Case Manager/ Referral Specialist (53387)

Westcare•Doral, FL

About The Position

The Case Manager/Referral Specialist provides case management, referral coordination, and family support services for children, adolescents, and families participating in the program. The role coordinates and tracks referrals for case management and community-based services, helps participants access behavioral health, educational, medical, and social service resources, and works to reduce barriers to care. It also provides evidence-informed parenting education, including the Nurturing Parenting Program, to strengthen protective factors, improve caregiver-child relationships, and support healthy family functioning. The position develops service plans, monitors participant progress, maintains accurate documentation, follows up with participants and referral providers, collaborates with multidisciplinary teams, and collects data for grant reporting and program evaluation. Services are intended to be trauma-informed and culturally responsive, supporting family stability, resilience, and long-term well-being. Work is primarily performed in a treatment setting or in the field, with travel throughout and around the community.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in social work, Psychology, Human Services, Sociology, Child Development, or a related field.
Knowledge of the Florida Child Welfare Practice Model and the child welfare electronic system of record (FSFN or CCWIS).
Possess a current Background Clearance Screening Letter as required by DCF.
Valid Florida driver's license and ability to obtain and maintain WestCare's vehicle insurance.
Ability to identify and evaluate an individual's strengths, barriers, problems, and needs for development of a Wellness and Recovery Plan.
Ability to write assessments, progress notes, discharge summaries, and other consumer-related data.
Knowledge of the inter-relationship among substance use, mental health, and primary care disorders.
Knowledge and application of developmental theories.
Ability to evaluate the impact of substance use and mental health problems on a consumer's functioning in major life areas.
Ability to coordinate and integrate multiple services and communicate with internal and external providers.
Ability to provide individuals and families with information about alcohol or other drug abuse, mental health problems, and available services and resources.
Ability to identify unmet consumer needs and assist consumers and families in using available support systems and community resources.
Ability to identify crises, mitigate or resolve immediate problems, de-escalate situations, and develop Safety Plans as needed.
Ability to assess growth and development relative to normative development for the person's chronological age, including physical, emotional, cognitive, educational, and social development.
Understanding of the relationship among mental health, substance use, physical health, medication use, and daily functioning.
Understanding and application of federal, state, local, and agency confidentiality rules and professional standards of conduct.
Understanding of family dynamics, family roles, and family structure.
Understanding of professional ethics, consumer rights, and professional responsibilities.
Ability to communicate appropriately and effectively with members of a multidisciplinary team.
Ability to organize, interpret, and communicate data comprehensively and effectively.
Ability to handle multiple tasks and effectively prioritize.
Ability to network with internal and external departments and agencies.
Ability to develop Wellness and Recovery Plans and provide services.
Ability to use trauma-informed care principles, including ensuring consumer safety, preventing re-traumatization, maximizing trustworthiness and consumer choice, maximizing collaboration, and emphasizing empowerment.
Ability to identify and describe key signs, symptoms, impact, and manifestations of trauma.
Understanding of the differences between trauma-informed and trauma-specific services.
Understanding of the bidirectional relationships among substance use, mental disorders, and trauma.
Understanding of the differences among various kinds of abuse and trauma.
Knowledge of WestCare's mission, goals, and values; incident reporting; HIPAA; professional ethics; consumer rights; confidentiality; and familiarity with WestCare services and programs.
Demonstrates dependability, good attendance, flexibility, responsiveness to supervisor requests, ability to work independently with minimal supervision, integrity, productive use of work time, effective working relationships, courtesy, tact, cooperation, and a positive attitude.
Ability to accept direction and supervision, maintain a safe and orderly work area, adhere to agency safety procedures, and use Unusual Incident Reports in accordance with reporting procedures.
Professional personal image and demeanor.
CPR Certification, First Aid Certification, and an annual Tuberculosis test.
Ability to utilize Microsoft Office Software Suite.
Ability to provide an Affidavit of Good Moral Character.
Clearance in pre-employment drug testing and criminal records checks, as required.
Ability to meet the physical and mental demands of the role, with or without accommodation, including mobility and physical activity; standing and walking on even and uneven surfaces; sitting for extended periods; bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, and occasional lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds; computer and telephone use; and defending oneself and clients in physically abusive situations using approved physical de-escalation techniques.
Ability to speak, hear, and see as required to communicate, receive detailed information, complete paperwork, and observe client behavior and activities.
Ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions.
Ability to work and cooperate with clients, coworkers, managers, the public, and employees at all levels, and to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings.
Ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally or verbally abusive situations using approved mental or verbal de-escalation techniques.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual.
Minimum two years of experience providing case management, care coordination, family support services, or behavioral health services.
Experience working with children, adolescents, and families impacted by trauma.
Experience facilitating or willingness to become certified in the Nurturing Parenting Program or other evidence-informed parenting curricula.

Responsibilities

Serve as the central point of intake for program referrals; log, track, and follow each referral through case assignment and closure.
Complete initial screenings and gather case information, including placement, court status, and service history, from case managers, caregivers, and partners.
Coordinate case assignments to therapists with the Project Director based on family need and caseload capacity.
Maintain the referral and caseload tracker so each family's status and next steps are current.
Provide case management, including service plans, progress monitoring, and follow-up with families.
Make and follow up on referrals for behavioral health, medical, educational, and community services, and help families overcome barriers to access.
Schedule and coordinate therapeutic visitation logistics.
Serve as the main point of contact between therapists, child welfare case managers, caregivers, and community providers.
Facilitate or co-facilitate the Nurturing Parenting Program and other parent and caregiver groups.
Document all contacts and services in CDS and/or CCWIS within required timeframes.
Collect and enter data for grant reporting and program evaluation.
Participate in team meetings and case staffings.
Report suspected abuse or neglect and maintain confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.
Perform other duties as assigned.