(Hybrid) TBI Community Social Worker - Center for Excellence in Disabilities - West Virginia University Research Corporation

The Center for Excellence in Disabilities at West Virginia University Research Corporation is currently accepting applications for a TBI Community Social Worker located in Wood County

About the Opportunity

This position will provide resource coordination services to individuals with traumatic brain injury so they can effectively access available services; and, to facilitate a seamless continuum of services across agencies. This position will serve as a member of the State of WV Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Program; conduct assessments; develop intervention recommendations; link to resources; identify unmet needs and barriers to accessing effective TBI services; collect data to support development of a funding stream for statewide brain injury services and supports; conduct regional outreach to identify and assist individuals with TBI in need of support services; and, provide training and technical assistance to improve service providers capability to offer effective, person-centered TBI services. This position provides program, as well as direct internal and external client support services. Responds to inquiries and independently resolves matters of low to moderate complexity. Responsibilities require some judgment, resourcefulness, and originality, but diverse guides and precedents are usually available to apply or adapt to the circumstances. Work effort has considerable impact on client services, program and project image, with potential legal liabilities.

At WVU Research Corporation, we strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU Research Corporation offers a comprehensive benefits package with a variety of options to suit your needs:

• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 403(b) retirement savings with a fully vested 3% employee contribution match, (Employees have the option of contributing an additional 1-3% of their earnings to the plan, which is also matched by the WVURC)
• A range of health insurance and various other benefits
• Dependent Education Scholarship
• WVU Perks

What you’ll do:

• Provide resource coordination for individuals with TBI and their families to help identify and involve needed supports and services, assist with coordination of services across agencies and facilitate problem solving when barriers or crises arise.
• Assess immediate, short-term, and long-term service needs of people with TBI as needed, and provide referral information relating to resources that are available to meet identified needs.
• Facilitate person-centered planning with individuals with TBI and their supports to identify the person's goals and unmet needs and to develop an action plan to pursue and meet those goals.
• Provide one-on-one guidance and skills building in the area of self-advocacy.
• Provide more intensive case management services for limited numbers of individuals on a case load who do not have the ability to self-advocate and tap into resources on their own.
• Refer people with TBI who are at risk for communicable diseases to public health departments and other resources to address their specific need.
• Coordinate neuropsychological evaluations, as needed, to aid in service and support planning for appropriate individuals with TBI.
• Provide behavior support consultation to individuals with TBI, families and other supports for those with dangerous or threatening behaviors.
• Assist individuals with TBI through the application process to pursue funding for unmet needs.
• Develop and maintain information relating to region-specific resources for individuals with TBI and their families.
• Make contact with regional and local service providers, support groups and community organizations regarding the availability of TBI resource coordination services, person-centered planning, positive behavior support consultation and unmet needs funding for individuals with TBI.
• Arrange and conduct technical assistance and training activities for people with TBI, case managers, discharge planners, service providers, agencies and families regarding systems issues, information about TBI and available services and supports.
• Provide training on resource coordination/case management to service providers so that they can facilitate self-directed planning with individuals with TBI and their families. Serve as a regional resource to service providers in assigned region, on matters relating to TBI.
• Participate in TBI State Program staff meetings and appropriate Center meetings/Committee assignments.
• Provide outreach to local hospital systems to help facilitate the collection of information for the TBI registry.
• Maintain ongoing data collection to track the resource coordination and person-centered planning process from intake to outcomes. Maintain accurate, comprehensive records of training, technical assistance, futures planning and resource coordination activities.
• Participate in required professional development activities, to include obtaining and maintaining certification as a Certified Brain Injury Specialist through the Brain Injury Association of America.
• Provide productivity, calendar and program reports to the Program Manager.

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or related field.
• A minimum of five (5) years of related social work experience.
• A minimum of one (1) year experience working with individuals with TBI or other disabilities, as well as those administering and providing direct services.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Experience in service coordination/case management, familiarity with behavioral principles and their application.
• Experience facilitating group process with individuals with disabilities.
• Experience conducting training on issues related to Traumatic Brain Injury, resource coordination, person-centered planning and positive behavior support.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations.
• Good written and oral communication skills are necessary.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.
• Computer Skills - must be proficient with Microsoft Office software.

• Must have, or be eligible for, licensure as a Social Worker or certified Social Worker by the West Virginia Board of Social Work Examiners.
• Must have, or be eligible for, Certified Brain Injury Specialist Certification.
• The ability to travel to WVUs regional campuses and/or within the multi-state area is required.

The WVURC was created as a not-for-profit corporation in 1985 to support research (R1) at West Virginia University.  We provide evaluation, development, patenting, management, and marketing services for inventions of the faculty, staff and students of the University.

The WVURC receives and administers funds awarded by external agencies for research and other activities and is responsible for helping protect intellectual property through patents, copyrights and licensing agreements for start-up companies based on University research.

West Virginia University Research Corporation is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. We value diversity among its employees and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.

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