Job Description

Responsibilities

Primary Job Functions

Clinical responsibilities

• Leads program planning, development, implementation, and monitoring
• Establishes program goals and objectives that support the organization’s strategic plan
• Identifies problems, evaluates alternatives, and implements effective solutions
• Monitors program contracts and budget
• Assures program standards and objectives are met
• Acts as liaison to probate court when needed in matters related to outpatient commitment (OPC) consumers and hospital or court diversion efforts
• Ensures all documentation and reporting to the court is accurate and complete
• Approves individualized needs assessments (Sun-Rs) and service plans (ISP) for case managers
• Tracks outcome measures for the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Team to include hospitalizations and diversions and outcomes for the Jail Diversion program
• Works with the Court system, as needed, to include filling out forms, providing notification and testimony as required
• Provides effective and positive leadership to case managers on treatment team
• Leads weekly treatment team staff meetings
• Provides quality, evidence based treatment of Criminal offenders and NGRI consumers
• Ensures through an auditing process, that case managers provide quality and appropriate services
• Maintains effective working relationships with community stakeholders through meetings, phone calls and other contacts as needed
• Monitors maintenance of NGRI charts and provision of services to ensure that court requirements are met
• Applies personnel policies and procedures on a consistent basis
• Provides positive and effective leadership
• Acts as a member of the treatment team
• Provides effective clinical assessment of the consumer
• Utilizes assessment data to support a DSM IV diagnosis
• Formulates appropriate treatment plan along with consumer
• Provides services in the office and in the community
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize the elements of a crisis state and knows how to deescalate or resolve the situation
• Effectively collaborates with the treatment team members and outside sources in the delivery of clinical services
• Evaluates the consumer for discharge planning and ensures that discharge plan includes appropriate elements to ensure consumers’ successes without team support
• Collaborates with probate court as required to include completion of reports, petitions and providing testimony for specific consumers as needed
• Effectively demonstrates the application of adult specific competencies
• Adheres to professional code of ethics

Supervises operations

• Provides clinical leadership to the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Team staff
• Conducts staff meetings as appropriate
• Monitors case loads and productivity of staff
• Ensures that all staff provide quality services
• Ensures competency of staff
• Monitors all staff to prevent meaningless visits
• Interviews and screens applicants when necessary and completes appropriate forms as outlined in personnel policies and procedures
• Provides training in general orientation of the facility, policies, procedures, operations and specific skill areas
• Objectively completes performance evaluations on staff and routes to Human Resources on a timely basis
• Approves treatment plans and completes treatment plan reviews
• Provides staff with consultation and supervision as needed
• Provides coverage and assistance during crisis resolution as needed
• Effectively collaborates with other AltaPointe programs and outside sources
• Oversees the operations of the diversion project.
• Ensures that policies and procedures are put in place and monitored regularly to divert potential petitions.
• Maintains an accurate list at all times of available staff to utilize when needed to avoid involuntary hospitalizations.
• Develops and maintains data regarding petitions diverted to include, but not limited to, records regarding who initiates petitions, efforts to divert, staff involved in diversion, voluntary hospitalizations, medication interventions, staff referring consumers that are heading toward needing petitioning.
• Develops and maintains data regarding high risk consumers needing follow up to avoid needing involuntary hospitalizations.
• Maintains data regarding probable cause and merit hearings.
• Completes weekly reports regarding status of petition issues and crisis calls.
• Tracks after hour crisis calls and monitors for patterns, alerts program supervisors of concerns, and ensures follow up provided by crisis team.
• Provides alternatives to petitions including but not limited to immediate access to treatment.
• Effectively communicates with Access to Care staff in regard to voluntary admissions.
• Works closely with program supervisors and crisis teams to divert petitions.

Supervision and consultation

• Seeks clinical supervision and consultation as needed
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement
• Actively works to enhance clinical skills

Clinical record keeping

• Documents in a timely fashion per AHS policy
• Documents appropriate, complete and clinically comprehensive mental health assessments
• Documents measurable and specific goals in the treatment plan
• Documents in a clear and concise manner types of consumer problems, treatment goals addressed, services, and techniques used
• Documents case disposition, case closings, follow-up and referrals
• Documents legibly

Case load management

• Effectively manages caseload based on consumers’ needs
• Meets AHS productivity standards

Courteous and respectful attitudes towards consumers, visitors and co-workers

• Treats consumers with care, dignity and compassion
• Respects consumers’ privacy and confidentiality
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others
• Assists visitors and consumers as needed
• Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others
• Is sensitive to the consumers’ needs, expectations and individual differences
• Is gentle and calm with consumers and families

Administrative and other related duties as assigned

• Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities
• Actively participates in AHS committees as required
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner
• Accesses appropriate community resources according to consumer needs
• Follows AHS policies and procedures
• Maintains current license and requirements for renewals
• Attends required in-services and workshops

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s degree in a mental health discipline; two years’ post master’s experience; training to meet Alabama State Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation standards for case management; knowledge in adult specialty outlined below to be attained within six (6) months of employment.

• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in the adult population
• Knowledge of available community resources
• Knowledge of substance abuse treatment issues, development, and trends
• Basic knowledge of senior adult issues for referral purposes
• Knowledge of cultural diversity
• Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention and interventions common to acute psychotic consumers, as well as, to non-violent crisis intervention practice
• Knowledge of psychiatric rehabilitation principles
• Knowledge of educational methods appropriate to adults with psychiatric disorders
• Knowledge of the involuntary commitment process in Mobile County