Case Manager - Employment Specialist

POSITION TITLE: Case Manager-Employment Specialist PROGRAM/LOCATION: San Luis Obispo ACT/ San Luis Obispo

POSITION SUMMARY:

SLO ACT program is designed to engage adults with severe and persistent mental illness and provide treatment, rehabilitation, and social services in the community where they live, instead of a hospital or clinical setting. The SLO ACT team provides psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation services directly with a “whatever it takes” approach. For all SLO ACT clients, functioning in major life domains presents significant personal difficulties. These domains include affordable and safe housing; meaningful daily pursuits, including employment; and satisfying interpersonal relationships. Addressing the rehabilitation needs of clients in these key domains will be the team’s essential purpose. SLO ACT provides a full range of services, including assessment, individualized treatment planning, personal service coordination, integrated co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder treatment, medication services, and access to support services on a 24/7, 365-day basis. The Rehabilitation Specialist will have responsibility for supporting each client's recovery process, helping individuals to restore competencies and gain success in the major areas of community living using a trauma-informed approach. These include permanent, affordable housing; successful daily life pursuits, particularly regular, competitive employment; and renewed relationships.

HOURS/ SALARY EMPLOYEE PERKS:

Full-time, non-exempt position. 40 hours per week. Anticipated hiring range is $25.50-$26.50. Includes a generous individual benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, life, 403b retirement (with up to a 5% employer match) paid vacation/holiday time, paid sick time and a variety of helpful employee perks as well. (*Full Salary Schedule $25.50-$33.00 per hour).

EMPLOYEE PERKS:

A few of our helpful employee benefits include membership discounts to various local fitness centers. We offer years of service gift cards to businesses of your choice. We offer gift cards for walking, biking, or carpooling to work as well as 20% discount for shopping at our Growing Grounds Downtown Store/Nursey/ Farm. We host two employee appreciation events for employees and their families yearly. We practice Trauma Informed Care Principles, Guidelines for Collaborative Conversations, and encourage the use of pronouns. We mindfully promote equality, respect and diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, and all the fascinating characteristics that make us different! TMHA is also a pet friendly workplace (upon approval)!

MISSION STATEMNET:

Transitions Mental Health Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating stigma and promoting recovery and wellness for people with mental illness through work, housing, community, and family support services.

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:

Transitions – Mental Health Association is a leading non-profit agency committed to providing comprehensive mental health services and support to individuals and families by inspiring hope, growth, recovery and wellness in our communities. TMHA has decades of experience with teams of compassionate staff. TMHA is a driving force in improving mental health and wellness in our communities and a supportive and inclusive work environment that values diversity and individual contributions.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

1. Provide case management for an assigned group of clients including coordinating and monitoring the activities of the individual treatment team; assume primary responsibility for developing, writing, implementing, evaluating and revising treatment goals and plans; adhering to all required reporting requirements; provide one-on-one support to clients; provide symptom management support; educate and support clients’ families while acting in the clients’ best interest and advocating for the rights of the clients. Assist clients in all aspects of independent living including the development of social, vocational, and effective life management skills; assist clients in the areas of proper nutrition, cooking, shopping, budgeting, housecleaning, and maintenance, and personal hygiene.
2. Participate in the completion of client-centered comprehensive assessment of psychiatric history (e.g., onset, course and effect of illness, past treatment and responses, and risk behaviors), mental status, and diagnosis; physical health and dental health; use of drugs or alcohol; education and employment; social development and functioning; activities of daily living (e.g., self-care, living situation, nutrition, money management) and family structure and relationships.
3. Supports and assists clients of mental health services in a social rehabilitation setting offering social support, skills training, recreational activities, employment development, and assistance with independent living skills.
4. Function as a full member of the multidisciplinary ACT team within a shared caseload model.
5. Incorporate relapse prevention and wellness planning into employment supports.
6. Promote self-confidence and workplace readiness through skill-building interventions.
7. Conduct employer outreach and job development activities in the community.
8. Develop relationships with local businesses to create competitive employment opportunities.
9. Address barriers to employment, including stigma, symptom management, substance use recovery, and legal issues.
10. Functions as a role model to clients regarding rehabilitation and recovery, communication skills, and work behavior.
11. Support clients in identifying personal strengths, career interests, and long-term vocational goals.
12. Provide job coaching and on-site support as needed.
13. Provide opportunities to allow clients to establish vocational goals and identify any job-related areas that they want to work on. Provide vocational counseling, referral to appropriate vocational services, and assist clients with job coaching and support as needed.
14. Participate in daily staff organizational meetings and treatment planning review meetings.
15. Document all contact with clients in a timely manner. Complete program paperwork such as individual client files, evaluating and charting client progress, service plans, admission/ discharge paperwork, Medi-Cal billing, and time sheets.
16. Be responsible for learning and becoming proficient with Smart Care and Microsoft suite. Will use Microsoft teams daily to log contacts with clients and communicate with the other team members.
17. Medi-Cal billing provides a critical portion of funding for this program. You are expected to reach documentation and billing goals as set by Team Leader and Director.
18. All direct service staff are expected to spend 50% of their work time on direct service and support of clients, unless otherwise assigned by your supervisor.
19. Employees in this position are required to participate in a rotating on-call schedule as part of their regular job duties. This includes providing client support services during weekday after-hours and all weekend hours, in accordance with our program’s contractual obligations. Flexibility and reliability are essential. Employees must respond, sometimes in person, in accordance with our on-call policy.
20. Will provide group rehabilitative services as well as one on one’s with clients.
21. Will promote and support clients and their families with engaging with other TMHA programs, including but not limited to the Wellness Centers, Family Services, and the Central Coast Hotline.
22. Under the direction of the Team Leader, provide direct rehabilitative services to clients on an individual, group, and family basis in the office and in community settings to teach behavioral symptom-management techniques to alleviate and manage symptoms not reduced by medication and to promote personal growth and development by assisting clients to adapt and cope with internal and external stresses.
23. Assist clients in learning more about substance abuse and treatment options open to them, such as A.A. and other support groups. Collaborate with clients in identifying possible precursors that could lead to alcohol or drug abuse.
24. Function as agency liaison by consulting, collaborating, and communicating with the Team Leader, SLO Behavioral Health medication provider, Outpatient clinic, and other treatment agencies to meet client and program objectives. This duty may include coordinating referrals and/or providing information to other agencies or treatment programs.
25. The Rehabilitation Specialist will be responsible for a caseload. Provide practical help and supports, advocacy, coordination, side-by-side individualized support, problem solving, direct assistance, training, and supervision to help clients obtain the necessities of daily living including medical and dental health care; legal and advocacy services; financial support such as entitlements (e.g., SSI, Social Security Disability Insurance, and veterans’ benefits) or housing subsidies (e.g., HUD Section 8); supported housing (e.g., adult foster care; paid roommates, meals brought in for those who need it); money management services (e.g., payee ships); and transportation.
26. Promote, encourage, and maintain trauma-informed practices in all services and activities. Practice and promote, both individually and in team meetings, TMHA’s Collaborative Communication Guidelines to facilitate clear, empathetic, and person-centered communication.
27. All other duties as assigned by SLO ACT Team Leader and Directors.

