Behavioral Health Nurse Case Manager

Behavioral Health Nurse Case Manager

Under general supervision, provides medication support services, psychiatric after-care and case management services for mentally ill and emotionally disturbed clients on an out-patient basis; collaborates with inter-disciplinary health treatment teams to plan treatment; assists in developing treatment plans; performs related work as assigned.

This class provides direct nursing, case management and continuing care services for designated clients in the outpatient program including those who have been discharged from the in-patient psychiatric facility. Services are primarily provided in the home of the client or other community facility which requires the incumbent to work independently with a high degree of independence. This class is distinguished from Psychiatric Nurse in that the latter does not typically provide services in the home of clients.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of general psychiatric nursing care, as defined by the State of California licensing requirements.
• Techniques for dealing with disturbed individuals and their families.
• Principles and practices for providing nursing care in a home environment.
• Medical and psychiatric terminology and first aid methods and procedures.
• Principles and methods of mental health case management, particularly as related to assessment and continuation of long term services.
• Psychiatric medicines, including narcotics, and their side effects.
• Standard medical recordkeeping, including patient charting and the processing and maintenance of required documentation.

Skill in:

• Conducting psychiatric assessments and evaluations and reporting physical and mental condition findings to medical staff.
• Developing effective client care plans including medication maintenance monitoring plans.
• Developing and maintaining a supportive client relationship including fostering the clients trust.
• Performing crisis intervention, responding promptly to client emergency situations, taking effective action and remaining with or transporting the client as appropriate.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
• Exercising sound independent judgement within established guidelines.
• Preparing clear and complete reports, patient documentation and other written records.

Other Requirements:

• Must be licensed to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse, Registered Nurse, or Licensed Psychiatric Technician in the State of California; must possess a valid California driver's license.

Desirable Education and Experience:

• Three years of experience in providing case management services to clients in a public or private social services or mental health setting one year of which was performing nursing duties in an in-patient or out-patient psychiatric setting.