Case Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Position Summary:

The Case Manager position is responsible for providing comprehensive case management support services to clients throughout the course of treatment. Responsibilities include coordinating, implementing, monitoring, and facilitating services that support individualized treatment planning, continuity of care, discharge planning, and linkage to appropriate internal and external resources.

The role works collaboratively with clinical staff, medical providers, community agencies, referral sources, and support systems to assist in addressing clients’ psychosocial, environmental, financial, medical, vocational, and recovery-oriented needs that may impact treatment participation and outcomes.

This position is responsible for ensuring case management services are delivered in accordance with organizational policies and procedures, evidence-based practices, applicable state and federal regulations, and established clinical and documentation standards. Duties include assisting with referrals, aftercare coordination, resource navigation, discharge planning, crisis support coordination, and advocacy services to promote client stability, engagement in treatment, and successful transition across levels of care.

Strong interdisciplinary collaboration, professional communication, timely documentation, and adherence to confidentiality standards, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 requirements, are essential to achieving positive client outcomes and maintaining quality standards of care.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Client Care & Case Management Services

• Provide comprehensive case management and care coordination services utilizing internal and external resources to support individualized treatment planning, continuity of care, and successful client outcomes.
• Complete all required admission-related administrative and case management processes within established organizational timeframes, including completion of case management intake documentation within forty-eight (48) hours of admission.
• Facilitate client engagement in treatment through ongoing assessment of psychosocial, environmental, vocational, financial, legal, housing, transportation, and recovery support needs.
• Establish and maintain therapeutic and professional relationships with clients utilizing empathy, professionalism, cultural sensitivity, trauma-informed care principles, and person-centered approaches.
• Encourage and reinforce positive client behaviors, treatment participation, accountability, recovery-oriented goals, and utilization of healthy coping skills.
• Identify and appropriately address barriers, behaviors, or circumstances that may interfere with treatment participation, safety, or progress toward treatment goals.
• Adapt service coordination strategies and interventions to meet the individualized needs of clients, including consideration of developmental level, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, culture, ethnicity, language needs, age, and co-occurring medical or behavioral health conditions.

Care Coordination & Resource Linkage

• Collaborate with clients, family members/significant others (when authorized), treatment providers, referral sources, managed care organizations, and community agencies to coordinate services and support continuity of care.
• Facilitate referrals and linkage to appropriate community resources, healthcare providers, social services, recovery support systems, and aftercare providers based on assessed client needs and treatment goals.
• Maintain professional working relationships with referral sources, external providers, and community agencies to support effective coordination of services and client advocacy.
• Assist clients and families in understanding program expectations, treatment processes, available services, financial obligations, confidentiality practices, and client rights and responsibilities.

Discharge Planning & Continuity of Care

• Coordinate individualized discharge and aftercare planning services beginning at admission and continuing throughout the course of treatment.
• Facilitate transitions between levels of care and ensure clients are connected to appropriate outpatient providers, community resources, support systems, and recovery-oriented services prior to discharge.
• Monitor and communicate barriers impacting discharge planning, treatment progression, or continuity of care to the interdisciplinary treatment team.

Interdisciplinary Communication & Collaboration

• Communicate relevant case management updates, service coordination needs, barriers to treatment, and client concerns to the interdisciplinary treatment team in a timely and professional manner.
• Participate in treatment team meetings, clinical staffing, supervision, case consultations, and interdisciplinary collaboration activities to support integrated client care.
• Maintain professional, respectful, and nonjudgmental communication with clients, families, referral sources, community professionals, and organizational staff.

Documentation & Regulatory Compliance

• Complete all clinical documentation, reports, correspondence, referrals, case management notes, discharge documentation, and related records accurately, legibly, thoroughly, and within required organizational timeframes.
• Ensure documentation complies with agency policies, payer requirements, accreditation standards, professional standards of practice, and applicable federal and state regulations.
• Exchange protected health information only in accordance with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, organizational confidentiality policies, and all applicable privacy regulations.
• Complete reports, audits, and documentation requests accurately and within established deadlines.

Professional Standards & Ethical Practice

• Adhere to all applicable federal and state laws, licensing board regulations, professional ethical standards, organizational policies and procedures, and accreditation requirements.
• Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, ethical conduct, sound judgment, and appropriate professional boundaries in all interactions and responsibilities.
• Participate in required supervision, trainings, competency development activities, and continuing education requirements.

Program Operations & Organizational Support

• Assist in maintaining efficient program operations and continuity of services through flexibility, teamwork, and collaboration.
• Support a safe, organized, therapeutic, and recovery-oriented treatment environment.
• Anticipate programmatic and client care needs while contributing to quality improvement initiatives and organizational goals.
• Perform additional duties as assigned consistent with scope of practice, training, and organizational needs.

Requirements:

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, Counseling, or related behavioral health field preferred.

Experience:

• Experience working in behavioral health services, healthcare, or social services preferred.
• Experience with discharge planning, community resources, and care coordination preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Knowledge of behavioral health treatment principles.
• Understanding of trauma-informed and recovery-oriented care.
• Knowledge of HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 confidentiality regulations.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple clients’ needs effectively.
• Proficiency in electronic health record systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to maintain professionalism and composure in high-stress situations.

Physical Requirements:

This position requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Employees may be required to respond quickly in emergency situations and, if trained and required by the role, may participate in physical interventions or crisis response procedures. The position also requires the ability to operate standard office equipment, including computers, telephones, and other electronic devices, as well as the ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats.