Social Work Case Manager

Job Summary

Performs highly responsible and professional social work case management involving a wide variety of responsibilities.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

GENERAL

• Provides case management and direct services for clients in a trusting and therapeutic manner, performing functions required by federal and state laws and rules.
• Provides professional case management to program-eligible recipients by monitoring and evaluating the appropriateness, effectiveness, and quality of services provided to the client; identifies when gaps in services exist and makes certain services are delivered as authorized.
• Responsible for supporting an inclusive environment focused on equitable outcomes.
• Demonstrates a commitment to support cultural diversity county-wide, actively supports the county’s inclusion, diversity, and equity initiatives, and works to address the needs of diverse and underserved communities.  
• Demonstrates an understanding of and respect for the diversity of customers, co-workers, and supervisors, including individuals with a disability or whose first language may be other than English.

INTAKE/ASSESSMENT

• Provides intake and assessment services to evaluate, plan, and implement services to address health and safety needs. Independent professional judgement is required to ensure assessments must be holistic, culturally sensitive, clinically appropriate, person-centered, strengths based, resource conscious, and achieve desired program outcomes. 
• Uses professional judgement to perform a wide variety of assessments to identify health and safety needs of the individual/family and the impact of those on the person/household, as well as on their family members or other community members; assessment activity includes identifying client's strengths, needs, motivation, and capacity for change.
• Conducts a holistic assessment of client/family needs in a culturally sensitive manner by using independent assessment skills and professional judgment.

ADULT MENTAL HEALTH-CASE MANAGEMENT

• Reviews the Diagnostic Assessment.
• Assesses with the person receiving MH-TCM the strengths, resources, supports, needs, functioning, physical and mental health conditions, safety, vulnerability, and injury risk. Assessment should include family members, significant others, and providers the person identifies as being important to his or her recovery process.
• Screens for substance use and abuse.
• Reviews and updates documentation of the person’s status, cultural consideration, and functional description in all the FA domains specified in Minnesota statutes.
• Completes a LOCUS assessment to determine resources and resource intensity needs.

SAFETY

• Ensures safety through ongoing evaluation, crisis intervention, supervision, safety and crisis planning, service delivery, and collaboration with key partners such as the County Attorney's Office, law enforcement, adult/child protection, medical providers and other supports.
• Provides children with a permanent safe environment through provision of social work services for youth and families, including crisis intervention.  (CW/PSOP/MP).  
• Collaborates with Adult and Child Protection Workers in the development of safety plans to address the safety needs of vulnerable adults/children in current adult/child protection/child welfare cases as requested. Additional collaboration with county wide departments to meet the needs of clients may be required.
• Intervenes in times of crisis assisting clients with needs and/or procuring the proper help for them.

COURT PROCEEDINGS

• Initiates and participates in court proceedings; providing recommendations on family reunification, guardianship, and commitments; testifying and represents the department/County.
• Acts on behalf of the Commissioner of Human Services providing guardianship.
• performs and monitors civil commitment proceedings.
• Informs legal/court recommendations; and completes required reports and documentation.

ADULT MENTAL HEALTH

• Completes Prepetition Screening responsibilities when individual is a candidate for commitment to the Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner due to being a danger to self or others. This includes immediate response, interviews with individual and collateral contacts, risk identification, and recommendations/testifying to the court.
• Conducts case monitoring through term of commitments for individuals considered a danger to self or others.

DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING CASE PLANS

• Independently prepares and implements quality case plans in collaboration with all involved parties. Ensures plans address priorities, desired outcomes, strategies, resources, are cost effective, cohesive with other service needs, and promote health and safety.

Engages in case-planning activity to include:

• Identifying priorities and the desired outcomes.
• Identifying strategies and resources to be used in attaining the outcomes.
• Developing person-centered plans to ensure the safety of the client/family and of the community.
• Ensures proper resource allocation and that services are cost effective.
• Reduces the fragmentation of services.

ONGOING CASE MANAGEMENT

• As defined by individual program standards, provides ongoing case management services; monitors and evaluates appropriateness, effectiveness, and quality of services; identifies service gaps; completes needed visits; organizes care meetings and consolations; outlines goal progression; makes and supports referrals; identifies resource needs and allocations; provides care and treatment coordination; makes residential treatment and crisis resource recommendations; and provides education, skill development, and problem-solving resources.
• Performs review and analysis of diagnostic assessment, psychological evaluations, and other mental health records to determine strengths and needs of client and their family.
• (CMH) Facilitates county residential treatment screening team processes to determine appropriate level-of-care; collaborates with hospitals, mental health professionals, law enforcement, corrections, courts, schools, crisis workers, and other professionals to prevent out-of-home placement; engages family permanency team for successful and timely family reunification when placement does occur.
• Provides ongoing service and monitoring to high-risk families where parenting behavior is contributing to negative child behaviors. Collaborates with child protection workers to prevent entry into the CP system.   
• Performs professional level case management establishing trusting, helpful, and empowering relationships with clients to assist individuals in success with decision-making and self-determination.
• Serves as coordinator and facilitator of Family Group Decision Making Meetings for Carver, Scott, McLeod, and Le Sueur Counties with the goal of developing realistic plans that address the safety, well-being, and permanency needs of the children. Arranges the meeting logistics, prepares meeting participants for the structure/format of the meeting, clarifies the purpose of the meeting, and establishes bottom-lines with the referring worker and the family. (Specific to FGDM worker). 
• Provides education, skill development, problem-solving, and support to clients and their families to empower and enable them to live independently; advocates for clients to maintain quality services and programs.

