AgeSpan

Formerly Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley/North Shore

Position Responsibilities: The Mental Health Care Manager's responsibility is to, work within an Interdisciplinary team, to assist older adults to obtain the services and programs, which will enhance their quality of life and allow them to live as independently as possible with dignity and respect. Raising the clinical capacity of home care staff by providing on-site joint visits; short term intervention with consumer's; individual and group consultation and training; increasing home care staffs knowledge of available mental health community resources; liaison between Protective Service and home care; and assessment of screened out PS cases.

Essential Functions: (Core duties or tasks that are fundamental and not marginal to the performance of the job)

Maintenance of an ongoing caseload including:

• Conduct field visits to assess an older adult's physical, social, emotional and environmental status to determine their eligibility and needs in their homes in accordance with Executive Office of Elder Affairs regulations.
• Development and implementation of a service plan to address those needs by making referrals to vendors and other community agencies.
• Reassessment and monitoring of consumer's eligibility needs and service plan on an ongoing basis through telephone calls, home visits and case conferences.
• Arrangement for crisis intervention services when necessary.
• Collaborate with outside agencies as needed including attending discharge meeting, meeting with vendor staff and coordinating with staff from other agencies to resolve issues affecting consumers.
• Advocate for consumers in securing benefits and services when consumer or others are unable to do so.
• Completion and maintenance of up-to-date documentation, including case files and statistical records as required by the agency.
• Coverage of team partners caseload during sickness, vacation and field time as well as assisting with coverage of vacant MH Care Manager caseloads.
• Compliance with regulations governing Aging Services Access Points as set forth by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Provision of Information and Referral and community education:

• Provide information and referral to promote community awareness of existing services and programs.
• Work cooperatively with the aging and mental health networks to bridge identified gaps in services for the elderly.
• Provide training with service providers on Home Care program operation and case management functions.

Participation in Staff Development Programs:

• Participate in team meetings and supervision.
• Attend and participate in team, Home Care and general staff meetings as scheduled.
• Participate in in-service training, courses and workshops to maintain professional expertise and develop additional skills.
• Assist in the orientation and training of new staff members as needed.

Increasing Mental Health Capacity of Agency

• Assess consumers with mental health issues to assist home care Care Managers on the development of a care plan that diminishes barriers to receiving services.
• Increase consumers' access to appropriate mental health community resources.
• Providing short term interventions with consumers aimed at improving the effectiveness of the home care services.
• Providing 1:1 consultation with staff around consumers with mental health issues including on-site consultation when deemed appropriate.
• Assessment and ongoing care management of elders who are screened out of Protective Services with a goal of building rapport and engaging elders to accept services.

Qualifications: BA/BS in social work, human services or related field and a minimum of 4 years' experience with elders and/or mental health required; Master's degree and LSW preferred. Required skills include excellent documentation skills, excellent interpersonal and communication skills with ability to effectively communicate on one-to-one level and with larger groups, ability to work independently or as part of a team, proficient in word processing, database entry, and e-mail applications. Reliable transportation required as field work is an essential component of the position.

Hours: 37.5hrs/week

AA/EOE

AgeSpan is strongly committed to fostering a professional environment that recognizes, respects, and encourages the unique contributions of a broad spectrum of qualified employees. It is important that our employees reflect the diverse communities we serve. We maintain a work atmosphere that allows people of varied backgrounds to grow professionally and contribute to our mission by promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and work-life balance.