Behavioral Health Nurse Case Manager

GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION

This person assesses patients and works with counselors and other care providers to design treatment plans, set up referrals and choose the most suitable resources for a patient’s specific mental health needs. The case manager will be responsible for follow up and documenting progress on each patient. The case manager will also develop and provide behavioral health education to individuals, groups and the surrounding communities and conducts limited community assessments.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITES

• Assessing new patients by gathering information, reviewing diagnoses and analyzing medical test results
• Developing complete plans of care to address the needs of patients
• Educating patients about their care plan and health care options and helping them make key decisions
• Scheduling appointments for provider’ visits, therapies and other medical services
• Revising care plans based on patients’ progress and input from providers
• Updating patient medical records after each contact
• Offering emotional support, education and training for patients on their health outcomes.
• Maintains an active caseload providing interventions to patients as needed and within area of expertise and limits of credentials; 
• Acquires and provides to the team the detailed information regarding progress to locate resources for patients.  
• Accept verbal/phone orders directly from the prescriber (advanced practice registered nurse or physician) when assisting in the clinics (when applicable)
• Perform "head to toe" physical assessments (when applicable)
• Assists in development, implementation and revision of individual treatment plans; assures that services provided are specified in the Treatment Plan and monitors progress toward treatment goals when necessary.
• Serves as a liaison between the patient and the behavioral health/medical provider.
• Receives documentation from providers and follows up with patients to assist in linking patients to resources.  
• Sets up and attends meetings with providers and patients as needed.
• Informs all parties involved on the processes that are being used to treat and/or link patients to services.
• Maintain patient confidentiality in treatment plans and reporting as appropriate. Understands and abides by HIPAA guidelines.
• Consults and cooperates with community systems to facilitate linkage, referral, crisis management, advocacy, and follow up with the focus on attaining treatment goals.
• Communicates with patients regularly, via phone or in person to monitor their well-being, address their questions or concerns, and connect them with resources.
• Maintains patient records in accordance with applicable standards and regulations, grant requirements, etc. (ECW).
• Maintains a high level of ethical conduct regarding confidentiality, dual-relationships, and professional stature.
• Participates in continuing education activities, remaining knowledgeable in area(s) of expertise;
• Attends case consultation with psychiatrist/medical psychologist.
• Attends meetings as appropriate and meet regularly with supervisor to exchange pertinent information and receive supervision.
• Acts as crisis and intake counselor and for calls from the Call Center. 
• Assists Care Managers or Clinic staff when necessary with clinical intervention (warm handoffs, brief counseling, and referrals for treatment).
• Performs other duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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

• Ability to talk and hear
• Prolonged period of attentive listening 
• Sitting, standing and walking.
• Ability to work flexible hours
• Lifting, twisting, standing, bending and some activities that involve running for long periods of time will occur.  
• 90% of work will require some sort of physical activity to be performed. 
• Employee will be required to travel from time to time and must be willing to work various shifts to accommodate needs of various sites.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is normally performed in a clinic, office environment, school or mobile unit with varying temperatures.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. 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.

• Licensed Practical Nurse or 2 year RN degree in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
• Knowledge and skills in community based behavioral health care and case management preferred
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Reliable Transportation (work would entail traveling to 10 clinic locations and in-scope schools and traveling to social service agencies in the community)
• Flexible scheduling required
• Understanding of holistic health care
• Authentically welcomes diversity
• Skill in facilitation of groups, adult learning
• Excellent Communication skills

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) desirable  
• 3 years work experience in behavioral/mental health services with children, adolescents or youth.  Or 5-7 years working in community health, children, elderly or clinic setting.