knowledge of participatory planning techniques

Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques

Knowledge of decision-making processes and ability to communicate same

Ability to provide leadership and team management to staff

Ability to balance many competing priorities

Ability to make independent judgments and decisions

Ability to work in a professional and confidential capacity

Knowledge of personal computer applications and equipment

Knowledge of financial management practices in human service organizations

Knowledge of documentation requirements

About Vinfen Established in 1977, Vinfen is a nonprofit, health and human services organization and a leading provider of community-based services to individuals with mental health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and behavioral health challenges. Our services and advocacy promote the recovery, resiliency, habilitation, and self-determination of the people we serve. Vinfen's 3,200 dedicated employees are experienced, highly-trained professionals who provide a full range of supportive living, health, educational, and clinical services in 318 programs throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. For more information about Vinfen, please visit www.vinfen.org/careers

My Vinfen. My Community. My Job.

Vinfen is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Qualifications Job Requirements:

A minimum of three years’ experience in progressively responsible human services functions of which at least one has been in the autism community.

Education Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in a related field such as special education, psychology, or applied behavior analysis with three years of experience working with young children with Autism and their families. In lieu of a Bachelor’s Degree, must have an Associate’s Degree in a related field such as special education, psychology, or applied behavior analysis with five years of experience working with young children with Autism and their famil...