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SUMMARY OF POSITION

Mainstream Living provides services designed to enhance opportunities, create success and fulfill dreams. The Representative Payee Specialist oversees and provides representative payee functions for members who receive service. All personnel are expected to promote a safe and welcoming, home-like environment that inspires hope and supports members with their individual goals and aspirations.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Education : High School Diploma or Equivalency/HiSet/GED required.

Experience : 1 year experience related to accounting, budgeting, finances is preferred. Human Service Experience is preferred but not required.

Driving : This position requires possession of valid Driver’s License, legal driving privileges and ability in the State of Iowa and qualification with Mainstream Living’s underwriter as an insurable driver. Exception to this may be made for non-direct service positions.

Other Certification : n/a

Computer : Computer skills including data entry, Word Processing, Google Docs, and basic spreadsheet skills required. Learn and utilize RPM/Access software or equivalent for accounting.

Post hire : Must demonstrate competencies to complete internal training.

General : All employees must work diligently to incorporate the spirit and intent of the Mainstream Living's mission, vision and values. This includes respectful communication to all others at all times. Employees must be able to establish a rapport and develop positive relationships with others while conducting themselves in line with the Mainstream Living's Code of Ethics. Employees must also: demonstrate consistent professional conduct and establish and maintain appropriate boundaries with others; take accountability for own work while demonstrating a willingness to accept responsibility and offer constructive recommendations; demonstrate dependability and flexibility when shift times or duties of the day change; apply common sense to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form; and ensure that the best interest of the members are a top priority at all times.

The Representative Payee Specialist must be a self-starter with the ability to work independently. Must have a desire to work with individuals with disabilities and must have the ability and desire to use math skills. This position is office/clerical and accounting based. The Representative Payee Specialist must become adept at Social Security Rules and use specialized Representative Payee Software. This position requires an abundance of communication to internal and external sources.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This position is considered an essential health care worker position and in the event of an emergency may be required to work one-on-one with members to ensure their safety.

General Duties :

+ Ability to organize and file paperwork to create a workflow that can be tracked through auditing of financial files that follow Social Security Administration (SSA) rules.

+ Learn and follow SSA rules and how the benefits are determined utilizing each beneficiary’s funds to their highest capacity to meet the beneficiary’s needs.

+ Establish a budget with the beneficiary with the goal of them spreading their SSA funds through the month; meet with most members bi-monthly.

+ Fill out required reports meeting the due dates; reporting changes to internal and external sources. Examples of required reporting: DHS food stamp applications, Medicaid disability reviews, SSA disability reviews, Annual Rep Payee reporting, reporting member pay stubs.

+ Process payments with due dates for multiple client bills.

+ Daily processes and management of cutting checks for members personal needs, extra requests, emergency requests.

+ Daily decision making based on member needs vs. wants and making good decisions based on ensuring that their funds will last through each month.

+ Work closely with members in fulfilling payee requirements, meeting basic needs as well as empowering management of personal finances and ensuring their involvement to the extent possible. This includes gaining an understanding of mental health, developmental disability and individual member needs.

+ Collaborate with members' staff teams in a supportive and efficient manner.

+ Routinely collaborate with guardians, financial entities, SSA and other outside contacts in an efficient and professional manner that builds trust and positive relationships.

+ Report any concern or discrepancy immediately to the supervisor.

Adherence to Policies and Procedures :

All employees will adhere to Mainstream Living's policies and procedures including but not limited to:

+ Personnel Policies and Policy manuals.

+ Attendance is an essential function of work. Attend and work shifts as scheduled. Adhere to Mainstream Living's Attendance Policies for time off, on-call and attendance to training/staff meetings.

+ Follow documentation procedures to include accurate, honest and timely completion.

+ Follow health and safety practices per Mainstream Living's policies including participation in emergency procedures, drills, proper infection control, accident/injury prevention, etc.

+ Follow vehicle policies for safe operation of Mainstream Living's vehicles and safe transport of members/others if in driving position.

+ Keep supervisor informed of critical and non-routine events. Communication is constructive, effective, and timely.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to enable employees with a disability to perform the essential functions .

Physical Demands: While performing this job, employees must be able to meet the physical demands required to complete essential functions of this position and meet member needs in their home environment. Employees will be required to lift 15-25 pounds on a frequent basis. Depending on member needs and in some work locations, employees may be required to assist with ambulation, lifting and transferring of members, generally with the use of adaptive equipment such as gait belts, walkers, wheelchairs, mechanical lifts, etc. Thus, there may be times the employee must lift up to 50lbs and rarely up to 100lbs if working in sites with members requiring ambulation assistance.

At Mainstream Living, we believe in flexibility, rewarding outstanding work, promoting from within, and building long-lasting relationships with our employees and those we serve. Our culture makes these things possible. It's challenging, fun, supportive, and a great place to grow.

We are pleased to provide eligible employees with fantastic benefits which include:

+ Health, vision, and dental insurance

+ 403(b) retirement plan with match

+ Paid time off including vacation, holidays and sick time

+ Regular wage increase evaluation

+ Training and development opportunities

+ Education grants

+ Life insurance, cancer coverage, and flexible spending accounts

+ Opportunities for bonuses/incentives and internal recognition programs

OSHA CLASSIFICATION

This position is considered a Classification II in regard to jobs in which required tasks

do not routinely involve a potential for mucous membrane or skin contact with blood, body fluids, tissues or potential spills or splashes, but exposure or potential exposure may result from unplanned tasks or contact with unanticipated presence of infectious material that are required as a condition of employment. Additionally, there is possible exposure to cleaning chemicals. Use of appropriate measures is required for every health care provider.