Case Manager Mental Health (Internal)

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

Under general supervision, performs case management, service coordination, screening, assessments and/or discharge planning for mentally ill clients. Employee serves as a primary case manager in providing supportive counseling and intervention. Reports to Clinician Supervisor. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Prepares case management assessments; assists consumers by identifying individual needs, coordinating available resources and monitoring service delivery, work involves ensuring the physical, mental, medical and social well-being of the consumer; documents progress and maintains records in accordance with program policies and procedures; attends case reviews, documents and implements service plans accordingly, responds verbally and/or in writing to inquiries from general public/prospective consumers regarding program goals and objectives. 

Monitors mental status of consumers through home/office visits; records observations; evaluates and monitors progress through service delivery, visits foster care home providers and consumers,; refers consumers to foster care homes, as necessary; transports consumers to medical appointment; and assists with purchasing necessities for clients.

Consults regularly with therapists, staff members and doctors to discuss consumer progress; maintains accurate and complete clinical charts; prepares and updates consumers’ progress records and treatment plans, plans workshops/training/meetings related to developing programs that meet consumers’ needs.

Implements goals and objectives by linking consumers to appropriate services; transports consumers in pursuit of employment, living arrangements and educational opportunities; prepares statistical reports and presents findings to supervisor; ensures departmental policies and procedures are followed.

Provides outreach services and serves as a liaison on various city boards regarding the rights and need of citizens.

Performs other duties as assigned. 

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 

Knowledge of Job: Has considerable knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of psychosocial rehabilitation, crisis intervention, case management, and mental health issues. Has considerable knowledge of the literature, trends and developments in the field of psychosocial rehabilitative services. Is skilled in promoting the integration of services for psychosocial rehabilitation among a variety of service agencies. Is skilled in assisting, coordinating, and supervising the activities of mentally ill consumers. Is able to use standard office equipment, including a telephone, calculator, copier, facsimile, etc. Is able to compile information from a variety of sources and prepare clear and concise reports. Is able to respond quickly and effectively in a variety of emergency and non-emergency situations. Is able to effectively express ideas orally and in writing. Is able to exercise considerable discretion in handling confidential files and cases. Is able to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with co-workers, consumers and the general public.

Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Specific Duties and Responsibilities."

Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and for meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, DBHS policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.

Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to DBHS policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.

Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a general level of supervision and instruction.

Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.

 Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified i.e., poor communications, variance with DBHS policy or procedures, etc.

Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisor for mutual and DBHS benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all consumers and DBHS employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees, staffers and managers in other departments, to project a good DBHS image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the DBHS and surrounding regions. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, program consumers, supervisors, professionals and the general public.

Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings and deadlines.

Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the DBHS and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Education or a human services related field and 1 – 3 years of experience working in mental health; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) and Master’s Degree preferred.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Requires a professional certification in the State of Virginia as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) Adult or Child or QMHP Eligible (QMHP).

Must possess Red Cross Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid Certifications or have the ability to obtain certifications within 90 days from date of hire and maintain them as a condition of employment. 

An acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history check and sex offender registry check.

Individuals in this position cannot be listed as having a founded child abuse or neglect complaint.

Must possess a valid driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

In the event of a declared emergency in the City of Portsmouth, individuals in this position are required to work shelter duty and may be called on to perform duties as required to provide for the safety and care of the citizens of the community.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office equipment which includes telephones, calculators, copiers, computer terminals, facsimile, etc. Must be able to exert up to 20 pounds force occasionally and up to 50 pounds to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects or resisting individuals. 

Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communications: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving assignments and/or directions to unit members, volunteers or assistants. Includes receiving instructions from immediate supervisor.

 Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, documents, analyses, etc. Requires the ability to prepare institutional application packages, social histories, referrals, intakes, consent forms, reports, and summaries, using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to interact with individuals and groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence.

Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems and emergencies, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret a variety of technical or medical instructions in verbal or written form.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of medical or professional languages, including counseling terminology.

Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to add and subtract, multiply and divide. 

Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment.

Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Sensory Discrimination: Does not requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with persons acting under stress.

Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via telephone.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS

The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.  Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

This is a class description and not an individual position description.  A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.