JOB ENVIRONMENT:

1. Daily and frequent documentation of client services on the computer.
2. Services may be delivered to clients during a Monday through Sunday workweek; schedules will be developed in collaboration with all teammates and management staff to ensure maximum support for clients.
3. Moderate physical activity and frequent driving that will include the transportation of TMHA clients; may include moving or lifting up to 50 lbs.
4. Involves moderate risks that require safety precautions and the risk of exposure to potentially intense situations.
5. Possible intense situations related to confrontational or oppositional adults.

Requirements Minimum Requirements:

1. BA/BS AND 6 months of full-time experience with target population, OR AA/AS or CADAC/CPRP certification AND 2 years of full-time experience with target population, OR 4 years of full-time experience with target population.
2. Spanish Bi-lingual/Bi-Cultural preferred.
3. Two years experience with job placement and co-occurring disorders.
4. You must participate in the on-call rotation schedule to provide services to clients after hours and on weekends.
5. Must have experience collaborating with persons with severe and persistent mental illness.
6. Must have experience collaborating with people who are chronically homeless, homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless.
7. Must have a strong commitment to clients’ rights to self-govern and create their own choices.
8. Strong interpersonal skills, collaborative work style and strong oral/written and communication skills.
9. Well defined organizational and time management skills.
10. Ability to work independently and flexibly.
11. Ability to handle intense situations, display good judgment and decision-making skills, and remain calm and clearheaded under pressure.
12. Able to work effectively with a variety of people and personality types regardless of age, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or socio-economic level.
13. Ability to possess and maintain good physical and mental health.
14. Ability to work well within a team and maintain a professional, respectful attitude in the workplace.
15. Ability to be willing to work with supervisor oversight and direction.
16. Attendance is an essential function of this job that requires face-to-face interaction with clients and/or other employees.
17. Ability to mindfully promote equality and respect diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin and all of the other fascinating characteristics that make us different.
18. Demonstrate the ability to successfully deliver culturally responsive services.
19. Knowledge of the various dimensions of diversity, including mental health, gender, race and ethnicity.
20. Must use reasonable precautions in the performance of one’s duties and adhere to all applicable safety rules and practices while acting in such a manner as to assure at all times, maximum safety to one’s self, fellow employees, clients, and other persons contacted through TMHA business.

21. Conditions of employment include: Conditions of employment include: Must be at least 18 years of age; possess a valid CA Driver’s License, at least 2 years driving experience and DMV driving record that meets TMHA’s current vehicle insurance requirements. May be required to utilize reliable personal vehicle and auto insurance. Must comply with a TB assessment (possibly a TB test if needed to confirm a negative tuberculosis result) and receipt of a criminal record clearance through fingerprinting. Must be able to successfully complete First Aid and CPR training. Physical Demands:

1. Seeing
2. Hearing
3. Speaking
4. Stooping/Bending
5. Moving around office
6. Moving between offices/clients
7. Driving
8. Climbing
9. Lifting/carrying heavy items
10. Computer use
11. Pushing/pulling/dragging items
12. Standing for extended periods
13. Working outside
14. Using hands/fingers

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