Our Services
The Supports Broker service is available to individuals who elect to self-direct their own services. Designed to assist individuals with employer-related functions to successfully self-direct some or all the individual’s needed services.
Supports Broker
The Supports Broker will work collaboratively with the Supports Coordinator and service plan team but may not perform Supports Coordination functions. Some of the broker services are outlined below:
Ensuring civil and personal rights:
- Assist the person in realizing her/his full civil rights as a participating member of her/his community and as a citizen of the United States
- Promote the health, rights, and safety of the individual
- Maintain confidentiality regarding all communication and information related to the participant, employees, and other people involved with the individual’s services
- Demonstrate an understanding of the Pennsylvania Home and Community Based Waiver Services, including the Participant Directed option and all applicable policies and Procedures
- Immediately report alleged, observed, or suspected abuse and/or neglect
- Provide information on the Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs’ Incident Management process
Working as an effective member of the team:
- Assist the individual in identifying and sustaining an effective personal support network of family, friends and paid supporters which may include facilitating regular “Circle of Support” meetings
- Use effective communication skills to benefit the person, specifically as it relates to interaction with the informal, unpaid resources and networks in the community as well as the Financial Management Service, Administrative Entity, Supports Coordination Organization, and the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP)
- Maintain monthly contact with the individual and maintain a Contact Log, documenting all activities, conversations or assistance provided
- Maintain regular contact with the Support Coordinator, as per the individual’s preference
Promoting best practices in employee recruitment and management:
- Providing explanation and assistance in completing employer or managing employer related paperwork and in understanding and fulfilling the responsibilities outlined in the Common Law Employer or Managing Employer Agreement forms
- Assist the individual in developing effective recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and scheduling, supervising and payroll practices
- Participate in Financial Management Service’s (FMS) orientation and other necessary. trainings and interactions
- Help to determine worker pay rates, based on funding and budget availability
- Help to arrange and/or provide training for support staff
- Facilitate detailed training and education on human resource standards, basic problem solving and conflict resolution
- Provide information on workplace safety and assist with developing and implementing strategies for effective management of workplace injury prevention.
- Assist with management of workers and in completing performance reviews on a regular basis
- Work with the individual to develop appropriate procedures for managing worker performance and if needed, separating with workers and/or communicating with the FMS organization regarding the need or desire to remove workers from the individual’s team
Partnering to ensure the best possible planning:
- Using person-centered planning techniques and approaches, coordinate formal and informal Supports
- Assist the individual with planning prior to and during the Individual Support Plan process and other meetings to ensure access to community resources and formal paid services.
- Assist the person with arranging for and effectively using generic community resources and informal supports this may include use of community mapping strategies
- Assist the person with arranging for and effectively using generic community resources and informal supports this may include use of community mapping strategies
- Provide technical assistance with developing, implementing and modifying a back-up plan for services, staffing for emergencies and/or worker absences
Ensuring the best possible use of public funding:
- Provide education and guidance with person centered thinking, planning and action; risks and responsibilities of directing one’s own services; rights; community resources and developing and sustaining a natural support system
- Assist with ensuring that efforts and resources are directed at and supporting the person to accomplish his or her desired outcomes
- Assist with managing, monitoring, and reviewing services utilized and funding, including budgeting and review and evaluation of monthly expenditure reports
- Assist with completing and submitting all required documentation and with complying with the standards, regulations, policies, and waiver requirements related to Participant Direction.
