First Link Care Coordinator - Orangeville, Canada - Alzheimer Society of Dufferin County

Description

Alzheimer Society of Dufferin County

The Alzheimer Society's vision is a world without Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Our mission is to alleviate the personal and social consequences of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and to promote research.


OUR VALUES

Collaboration Accountability Respect Excellence

First Link Care Coordinator

Reports to:
Executive Director


Supervises:
N/A


Job Summary

The First Link Coordinator will coordinate and integrate supports and services around the person living with dementia and their care partner.

In this direct client service role, they will be the key "go-to" person for families after a dementia diagnosis, with responsibility for identifying needs, supporting self-management goals, and strengthening the communication and care planning linkages between providers and across sectors along the continuum of care.

The First Link Coordinator will strive to ensure that every person diagnosed with dementia and their care partners have timely access to information, learning opportunities and support when and where they need it.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Initial Contact, Assessment and Care Planning:

• Pro-actively manage incoming First Link referrals to facilitate early intervention and ensure that clients (people living with dementia and their care partners) have a named point of contact for care navigation support as early as possible before and/or after diagnosis
• Gather information, conduct, or review relevant assessments, and meet with clients (people living with dementia and care partners) to identify current and future needs, goals and level of risk.
• Establish appropriate intervention plans with internal and external resource matching to meet bio/psycho/social needs using a person/familycentered approach
• Identify needs related to care coordination across service providers and outline responsibilities of all parties

Navigation and Care Coordination:

• Support clients in navigating the system to access appropriate learning opportunities, support services, care and resources as identified in their individualized plan of service
• Proactively facilitate and advocate for linkages, communication, information exchange and coordination between clients and service providers along the continuum of care
• Facilitate regular and ongoing care conferences between clients/care partners and all members of client/care partner care team. This may include inperson meetings and use of a range of technology options and/or accommodations, including language translation services, video conferencing, etc.
• In collaboration with internal and external parties, engage in problem solving and develop strategies to address/overcome barriers in effective coordination/integration of supports and services
• Leverage and maintain positive working relationships with physicians, health care professionals, health, and community support service providers (e.g., hospitals, primary care, mental health, BSO, longterm care, retirement homes, police/EMS, specialized geriatrics, community Health Links), and other relevant partners through proactive outreach activities
• Support awareness of First Link to health professionals, service providers and other relevant community stakeholders in collaboration with internal and external partners
• Participate in internal/external committees on an ad hoc basis

Pro-active Follow-Up:

• Monitor and provide proactive followup for clients and care partners to ensure ongoing collaboration across services/providers and to identify opportunities for new or emerging care options to meet changing needs and to address service/support gaps
• Provide supports to clients and care partners as they transition through use of different parts of the health, social and residential care systems

Monitoring/Evaluation:

• Collect, maintain and report required quantitative and qualitative data to support provincewide monitoring, evaluation, and reporting
• In collaboration with the Alzheimer Society of Ontario and OH, participate in planning and implementation of evaluation to examine the overall effectiveness of First Link referral, intake, navigation, care coordination, and proactive followup functions, to ensure a timely response to emerging needs

Service Delivery Standards and Quality Improvement:

• Maintain confidential, accurate and current client records, including complete and thorough documentation for each client contact, in compliance with relevant privacy legislation and in accordance with professional standards and internal policies
• Ensure that client consents, privacy, and confidentiality are maintained in compliance with legislation, professional standards/regulations, and internal policies
• Maintain an advanced level of knowledge of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, including clinical manifestations, behaviours, current care practices, treatment options,