Human Services Coordinator I (Child, Youth & Family)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts • Greenfield, MA

2d

About The Position

The Department of Mental Health (DMH), Western Massachusetts Area is seeking qualified professionals for the position of Human Services Coordinator I (Case Manager) to promote services that are clinically appropriate, least restrictive and delivered close to home. The services are designed to be strength-based, recovery-oriented and culturally/linguistically competent.

The selected candidate advocates for client’s rights with all community providers, agencies, families, court systems, employers and significant others in order to ensure that client’s rights are recognized and respected.
Please Note: The schedule for this position is 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday with Saturday and Sunday off. This position works in the Child, Youth & Families Division and is based out of the Greenfield office.
Duties and Responsibilities (these are a general summary and not all inclusive):
Provides discharge planning and subsequent service coordination for hospitalized clients at psychiatric units, and at Transitional/Respite programs by maintaining an assigned caseload.
Develops and drafts a Comprehensive Assessment (CA), Individual Service Plan (ISP) and an Individual Risk Management (IRM) plan to support and ensure needs are addressed in a comprehensive and appropriate manner.
Provides information, referral and short-term linkage services to those who are not DMH eligible, or those eligible on a waiting list for services.
Links clients with appropriate agencies and organizations to meet client’s needs identified through the ISP process and ensures that necessary services are provided in the least restrictive environment.
Offers input regarding assessment of client’s strengths and needs to supervisor or other clinical service staff in order to facilitate appropriate client care across all Area services.
Ensures a helping and supportive relationship with clients, their families and significant others in order to encourage clients to function as independently as possible.
Establishes working relationships with service providers and acts as the contact to resolve issues related to the provision of services as described in the client’s ISP.
Prepares consultation materials for presentations and follows up on relevant recommendations.
Assists with clinical evaluations of Request for Service Applications in accordance with clinical criteria specified in DMH regulations and guidelines.
Attends case management staff meetings, ongoing and regular weekly supervision meetings, clinical reviews, staff meetings and relevant trainings sessions, seminars, conferences and academic courses in order to maintain and improve current knowledge of community treatment of the long term, seriously mentally ill, or seriously emotionally disturbed.
Provides or ensures that DMH contracted program staff provide life management supports as needed such as assisting clients with placements, monitoring appointments with medical/mental health providers; arranges transportation when necessary and finding appropriate housing.
Identifies gaps in services and other system problems via participation in the Quality Improvement and Utilization processes for case management in order to maintain professional standards of client care within the Case Management Program.

Requirements

• Demonstrated skills in the development of helpful and supportive relationships with clients who are targeted for Case Management services
• Demonstrated knowledge of client needs and characteristics associated with long term, serious mental illness.
• Demonstrated knowledge of psychosocial problems for individuals with long term, serious mental illness.
• Demonstrated skills in assessing client needs.
• Demonstrated skills and knowledge of counseling strategies and techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize clinical pathology within clients which will require the Case Manager to refer the client to more appropriate clinical staff.
• Demonstrated knowledge of local community resources and an ability to work effectively with agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to advocate effectively on behalf of the client.
• Demonstrated knowledge of conflict-resolution strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and organize work efficiently.
• Demonstrated ability to respond adequately and appropriately to the changing needs of the clients.
• Demonstrated ability to work non-judgmentally with clients whose belief system may be different from those of the Case Manager.
• Demonstrated ability to articulate clearly and concisely in verbal and written modes.
• Demonstrated ability to convene and chair meetings.
• Applicants must have (A) at least three (3) years of full-time or equivalent part-time, professional experience in human services work or social work or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.
• Based on assignment as Qualified Intellectual Disabled Professionals, within the Department of Developmental Services, a Bachelor's degree or higher in social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, counseling education, education of the physically or emotionally handicapped, education of the multiple handicapped, education of the learning disabled, human services, rehabilitation, rehabilitation counseling, nursing, recreation therapy, art therapy, dance therapy, music therapy, physical education or other a related field is required.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of Department of Mental Health policies, procedures and regulations.
• Knowledge of inter-organizational referral and follow-up procedures.
• Knowledge of agency forms and documents; case management documentation process.
• Knowledge of and ability to perform inter-agency treatment planning practices and processes.
• Knowledge of Area service delivery system; case management delivery system.

Responsibilities

• Provides discharge planning and subsequent service coordination for hospitalized clients at psychiatric units, and at Transitional/Respite programs by maintaining an assigned caseload.
• Develops and drafts a Comprehensive Assessment (CA), Individual Service Plan (ISP) and an Individual Risk Management (IRM) plan to support and ensure needs are addressed in a comprehensive and appropriate manner.
• Provides information, referral and short-term linkage services to those who are not DMH eligible, or those eligible on a waiting list for services.
• Links clients with appropriate agencies and organizations to meet client’s needs identified through the ISP process and ensures that necessary services are provided in the least restrictive environment.
• Offers input regarding assessment of client’s strengths and needs to supervisor or other clinical service staff in order to facilitate appropriate client care across all Area services.
• Ensures a helping and supportive relationship with clients, their families and significant others in order to encourage clients to function as independently as possible.
• Establishes working relationships with service providers and acts as the contact to resolve issues related to the provision of services as described in the client’s ISP.
• Prepares consultation materials for presentations and follows up on relevant recommendations.
• Assists with clinical evaluations of Request for Service Applications in accordance with clinical criteria specified in DMH regulations and guidelines.
• Attends case management staff meetings, ongoing and regular weekly supervision meetings, clinical reviews, staff meetings and relevant trainings sessions, seminars, conferences and academic courses in order to maintain and improve current knowledge of community treatment of the long term, seriously mentally ill, or seriously emotionally disturbed.
• Provides or ensures that DMH contracted program staff provide life management supports as needed such as assisting clients with placements, monitoring appointments with medical/mental health providers; arranges transportation when necessary and finding appropriate housing.
• Identifies gaps in services and other system problems via participation in the Quality Improvement and Utilization processes for case management in order to maintain professional standards of client care within the Case Management Program.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Benefits
• When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
• Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees