Clinical Case Manager - SAGE

Downtown Emergency Service Center•Seattle, WA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Case Manager works in DESC’s SAGE outpatient mental health program, serving adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses. The role provides ongoing, recovery-oriented case management and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams and DESC’s Scattered Sites Supportive Housing team to support clients’ clinical stability, housing retention, independence, and self-sufficiency. Services include outreach, assessments, care coordination, advocacy, crisis support, and help accessing housing, treatment, and other community resources. The position is based at DESC’s Downtown Behavioral Health Clinic and follows an office-day shift, with Saturday and Sunday as days off. The role involves local travel for client outreach and home visits, coordination with landlords and housing staff, and support for clients in maintaining healthy living conditions. The Clinical Case Manager also maintains clinical and administrative documentation, participates in supervision and case reviews, and completes related training and program duties.

Requirements

Relevant bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or a related behavioral science, or a combination of one year of relevant paid work experience and demonstrated ability to perform the job duties.
Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle for agency business.
Current Washington State driver’s license and an insurable driving record.
Ability to meet Washington Department of Health requirements for registration as a Registered Agency Affiliated Counselor (AAC) or a superseding credential.
Interest in working with clients who are difficult to engage and retain in traditional mental health or substance-use-disorder programs.
Knowledge of recovery-focused, strengths-based mental health work.
Knowledge of harm-reduction strategies.
Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behaviors.
Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from varied backgrounds.
Commitment to cooperation and continuity across programs and to consideration and respect for consumers.

Nice To Haves

Eligibility for a Licensed AAC credential or a superseding credential meeting RCW 71.05.020 requirements to act as a Mental Health Professional with scope of practice that includes independently conducting mental health assessments and making mental health diagnoses.
Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or another relevant behavioral science.
Bilingual proficiency in Spanish and English.
Bicultural background or experience and/or Qualified Minority Mental Health Specialist designation.

Responsibilities

Provide ongoing case management as part of a multidisciplinary and multi-departmental team serving adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses.
Collaborate with DESC’s Scattered Sites Supportive Housing team to develop client care and housing-retention plans.
Conduct outreach and engagement to establish and maintain working relationships with assigned clients.
Conduct psychosocial assessments, develop goal planners with clients, and connect them with collaborative resources.
Coordinate all aspects of clients’ support and goal plans, including psychiatric and substance-use treatment, 24-hour support services, and access to food, clothing, housing, medical care, financial assistance, and vocational training or employment.
Advocate for clients’ access to community services and resources, protect their rights, and collaborate with community providers to support continuity of care.
Travel locally for outreach and home visits; assist with home inspections and annual recertifications; identify and report maintenance concerns and housing-retention barriers.
Provide crisis intervention and risk assessment, and tolerate unusual or unpleasant behavior.
Provide counseling when qualified.
Serve as protective payee for some clients by creating monthly budgets with them, distributing funds, and assisting with purchases.
Build and maintain professional relationships with landlords and property managers, supporting rule enforcement and lease compliance as needed.
Document services and meet administrative deadlines.
Support clients in achieving and maintaining healthy living conditions, including attending care conferences, providing in-unit support, coordinating with housing staff, participating in unit cleanouts, and documenting barriers.
Participate in psychiatric consultation, supervision, program meetings, in-service training, clinical reviews, and case conferences.
Attend relevant internal and external trainings, including topics such as landlord-tenant laws and housing vouchers.
Follow clinical accountability policies and procedures; maintain complete and current clinical and administrative records; and participate in quality assurance reviews when assigned.
Comply with applicable research and evaluation procedures and perform other duties as assigned.