PROGRAM SPECIALIST, SPECIAL CHILD HEALTH SERVICES

Code: 05711 Local Competitive

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under the direction of a higher-level supervisory official in the program or agency, performs field and office work involved in obtaining services for disabled and potentially disabled children and their families; organizes/maintains all current and background information regarding a child's diagnosis, potential treatment, referrals, and the social ramifications of having a disability; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

Promotes unity between the child and parents by acting as a responsive agent readily available to address the family's concerns. Guides families through the social service system by providing family counseling, explaining the Special Child Health Services (SCHS) case management process, identifying family dysfunction, and ensuring that the parents are aware of their child's assessment outcomes. Assesses the need for child health care services in collaboration with the primary care physician and parents to develop an individualized service plan (ISP) for the child. Supports the family in reaching the goals identified in their ISP by assisting them in procuring services through referrals to SCHS and other appropriate agencies. Acts as a crisis intervention resource for the family by promptly addressing service-related complaints and suggesting practical alternatives for obtaining direct services. Facilitates communication between health care providers serving the family, including the primary care physician. Evaluates how referred services affect a child's progress toward achieving their ISP goals by assessing the intervention with the family. Develops an ISP that describes the child's case history, including medical, educational, developmental, and social backgrounds, as well as assessment results. The plan should include measurable objectives to address these challenges, detailed planned interventions, and a specific target date for evaluating progress or resolution. Provides referrals for services utilizing the SCHS network and other community agencies. Monitors the child's progress and development to ensure they are meeting their goals. Provides information to various agencies, community groups, and other stakeholders about the services provided under the SCHS Program. Interviews families seeking services to determine their eligibility for financial aid and to project their monetary obligations for treatment costs. Completes registrations for eligible children and submits their applications to the appropriate office within the SCHS program. Contacts the families of children registered with the SCHS program to offer counseling, explain the available services, and determine their level of interest in and need for these services. Coordinates procuring the services recommended by physicians, therapists, or other health care professionals for the family. Verifies that service vouchers submitted to the SCHS program are accurate and that shared costs are billed appropriately to program participants. Prepares statistical and informational reports on clients and the services provided by the SCHS program. Conducts client interviews, often with the individual or a family member, to understand their perspective, explore child health services and resources, and provide information about how to utilize these services. Explains SCHS program eligibility requirements and the services offered by various state and private agencies to help clients make informed decisions. Assesses clients' behavior during interviews to identify and address any issues that may interfere with their ability to act independently. Maintains a cooperative relationship with the client throughout the case management process by providing support and encouragement as needed. Encourages clients to actively participate in identifying and selecting services. Identifies any barriers that may prevent the client from receiving the services or resources needed to resolve their issues. Develops, proposes, and discusses an ISP with the client, outlining identified goals, interventions, and services, and specifies the responsibilities of relevant parties to ensure a shared understanding of the tasks and activities to be performed by staff and clients. Engages with clients by listening to feedback about services rendered, assisting them in addressing challenges, establishing goals for the continuation of services, or terminating services if necessary. Provides case-related information to pertinent care providers, including details on legal, medical, mental health, or welfare services, with parental consent. The purpose of sharing this information is to facilitate referrals and help providers deliver appropriate services. Assesses and revises the ISP as necessary, explaining the modifications to both clients and service providers enabling them to implement changes while ensuring the identified needs and established goals are met. Evaluates the client's development in consultation with other service providers at predetermined intervals. Revises the ISP as necessary to ensure that the identified needs and established goals are met. Advocates for the client to other agencies to ensure they receive the appropriate services and benefits, with parental consent. Obtains consent from clients, parents, or guardians to contact interested parties, including family members and child health care professionals who are currently providing or have previously provided services. The aim is to develop an accurate assessment of prior interventions and treatment history. Identifies appropriate services and details these recommendations in the ISP, with specific targeted interventions aimed at helping the client achieve their goals. Ensures mutual understanding of the planned interventions, goals, and services to be provided, and obtains client agreement for this plan. Assesses the status of a case, repeating interventions as necessary until a firm decision can be made to continue or deny services to the client. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in social work, or nursing.

Experience

One (1) year of experience providing social work, public health, or nursing services in pediatrics working with disabled, or chronically ill children.

License

Applicants may be required to possess a valid registration as a Professional Nurse in the State of New Jersey. Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Knowledge of methods and techniques for performing casework involving the health, physical welfare, and social integration of disabled and/or chronically ill children. Knowledge of the challenges involved with gathering and analyzing case-related information and the ability to form well-founded conclusions from this data and take appropriate actions thereon. Knowledge of the methods and terminology used in social service casework. Knowledge of the organization, objectives, and activities of various public and private social service agencies in New Jersey that serve children with disabilities, after a period of training. Knowledge of the challenges associated with different types of childhood disabilities. Knowledge of case management methods applicable to children with disabilities, including procedures for making medical referrals and planning interventions to assist clients with social integration. Knowledge of community facilities designed to accommodate disabled or chronically ill children, after a period of training. Knowledge of the emotional, social, and psychological effects that childhood disabilities may have on individuals, their peer groups, and families. Ability to organize work activities related to public health and perform social service casework. Ability to recognize disabilities in children and provide recommendations for professional services and interventions specific to individual cases. Ability to organize and coordinate county-wide child health services in response to specific cases. Ability to analyze laws, rules, regulations, and procedures and apply them consistently to individual cases. Ability to organize assigned casework and develop unit work methods. Ability to collaborate with colleagues, clients, family members, medical and mental health providers, as well as public and private organizations that serve children with disabilities. Ability to collect, document, and accurately evaluate case-related information. Ability to assess and prioritize significant facts in individual or family cases. Ability to coordinate services for disabled and chronically ill children and monitor their progress. Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports. Ability to maintain essential records and files. Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Current and valid registration as a Professional Nurse in the State of New Jersey will satisfy the educational requirements. A master's degree in nursing, or social work will satisfy the educational requirements. A master's degree in social work, or nursing may be substituted for one (1) year of the experience as indicated above.