Job Description

Job Purpose

Behavioral Health Care Managers assist individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and/or serious mental illness through linking and coordinating to services and support systems. The goal of the Care Manager is to help individuals achieve maximum independence through person-centered planning by developing natural supports, obtaining medically necessary services, connecting to community resources, and to establish the foundation to recovery.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• A review of this description has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by the supervisor.

Essential Duties

• Coordinates an ongoing assessment process to identify individual's strengths, abilities, disabilities, and needs based upon the utilization of diagnostic, evaluative, and progress reports.
• Assists the individual in achieving maximum independence with medications and adherence to prescribed medications.
• Utilizes person-centered planning practices in delivery of services to individuals.
• Develops an individual plan of service with provision for linkages to other services based on the needs of the individual including residential, day program, rehabilitative services, DHHS, Social Security, etc.
• Facilitates all treatment team meetings and assumes the final responsibility for organization and implementation of the individual plan of service.
• Provides an ongoing process of treatment monitoring of services being delivered to an individual, assessing whether they are adequate for the needs of the individual and plan of service. This includes assessment of clinical outcome and individual satisfaction.
• Links individual and individual's family to other community resources.
• Conducts case transfers and case terminations in accordance with Northpointe policy and procedure.
• Complies with the policies/procedures of the agency, licensing requirements, and the Medicaid Provider Manual.
• Prepares for the Behavior Management Committee and participates in the committee as needed on a case-by-case basis.
• Provides educational services to individuals, family members, guardians, and staff about intellectual/developmental disabilities, mental illness, specific treatment issues and recovery.
• Provides advocacy for the individual to ensure needs are addressed and rights are protected.
• Develops an individual safety plan of service with provision for linkages to other services based on the needs of the individual.
• Completes and maintains accurate, timely required documentation per Northpointe’s documentation policies/procedures as verified through electronic monitoring; chart audits and applicable ELMER reports (unsigned documents, progress note timeliness, late IPOS, etc.). Completes documentation tasks electronically whenever possible (ex: capturing electronic signatures, etc.).

Specific Duties for School-Based Positions:

• Provides advocacy, linking, coordinating, and monitoring to support child/adolescent in schools.
• Effectively work as a team member including participating in all required trainings in each school district.
• Continually educates school staff about existing and new policies and procedures that relate to our program and the child/adolescents we serve.

Specific Duties for Care Managers working as Team Lead:

• Serves as a resource to the clinical staff and is responsible for the overall orientation and training of new staff in their respective counties as a clinical mentor.
• Organizes/oversees/conducts team meetings and facilitates communication to the outpatient team as requested.
• Provides individual/group supervision as requested.
• Engages in problem resolution for day-to-day matters in respective county.
• Coordinates and ensures emergencies and/or referrals for immediate crisis intervention are responded to within required time frames in collaboration with other leads/managers/directors.
• Coordinates with Northpointe’s Facilities Team to ensure a safe, clean, and therapeutic environment for individuals, employees, and the community.
• Assists the Chief Clinical Officer to ensure programs, program implementation, and service provision occurs as identified in the Medicaid Provider manual and other regulatory requirements.
• Collects and prepares data as needed to meet regulatory requirements and for the Utilization Management Committee.

Specific Duties School-based Team Lead:

• Coordinates Northpointe’s School based Services in Dickinson, Iron, and Menominee Counties.
• Serves as a resource to the clinical school-based staff and is responsible for the overall orientation and training of new staff.
• Organizes/oversees/conducts team meetings and facilitates communication to the school-based team as requested.
• Provides individual/group supervision as requested.
• Engages in problem resolution for day-to-day matters in the school-based program.
• Coordinates and ensures children emergencies and/or referrals for immediate crisis intervention are responded to within required time frames in collaboration with other leads/managers/directors.
• Serves as liaison to the schools and community specific to program. Ensures each county has an external meeting forum (for community partners) to discuss school based related concerns. Participates in meetings and committees as assigned at a local, regional, and state level.
• Assists the Chief Clinical Officer to ensure programs, program implementation, and service provision occurs as identified in the Medicaid Provider manual and other regulatory requirements.
• Collects and prepares data as needed to meet regulatory requirements and for the Utilization Management Committee.

