Children's Care Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Children’s Care Managers establish supportive, helping relationships with those who have experienced trauma, significant behavioral/physical health and/or substance abuse challenges in order to assist them in achieving improved overall health and social functioning. Children’s Care Managers assist in navigating the complex healthcare/behavioral care system, Department of Social Services, community resources, housing systems and other systems of care. Children’s Care Managers assess socioeconomic and environmental factors and they understand the social determinants of health. Children’s Care Managers are responsible for providing comprehensive and coordinated care as well as linkages and referrals to an array of services. They also serve as advocates, ensuring that their clients receive appropriate care and the attention they require. Children’s Care Managers provide emotional support and encouragement to those served. They implement a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach; offering coordinated care upon assessing their clients’ needs and collaborating in the development of a person-centered care plan. Care Managers reevaluate clients’ eligibility, ongoing needs and appropriateness for services; they support their clients in achieving the established goals until they are ready for graduation from the program.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Provides direct client services - in person visits, telephonic contacts, or other means (as directed by clients’ preferences).
• Engages in monthly contact with those served as per service delivery requirements and based on clients’ needs.
• Completes Comprehensive Assessments/Re-Assessments evaluating clients’ strengths and needs as required.
• Develops person-centered care plans and updates as necessary when goals are achieved/established.
• Documents successful interactions, attempted interactions and delivery of core services in encounter notes, daily, reflecting connection to care plan and identifying progress towards goals.
• Engages in collaborative documentation with client if appropriate and whenever possible.
• Ensures that all electronic records are compliant with Health Home policies and regulations (including MHAW and DOH).
• Ensures that client charts are up to date (DOH Consents, Care Plan, Gaps in Care, Transitions of Care, etc.).
• Responds to emails, calls and other inquires in a timely manner.
• Engages in collateral contacts with clients’ care team members and conducts interdisciplinary team (IDT) meetings.
• Provides crisis management when necessary.
• Responsible for carrying a mixed caseload of both outreach and enrolled cases.
• Triaging of clients’ needs on an ongoing basis to determine prioritization of needs, management of caseload.
• Responsible for making diligent efforts to re-engage clients when necessary by utilizing an escalated approach (unannounced visits, calling at a different time of day, contacting EMC).
• Determines and assesses for disenrollment/graduation readiness and communicates to supervisor when appropriate.
• Maintains a working knowledge of Health Home policies and guidelines (from DOH/OMH) and completes all HH trainings as required.
• Completes daily encounter logs and submits in a timely fashion.
• Provides linkages, community resources and works collaboratively with various mental health and healthcare entities on behalf of clients.
• Contacts providers to obtain eligibility documentation and once reviewed ensures uploaded into electronic platform.
• Collaborates with the Adult Care Management team to access information, submit referrals and/or share resources.
• Communicates with team leadership any challenges related to serving assigned caseload throughout the month.
• Attends CCM staff meetings, MHAW All Staff meetings and other meetings as requested.
• Maintains a working knowledge of MHAW policies and attends MHAW trainings as required to ensure compliance.
  • Utilizes translations services with clients when applicable.
  • Participates in outreach events as requested.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent inter-personal skills; including the ability to establish empathic, empowering relationships with children, youth and families who have experienced psychiatric, substance abuse challenges, trauma as well as chronic physical health conditions.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively with professionals involved in the care of the clients served.
• Understanding of the key elements of recovery and wellness, including the role of family and self-help.
• Attention to detail and sound organizational skills including computer skills (agency uses electronic health records and multiple IT platforms).
• Knowledge of the public health/mental health system, public entitlement and social service programs.
• Reliable self-starter with the ability to work both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Valid NYS driver’s license and willingness to travel throughout Suffolk County.
• Flexibility in working evenings, after school and weekends.
• Valid NYS driver’s license and willingness to travel throughout Suffolk County.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a human service/health discipline and two years’ experience working with children, youth and families.
• Certification in completing Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths Comprehensive Multisystem Assessments (CANS) is a plus.
• Mandated reporter training.
• Experience with juvenile justice system.

Flexible as needed
37.5 hours per week