Job Title:  Communication Assessor- Office of Deaf Services- Augusta

Pay Grade: J

Workplace: Hybrid C- 0 regular days in office, but can be asked to report for meetings

Travel: Yes, travel within assigned region and other areas as needed in fulfillment of department mandates. 60% travel 40% office/other duties as assigned.

Job Summary:

 This position works in Region 2 and covers the following counties: Baldwin, Barrow, Bibb, Burke, Clarke, Columbia, Elbert, Emanuel, Glascock, Greene, Hancock, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jenkins, Jones, Lincoln, Madison, McDuffie, Monroe, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Putnam, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Twiggs, Walton, Warren, Washington, Wilkes, and Wilkinson.

This position mainly works in the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Community.

• Conducts and reports on communication assessments for deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing individuals utilizing multiple modes of communication including American Sign Language. 
• Collaborates with local treatment teams in defining client specific communication needs in the development of treatment plans.  
• Provides technical assistance with planning, achieving, and maintaining communication access and quality compliance. 
• Supports management in the delivery of an effective, efficient, and compliant communicative support environment for individuals with hearing loss. 
• Assesses and documents provider communication support capabilities within the framework of behavioral health and mental health services delivery.

Job Responsibilities & Performance Standards:

1. Collects and compiles data 

•Records predetermined information to facilitate the development of effective goals, outcome measures, and input measures based upon individual communication assessments

•Consolidates and organizes information gained from assessment interviews

•Responds to routine and special requests for data

2. Prepares reports based on communication assessment results

•Prepares accurate and complete reports of findings

•Collects pertinent information from files, databases, other programs, and departmental guidelines to augment reports

•Creates easy to understand charts and graphs for inclusion in reports and presentations, as needed

•Assists in the implementation of changes and improvements at the provider level to increase communication access to needed services.

3. Proactively supports team processes and cross-functional collaboration 

•Effectively communicates assessment results and responds to care team questions

•Periodically assesses client progress  

•Acts as an advocate for the definition and the delivery of services 

•Assesses current and on-going communication access needs at client and provider levels

•Assists care teams by providing clarification in the design and delivery of individual treatment plans 

•Maintains a working relationship with additional community support systems/resources in support of client needs

•Acts as a liaison between management, providers, clients, and other stakeholders including but not limited to departmental staff, the general public, and external representatives

4.  Contributes to organizational success by assisting individuals and service providers in the definition, delivery, and maintenance of compliant, and effective communication

•Clearly and accurately communicates or conveys directives, assignments, instructions, messages, and information from the director to appropriate individuals as required

•Dynamically prioritizes work to support completion deadlines

•Clearly communicates to project participants and monitors adherence to goals, priorities, and timetables

•Constantly evaluates practices, policies, and procedures, for effectiveness and identifies improvement opportunities and corrective action recommendations to improve services

•Exercises sound, prudent, and professional judgment in the completion of assigned duties while maintaining strict confidentiality policy in the management of client, service provider, and department information

•Performs job responsibilities with minimal supervision

5.  Maintains a consistent, high quality, customer-focused orientation when conducting business and providing services or products to clients and stakeholders

•Treats others with respect, courtesy and tact; listens and interacts with clients and stakeholders as an individual while maintaining the business relationship

•Effectively communicates with clients and stakeholders to obtain all required information necessary to determine and address their specific needs; to include, in the event requested services cannot be provided, the ability to tactfully offer an explanation

•Provides clear, concise, and accurate information with the ability to explain procedures, materials, or supplemental information necessary to address FAQ’s or other anticipated issues

•Responds to client and stakeholder needs with a sense of urgency within a reasonable time frame

6. Interacts cooperatively with co-workers, customers and other contacts to provide consistent, professional, quality focused services to clients, and stakeholders. (Performed by all incumbents) 

•Treats co-workers and other contacts with respect, courtesy and tact. 

•Provides clear, accurate, and complete information upon request. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Objectively documented proficiency in American Sign Language e.g., National certification as a sign language interpreter or rating of Advanced Plus or Superior (preferred) on the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) or the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI).
• Expertise in both English and ASL assessment, visual gestural communication, and other modes of manual/visual based communication.
• Demonstrated proficiency in assessment reporting evidenced by past assessments for clients with intellectual disability, atypical signing, or other manual communication modes.
• Candidate lives in or near the Region 2 catchment area due to extensive travel needs within the Region

Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary & benefits, GA Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is part of a statewide initiative called Total Rewards that seeks to attract and retain employees by supplementing their base pay and benefits with programs designed to improve the quality of their work environment and lead to greater job satisfaction and work/life balance. Eligible employees are offered generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid holidays, vacation and sick leave. For more information, visit https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/benefits

Employment Requirements
To ensure the safety and wellbeing of our employees, individuals and communities we serve, certain positions within DBHDD may require evaluations, vaccinations, professional licensure and certifications. Licenses must be current and enable providers to practice within the State of Georgia.

The following are a listing of evaluations and vaccinations that may be required for employees, including those not involved with direct care:

• Drug Screening
• TB Evaluation
• Annual Influenza*

*Limited exemptions may be made for documented medical contraindications or religious beliefs that object to vaccinations.

DBHDD is an Equal Opportunity Employer
It is the policy of DBHDD to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information on application status by phone or e-mail. All qualified applicants will be considered but may not necessarily receive an interview. Selected applicants will be contacted by the hiring agency for next steps in the selection process.

This position is subject to close at any time once a satisfactory applicant pool has been identified.

FOR THIS TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT, STATE LAW REQUIRES A NATIONAL AND STATE BACKGROUND CHECK AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT.  

When applying for this position, you will be asked if you meet the minimum qualifications for this position as stated below and may possibly be presented with additional questions to assess preferred qualifications. Preference will be given to applicants who meet one or more of the preferred qualifications and have demonstrated relevant experience clearly indicated in their work history.