Specific Duties for Working as Care Manager for Child-Placing Agency:

• Places and supervises children in foster care, adoptive homes, or independent living.
• Works directly with the children, their families, and other relevant individuals.
• Develops, implements, and reviews the service plans for the children and their families
• Assesses and certifies private family homes for licensure and supervises the homes.
• Conducts adoptive evaluations of private family homes for adoptive placements.

Requirements

Qualifications

• This position will actively support the mission, vision, and values of the agency.
• The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education, Certifications, and/or Experience

• Bachelor's degree in social work (BSW), registered nurse, or bachelor’s degree in a human services area
• Michigan license requirements
• Limited Licensed Bachelor’s Social Worker or Licensed Bachelor’s Social Worker (Social Workers must obtain full licensure (i.e., LBSW) within 6 months of being eligible for such licensure)
• Licensed Registered Nurse
• Registered Social Services Technician (for Bachelor’s in Human Services degrees)
• Experience working with individuals with a developmental/intellectual disability and/or mental illness preferred.

Knowledge and Skills

• Must be knowledgeable and committed to maintaining confidentiality.
• Knowledge of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Medicaid Provider Manual, and Michigan Mental Health Code preferred.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical requirements and regulatory requirements applicable to the agency.
• Ability to write individual plans of service, communications, and training. .
• Ability to effectively communicate and present information to a varied audience which may include staff, contract providers, and community members.
• Ability to analyze data to identify areas of opportunity and to organize data into meaningful formats such as reports, graphs, etc.
• Ability to research best practice, guidelines, and mandated requirements.
• Ability to lead and coordinate team efforts to achieve goals of the agency.
• Ability to effectively educate and provide thorough training using a variety of means to meet the needs of the audience.
• Ability to work with general mathematical concepts including dosage calculations for medications.
• Ability to travel as required by this job.

Competencies

• Demonstrate ability to effectively access, link and coordinate services using a person-centered, multidisciplinary team process.
• For care managers working with intellectual/developmentally disabled individuals: demonstrate an understanding of intellectual/developmental disabilities service options and can effectively use such knowledge in the development of effective goals, methodologies, and therapeutic interventions.
• For care managers working with mentally ill individuals: demonstrate knowledge and understanding of mental illness and recovery.
• For care managers working with older adult individuals: demonstrate the ability to work and empathize with the aged, chronically/terminally ill; demonstrate full understanding of the OBRA PASARR screening regulations; and demonstrate awareness of aging network and issues.
• Demonstrate knowledge of high-risk behaviors and be able to appropriately assess all populations for potential harm to self or others.
• Demonstrate the ability to accurately assess crisis situations, determine appropriate interventions and provide clinical justification through comprehensive documentation.
• Demonstrate the ability to effectively prioritize multiple tasks, demonstrate effective organizational and time management skills, meet required time frames, and document activities in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills, be able to present information to a variety of professionals and the general public.
• Demonstrate proficiency in computer software necessary to perform job functions.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide services to children and families served by Northpointe.
• For care managers working with co-occurring individuals demonstrates the ability to identify, assess, and link and coordinate substance abuse treatment needs. Demonstrates full understanding of substance abuse diagnoses and treatment modalities.
• Demonstrate ability to adhere to all Northpointe policies and procedures regarding confidentiality and individuals’ rights.
• Strong team skills and the ability to work effectively as part of different group projects.
• Requires a high degree of sound judgement and initiative.
• Demonstrated ability to function in a complex environment filled with competing demands.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex, multi-disciplinary problems in a graceful and sensitive manner.
• Overall commitment to the quality-of-service recipient care as well as customer service.

Working Conditions

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

• The employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to sit.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• The employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions and is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals.
• An employee in this job is regularly exposed to blood-borne pathogens, and occasional unsanitary environments.

Required Training

Training requirements established by licensing agencies, accreditation bodies, MDHHS, and NorthCare Network shall be followed upon hire, annually, and as necessary.