LICENSED VOCATIONAL NURSE (LVN, LPN) - DISABILITY COORDINATOR

Job Description

Job Description

Overview

Are you looking for a career you can feel good about? We hire only those that strive to do their best. By joining our family, you'll receive the honor and recognition that comes with working for the industry's global leader in evidenced based rehabilitation.

Who We Are:

GEO provides complementary, turnkey solutions for numerous government partners worldwide across a spectrum of diversified correctional and community reentry services. From the development of state-of-the-art facilities and the provision of management services and evidence-based rehabilitation to the post-release reintegration and supervision of individuals in the community, GEO offers fully diversified, cost-effective services that deliver enhanced quality and improved outcomes.

Why Work for GEO:

• We believe that work is more than a place you go to every day. It is about being inspired and motivated to achieve extraordinary things.
• Employee benefits play an important role in making The GEO Group a great place to work. At GEO, we believe in the three pillars of employee wellbeing: physical, emotional, and financial. With comprehensive benefits and competitive wages, we trust that you will find all the resources you need here to be successful.

Responsibilities

Summary:
The LPN - Disability Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the facility disability identification, assessment, accommodation, and compliance program. Serves as the facility’s designated Disability Compliance Coordinator (DCC) for purposes of the most current ICE detention standards governing disability identification, assessment and accommodation that may apply to the facility contract. The DCC will assist facility personnel, support equal access and effective communication, and coordinate individualized accommodation for patients with disabilities.

 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• The LPN - Disability Coordinator serves as the designated facility Disability Compliance Coordinator and assists facility personnel in maintaining compliance with the most current ICE’s detention standard governing disability accommodations applicable to the facility's contract, as currently in effect and applicable federal disability-access requirements.
• Maintains regular communication with the ICE/ERO field office’s designated Supporting Disability Access Coordinator (SDAC) or designee, including required consultations and written notifications.
• The LPN - Disability Coordinator leads the facility Disability Compliance Multidisciplinary Team and coordinates regular case reviews involving medical, mental health, custody, compliance, safety, security, programming, and other relevant personnel.
• Coordinates a timely process for receiving, tracking, assessing, implementing, and reassessing formal or informal disability accommodation requests, third-party referrals, and staff-identified needs, including needs that have not been requested by the patient.
• The LPN - Disability Coordinator ensures the individualized interactive process and patient interview occur within the appropriate timeliness after self-identification, third-party referral, or staff recognition of an open, obvious, or apparent impairment.
• Coordinates immediate and appropriate interim accommodation (s) while comprehensive assessment, approval, procurement, repair, or delivery of longer-term accommodations is pending.
• Collaborates with qualified medical, mental health, custody, programming, and other staff to determine whether a patient has a disability, whether accommodation is needed for meaningful access, and whether the requested or an equally effective alternative accommodation should be approved.
• Ensures written decisions and required notifications are issued within the appropriate timeliness after completion of the interactive process and are provided in a language or manner the patient understands.
• Ensures relevant staff are informed of approved accommodation and implementation instructions while maintaining applicable privacy and confidentiality protections. Notifies the Facility Administrator or Assistant Facility Administrator of any recommendation to deny accommodation; confirms required approval and written notification to the ICE/ERO SDAC or designee before a denial is finalized.
• Coordinates effective communication and appropriate auxiliary aids or services for patients with hearing, vision, speech, sensory, manual, or other communication impairments; ensures other patients are used to interpret or facilitate communication only in emergent situations.
• Monitors physical and program accessibility, use and retention of assistive devices, and access to housing, medical care, hygiene facilities, telephones, law libraries, grievances, visitation, transportation, recreation, religious services, education, work, and other facility programs and services in the least restrictive and most integrated setting appropriate.
• Ensures disability or accommodation need is not used as the sole basis for Special Management Unit placement and that any restriction involving an assistive device is supported by an individualized review and documented justification.
• Coordinates an initial reassessment of approved accommodations within the appropriate timeframes when requested or clinically/operationally indicated; includes a patient interview and documents the reassessment in the medical record.
• Maintains accurate, confidential, and retrievable records of referrals, assessments, interviews, decisions, accommodations, notifications, implementation, reassessments, declinations, grievances, and multidisciplinary team activity.
• Supports patient orientation, facility handbook content, and required postings concerning disability rights, accommodation requests, and the facility process.
• Support initial and annual refresher training for staff, contractors, and volunteers on disability identification and accommodation procedures.
• Support the facility orientation program and patient handbook content related to the accommodations policy, and confirm required notices are posted.
• Reviews disability-related grievances, worsening conditions, complex requests, accessibility barriers, and implementation concerns; initiates multidisciplinary review and corrective action as appropriate.
• Participates in audits, inspections, policy reviews, quality assurance activities, and corrective action planning related to disability identification, assessment, accommodation, effective communication, and program access.
• Present accommodation trends, timeliness, and documentation completeness to the quarterly Performance Improvement Committee, and track corrective actions to completion.
• Monitors for revisions, renumbering, or reissuance of the governing ICE detention standard(s) (PBNDS and/or NDS) and any related ICE/DHS directives, and coordinates timely updates to the facility's LOP, forms, and training materials.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing required.
• Must have a current, unrestricted license to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in thestate the facility is located. Maintains a current copy of license on file at the facility at all times.
• Two (2) years of correctional, detention, or other secure-setting healthcare experience preferred.
• Possess relevant knowledge, education, or experience in assessing individuals withdisabilities.
• Experience coordinating disability accommodations, case management, health services, detention operations, compliance, or a related function preferred.
• Working knowledge of disability accommodation principles, effective communication, auxiliary aids and services, confidentiality, documentation, and multidisciplinary casecoordination.
• Ability to conduct and document individualized interviews and assessments; manage required timelines; prepare clear decisions, notifications, reports, and training materials; and communicate effectively with patients, staff, leadership, and government partners.
• Strong organization, judgment, interpersonal communication, and problem-solving skills. Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion and protect confidential medical and personal information.
• Ability to coordinate across departments (medical, mental health, custody, classification,programs, facility leadership) and to facilitate multidisciplinary team discussions.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills sufficient to track multiple concurrent cases against firm regulatory deadlines.
• Ability to understand and carry out complex oral and written instructions and apply policies, standards, and regulations to individual cases.
  

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