COORDINATOR, SPECIAL CHILD HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM

Code: 07494 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 general direction of a higher-level supervisory official in the program or agency, coordinates, plans, organizes, supervises, and performs the work involved in providing direct or indirect comprehensive services to disabled, and potentially disabled children and their families; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

Determines work procedures, prepares work schedules, and expedites the unit's workflow. Assigns work to subordinates and reviews their completed assignments for accuracy and compliance with program policies and procedures. Evaluates program and unit procedures to establish standards aimed at enhancing productivity. Maintains a productive work environment and resolves employee grievances. Trains the new employees assigned to the unit. Interviews prospective candidates. May hire and discharge workers. Prepares correspondence and maintains records of a confidential nature. Prepares statistical and other reports using interpretive analysis to incorporate findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Supervises the compilation of varied reports, approving them before submission to higher levels of management. Interprets and explains organizational rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to staff, clients, and other relevant parties. Validates and certifies reports, client applications, and other program documentation. Develops, implements, and oversees the policies of the Special Child Health Services Program (SCHSP) in accordance with state and county regulations for services provided to disabled and potentially disabled children and their families. Collaborates with various service agencies to provide medical, educational, developmental, social, and rehabilitative services to disabled children. Supervises staff delivering case management services to program clients. Prepares and monitors performance objectives for staff to ensure the delivery of quality services to disabled children and their families. Assesses program needs by analyzing and evaluating current and historical data on disabled and/or chronically ill children and infants to develop short- and long-term organizational objectives. Prepares an annual program budget and grant applications to secure program funding. Prepares budget revisions as necessary. Develops an organizational structure for the unit. Arranges continuing education seminars and workshops for staff. Develops performance standards and evaluates progress toward the established program objectives. Develops enhancements to established plans and procedures that aim to improve program performance. Monitors program expenditures for compliance and adherence to set funding standards and regulations. Prepares quarterly expenditure reports. Ensures program compliance with the legal and fiscal mandates established by the state and county. Orients newly hired staff to the agency's mission, ensuring they understand the program's goals, objectives, and performance expectations related to assignments. Discusses how changes in policies and laws will affect program goals and service delivery to both staff and clients. Oversees the implementation of policy changes and adjustments to program goals, ensuring a smooth transition for employees. Performs quality assurance evaluations of program services and related documentation to ensure timely and pertinent services are delivered, and that client records accurately reflect their case history and interactions with program activities. Monitors staff performance, including workload and progress toward achieving the established program objectives, and adherence to set standards. Oversees any problem-solving measures to address staffing issues and enhance employee satisfaction. Addresses complaints about staff, or the services provided and reports these findings to agency superiors. Engages in discussions with staff, offering constructive feedback and posing questions that aim to enhance responsiveness to client needs. Acknowledges the professional challenges encountered by staff when providing services, especially in complex cases and difficult family situations. Counsels staff in reconciling any overwhelming emotions related to complex cases by offering guidance from a professional perspective, so that the employee can maintain objectivity. Interprets and outlines the agency's programs, objectives, and goals for staff. Explains policy and program changes to staff to ensure they understand their impact on meeting agency performance standards. Performs program quality assurance by reviewing and verifying the accuracy of case-related documentation, including client and case history records, formal assessments, and court and program reports. Monitors and authorizes payments to other child health service providers and verifies that the services delivered are necessary and appropriate. Implements and oversees the organizational policies set by the board of directors or other executive body, official or regulatory organization. Encourages collaboration between supervisors and subordinates to exchange ideas, identify barriers to employee performance, and develop problem-solving strategies that will enhance the organization. Represents the organization at private and public meetings and other professional engagements. Engages with community organizations by attending meetings, establishing contact with pertinent stakeholders, and monitoring related activities affecting SCHSP programs to assess sentiment toward the agency. Assess feedback from constituents on organizational performance. Formally or informally conducts and develops short--, intermediate--, and long-range plans for the agency by establishing attainable goals for the SCHSP program, guiding daily work activities, and aligning staff toward an integrated and coordinated purpose. Ensures that internal and external complaints are promptly addressed, fairly evaluated, and equitably resolved. Develops, implements, and oversees agency compliance policies. Provides direct case management services to clients and actively works with the child and parent as a unifying agent that is available and accessible to the family. Guides families through the social services system and oversees the provision of services, which may include family counseling, explaining the available SCHS programs, managing the case process, assessing the child's needs, and ensuring parents are aware of their child's assessment outcomes. Assesses the need for services and collaborates with the primary care physician and parents to develop an Individual 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 promptly addressing service-related complaints and suggesting practical alternatives for obtaining direct services. Facilitates communication between the 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 feature measurable objectives to address 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 ISP goals. Provides information to various agencies, community groups, and relevant parties about the service providers 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 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. Verifies that the 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 services provided by the SCHS program. Conducts client interviews, often with the individual or a family member, to understand their perspective, explore child health care 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 in making informed decisions. Assesses clients' behavior during interviews to identify and address any issues that may interfere with their ability to act independently. Encourages clients to actively participate in identifying and selecting services that meet their needs. Maintains a cooperative relationship with the client throughout the case management process by providing emotional support and encouragement as needed. Identifies any barriers that may prevent the client from accessing necessary services or resources. Develops, proposes, and discusses an ISP with the client, outlining the 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, and 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 to the client. Assesses and revises the ISP as necessary, explaining any modifications to both client and service providers enabling them to implement changes while ensuring that the identified needs and established goals are met. Advocates for the client to other agencies to ensure they receive appropriate services and benefits, with parental consent. Obtains client or parental consent to contact other relevant 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 clients achieve their goals. Assesses the status of a case, repeating interventions as necessary, until a 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

Two (2) years of experience providing social work, public health, or nursing services in pediatrics working with disabled, or chronically ill children, one (1) year of which shall have been in a lead or supervisory capacity.

License

Applicants may be required to possess a current and 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 the methods, policies, standards, and procedures for performing casework involving the health, physical welfare, and social integration of disabled and/or chronically ill children. Knowledge of the challenges involved in gathering and analyzing case-related information, and the ability to form well-founded conclusions from this data and take appropriate actions thereon. Knowledge of management principles and methods. Knowledge of the methods and terminology used in social service casework. Knowledge of the organization, objectives, and activities of public and private social service agencies in New Jersey that serve children with disabilities. Knowledge of the methods for preparing clear, sound, and accurate reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Knowledge of the methods for establishing and maintaining casework records and related program documentation and files. 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 and chronically ill children. Knowledge of the emotional, social, and psychological effects that childhood disabilities may have on individuals, their peer groups, and their families. Knowledge of supervisory methods and techniques. Ability to organize work activities related to public health and perform or assign 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 various county-wide health services in response to specific cases. Ability to analyze laws, rules, regulations, and procedures and apply them to individual cases. Ability to lead staff, assign 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 evaluate case-related information. Ability to assess and prioritize significant facts in individual or family cases to ensure appropriate interventions within the ISP. Ability to coordinate services for disabled and chronically ill children and monitor their progress. Ability to assign work and supervise other employees, provide training and instructions, evaluate their work performance, and take appropriate disciplinary action if necessary. 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. 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 nonsupervisory experience as indicated above.