Case Manager - Community Based

Enjoy making a difference? Join the team at FREE, enriching the lives of others, one individual at a time.

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual / developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to support people of all abilities reach their full potential and thrive in their communities. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including: housing; recovery services; transition to work; employment; day, community and family services; respite; crisis services; education and after school support; specialty health services; and advocacy.

POSITION SUMMARY
The Guardianship Case Manager provides advocacy, coordination, and oversight of services for individuals under legal guardianship. This role ensures that each client’s personal, medical, financial, and social needs are met according to court orders, statutory requirements, and organizational standards. The Case Manager works closely with courts, service providers, families, and community agencies to support the safety, dignity, and quality of life of each protected person.
DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serves as the primary point of contact for clients under guardianship and always acts in their best interests.
• Conducts regular home, facility, and community visits to assess client well-being.
• Ensures that clients’ rights, preferences, and needs are respected and incorporated into service planning whenever possible.
• Develops, implements, and monitors individualized service plans.
• Coordinates medical, mental health, residential, vocational, and social services.
• Attends medical appointments and care team meetings as needed to advocate for client needs.
• Monitors placement suitability and recommends changes when necessary.
• Maintains full understanding of guardianship statutes, court requirements, and ethical standards.
• Notifies legal authorities of significant incidents, changes in condition, or concerns regarding client safety.
• Assists with budgeting, benefits management, and oversight of client financial resources under organizational or court-appointed authority.
• Ensures clients have access to personal needs funds and essential resources.
• Maintains accurate, timely, and confidential case records in accordance with agency and state standards.
• Documents all contacts, visits, decisions, and service interventions.
• Communicates effectively with courts, attorneys, care providers, family members, and community partners.
• Ensures that all required documentation (paper and electronic) is completed /processed appropriately, in a timely manner, and meets quality and compliance thresholds.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities of All FREE Employees

• Always communicates in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community.
• Complies fully with FREE’s confidentiality policies by holding in strictest confidence all information pertaining to members, residents, the people we support and their families, clients, providers, contractors, and employees.
• Meets all safety training requirements; adheres to all safety policies and reports any and all unsafe conditions; takes measures to prevent accidents and/or eliminate conditions that pose a safety or health risk.
• Coordinates, supports, attends and participates in all required events/ meetings/ reviews/ committees, including ones outside of standard working hours.
• Meets all job requirements and stays in compliance.
• Adheres to FREE’s standard of ethical behavior as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Code of Conduct as well as applicable laws and regulations.

Please note the above duties, responsibilities, and essential functions are a non-exhaustive list, and may be changed by FREE at any time, with or without notice to the employee.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education:
• Bachelor's degree in human services, social work, psychology, rehabilitation, or another related field required.
• Experience:
• A minimum of one (1) year of experience in case management, social services, mental health services, aging services, and/or disability support.
• A minimum of one (1) year of experience navigating government and county systems, including OMH and/or OPWDD service structures, eligibility processes, and community resources.
• Experience with guardianship laws and vulnerable-population care preferred.
• Prior experience with evidence-based practices such as CTI, ACT, or care coordination is preferred.
• Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities:
• Strong assessment, advocacy, and crisis management abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple cases, and prioritize tasks.
• Knowledge of guardianship laws and vulnerable-population care preferred.
• Cultural sensitivity and trauma-informed care skills.
• Proficiency in documentation.
• Other Requirements:
• Valid Driver’s License and satisfy criteria to be an agency driver required.
• A current PPD (tuberculosis) test or equivalent screening (administered upon hire if needed).
• A physical examination completed within the past year by a licensed healthcare provider.
• Up-to-date immunization records, which may include (but are not limited to) MMR, Varicella, Tdap, Influenza, and COVID-19, in accordance with hospital system protocols and public health guidelines.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, based on program needs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
This role is performed in person in an office setting and in the community. Requires both in-person community engagement and remote coordination/documentation. Travel within Nassau and Suffolk Counties and to residential facilities, nursing homes, and community settings required.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Employee is required to sit, walk and stand for prolonged period of time (at least 8 hours).
• Employee is required to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing.
• Employee is required to operate standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, fax and filing cabinets.
• Employee might be required to lift/move light items.

Notwithstanding the above listed physical requirements of this position, FREE will provide reasonable accommodations to allow employees to perform the essential functions of the position, provided such reasonable accommodations do not cause undue hardship on FREE.
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FREE is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected characteristic. In addition to federal law requirements, FREE complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in all of its locations. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises’ affirmative action efforts related to protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are set out and described in our affirmative action plan for protected veterans and individuals with a disability. If you have any questions or would like to view the affirmative action plan, please visit our website www.familyres.org