Case Management Specialist

Schedule/Hours: Monday-Friday / 40 hours per week

Job Summary:

Interviews, accepts, and provides comprehensive, long-term, structured, complex, case management services for an assigned caseload of clients participating in an established life management program; understands the uniqueness of the client’s history in order to determine most effective program plans; develops comprehensive program plan/goals and evaluates client's progress by conducting mentoring and counseling sessions with client and/or staff; serves as advocate for client in order to acquire services that will enable them to functionally cope with their environment; ensures constant compliance with funding requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Case Management Responsibilities (40%)
  • Establishes unique comprehensive long-term program goals (three months or more) for eligible clients based on personality, decision-making abilities, mental capabilities, addiction history, family involvement, etc.; explains goals to client in a manner that is easily understood; consistently counsels client on ways to modify or stop negative behaviors while in the program.
  • Outsources clients to additional counseling resources if needed; maintains awareness of progress with external case management professionals, working as a team to meet the holistic needs of the individual.
  • Meets regularly with clients to discuss and evaluate their progress, feelings, impressions, changes and personal growth/development; prepares accurate and up-to-date records documenting the same; receives incident reports and enforces disciplinary actions for infractions of the house guidelines.
  • Completes and articulates discharge plans to clients exiting the program.
  • Attends community meetings with representatives of other agencies in order to educate them about the program, make client referrals and maintain awareness of client's progress.
• Social Services Responsibilities (35%)
  • Greets and interviews clients requesting assistance to determine client's eligibility for assistance based on program guidelines and restrictions; records clients disposition and other pertinent information such as income, expenses, family and work history; assists clients in completing applications for assistance; photocopies picture identification cards, payroll statements, utility bills, etc. Records the four last numbers of the clients social security card numbers.
  • Locates and arranges temporary housing for eligible clients; contacts local lodges, homeless shelters, motels, churches, etc. for lodging.
  • Processes rent and utility financial assistance for eligible clients; contacts utility organizations and landlords to arrange and process financial assistance.
  • Assists eligible clients needing transportation assistance based on medical or relocation needs; arranges transportation through bus-line and contacts family members, friends, churches for assistance.
  • Serves as liaison to other agencies in order to obtain/coordinate assistance on client's behalf; builds and maintains professional working relationships with community agencies.
  • Interviews applicants to determine eligibility for program enrollment based on established facility guidelines and requirements; conduct needs assessment, obtain pertinent information; refers applicants to other agencies if not appropriate for program.
  • Educates parent on required documents needed to enroll children in local schools/childcare; assists parent in obtaining necessary records; assists parent in enrollment process.
  • Provides direct assistance in obtaining and maintaining self-sustaining sources of income, benefits, and other economic supports as well as professional resources that provide assistance in enhancing clients’ psychosocial well-being.
• Food Pantry Responsibilities (15%)
  • Prepares food bags/boxes according to the number of family members; packs food items in boxes and marks boxes accordingly to distribute to clients.
  • Coordinates the retrieval, storage, and distribution of food and commodities for the program.
  • Monitors expiration dates on all food in the pantry; discards outdated or damaged food.
  • Maintains food pantry area in a neat and orderly manner; cleans floors, tables, and work areas.
  • Determines the appropriate amount of food to order for the program
  • Supervises and assigns the work of community service workers and submits paperwork to Adult Probation Services; serves as a liaison to parole officers and completes court-ordered paperwork.
• Administrative Responsibilities (10%)
  • Prepares and maintains case records and logs on all assigned clients; ensures the accuracy and completeness of the same; enters pertinent information into the established Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
  • Prepares and maintains statistical records on all services provided; compiles and prepares monthly statistical reports; ensures the accuracy and completeness of the same.
  • Prepares case presentations for the supervisor; prepares and presents cases directly to any Coalitions, funding bodies or Case Conferences as directed.
  • Performs recordkeeping duties to ensure that all expenditures are properly recorded and submitted to the bookkeeper and Social Services Manager as appropriate for submission to grantor.

Physical Requirements Working Conditions:

• Ability to meet attendance requirements.
• Ability to read, write, and communicate the English language effectively.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to think clearly and quickly in order to maintain control of client caseload.
• Ability to effectively and efficiently work on multiple cases at the same time without becoming frustrated or disorganized.
• Limited amount of physical effort required associated with walking, standing, lifting and carrying light objects (less than 25 lbs.) 5-10% of work time.
• Duties are usually performed seated. Sitting may be relieved by brief or occasional periods of standing or walking.
• Work is performed in a shelter environment where there may be exposure to physical health risks and unsanitary conditions. Work involves driving a vehicle to off-site meetings and home visits where there may be physical discomforts associated with changes in weather or discomforts associated with noise, dust, dirt and the like.

Employee Benefits:

• Health Benefits
• Retirement Benefits
• Paid Time Off

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of social service case management.
• Knowledge of social service resources and agencies in the community.
• Knowledge of effective communication and motivation practices.
• Knowledge and commitment to computerized Client Data Management System usage and emphasis on outcome measurement.
• Ability to develop program plans and goals based on client's needs.
• Ability to assess and evaluate level of service provided in order to ensure service evaluations are favorable and meet or surpass funding requirements.
• Ability to evaluate the client's progress toward program goals.
• Ability to work with the public encompassing all types of behaviors.
• Ability to interview clients and to obtain pertinent information.
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate and complete case notes and client records.
• Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work in order to accomplish work in compliance with quality standards and deadlines.
• Ability to build and maintain effective and professional working relationships with clients and community agencies.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Behavioral Science, or a related field,

and

Three years progressively responsible experience providing direct case management social services including accessing clients’ needs and developing individual, comprehensive, long-term action plans for recovery utilizing a wide variety of resources,

or

any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Certifications:

Valid State Drivers License

Equal Opportunity Employer: Veterans | Disabled