ADULT MENTAL HEALTH

• Completes Individual Support Plan with each individual initially and during regular follow up, as defined by TCM requirements.
• Provides referrals and linkage to mental health services to help individual obtain planned goals.  Provides ongoing monitoring and coordination via monthly face -to-face contacts

DOCUMENTATION

• Maintains and prepares detailed documentation to meet program requirements, ensure reimbursements are maximized, and that case updates are available timely.

OTHER

• Regularly drives a vehicle to transport self or clients to activities or appointments as the needs of service dictate.
• Flexibility in scheduling may be required to meet the needs of the clients.
• Consults with, informs, and educates different audiences about programs and services.
• Works the days and hours necessary to perform all assigned responsibilities and tasks. Must be available (especially during regular business hours or shifts) to communicate with other employees, clients, providers and any other person or organization with whom interaction is required to accomplish work and employer goals. 
• Performs other related duties as required or assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

DD - Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Special Education, Psychology, Nursing, Human Services, or other fields related to the education or treatment of people with developmental disabilities or related conditions and one year of experience in the education or treatment of people with developmental disabilities or related conditions. Master's Degree and bilingual abilities are desirable. Recent experience providing case management for children and adults with DD and their families; related county work experience are preferred. Must possess a valid driver's license and provide a reliable means of transportation for the performance of work responsibilities.

Adult Mental Health – Requires a Bachelor's Degree in one of the behavioral sciences or related fields, including but not limited to, Social Work, Psychology, or Nursing from an accredited college or university. Must possess a valid driver's license and provide a reliable means of transportation for the performance of work responsibilities.

All others - Requires equivalency of a Bachelor's Degree in a human service-related field and two years of professional social work experience working directly with clients. Strong preference for experience within specific program area. Master's Degree and bilingual abilities are desirable. Must possess a valid driver's license and provide a reliable means of transportation for the performance of work responsibilities. Specific designations or certifications may be required of some positions (CD).

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

The employee is under general guidance and direction from a Social Work Supervisor. Work is performed according to established professional guidelines and procedures as well as standards and procedures which are determined by county, state, or federal regulations. The employee exercises considerable independent judgment in implementing new work methods and procedures and may provide work direction and training to Social Worker I or Case Aide staff to execute needs identified in case and or safety plans. Work may be reviewed by the Social Services Manager for overall standard of performance.

Adult Mental Health – Case Manager works under the direction of a LICSW.

CORE COMPETENCIES AND ABILITIES

• Customer Service - Delivers government services in a respectful, responsive, and solution-oriented manner.
• Communication - Is always clear about what we're doing and why we're doing it.
• Collaboration - Works with partners – communities, schools, faith groups, private business, and non-profit agencies – to see that services are not duplicated but rather are complimentary, aligned, and provided by the partners who can deliver the service most effectively.
• Stewardship - Works proactively to make investments, guided by resident input, which will transform lives, communities, and government.
• Empowerment - Works with individuals and families to affirm strengths, develop skills, restore hope, and promote self-reliance.
• Resiliency - Fosters public preparedness and responds when families and communities face health and safety emergencies.
• Innovation - Takes informed risks to deliver services more effectively and learns from successes and failures.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of social work in the areas specific to the job.
• Knowledge of agency programs, operations, policies, and procedures.
• Maintains working knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations, implements changes and performs work accordingly.
• Knowledge and understanding of and respect for the diversity of customers, co-workers, and supervisors, including individuals with a disability or whose first language may be other than English.
• Knowledge of other county, region, and/or state networks and resources.
• Ability to operate office equipment related to the job and ability to train staff in its use when necessary.
• Ability to conduct interviews.
• Ability to assess and manage cases.
• Ability to communicate effectively via written documentation, in person or over the telephone.
• Ability to be flexible in scheduling may be required to meet the service needs of the clients.
• Ability to analyze complex case situations to evaluate the needs for support services.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in making decisions and determining when additional case review or action is needed.
• Ability to follow complex verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to deal tactfully and efficiently with all levels of management, co-workers, and the general public.
• Ability to speak, present, and interact in public arenas with composure, professionalism, and discretion.
• Ability to use MS Office and other county/state software for the performance of essential duties. 
• Ability to use appropriate discretion in dealing with matters of a confidential nature.
• Ability to collaborate with other care team professionals.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Typical characteristics of the regular, ongoing work environment of this position requires inside work, occurring both in an office and in the field within clients' places of residence, work, or other non-county location. The position is multi-task oriented and includes periods of stress when balancing the needs/demands of multiple clients. Incumbent may be exposed to various atmospheric conditions such as odors, dusts, pets, poor ventilation, fumes, etc. when working in clients' residences. May require execution of essential duties including field work (e.g., in-person client contact) during emergencies along with the use of PPE kit when necessary to assure health and safety of client and staff. Incumbent may be exposed to uncooperative, angry, and sometimes hostile individuals or clients. Some evening or weekend hours may be required.

Physical activities include sedentary to light work: Reaching, sitting, standing, walking, pushing, lifting, pulling, fingering, grasping, feeling, stooping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions. Lifts and/or navigates up to 35 pounds on a routine basis in handling files and equipment necessary for performing the essential duties of the job.

SELECTION PROCESS

Selection for this position will be based on a minimum qualifications screening and rating of training and experience. Top candidates will be forwarded to hiring manager or supervisor for consideration for interview and/or additional assessments. Final selection will include a background check and approval by the County Board.