Secondary Response Team-Case Manager (SRT-CM)

Basic Function: Under the supervision of the Secondary Response Manager; Clinical Services Manager; Director of Clinical Services; or Vice President of Behavioral Health and Clinical Services, the Secondary Response Team-Case Manager is responsible for providing comprehensive support to individuals who have recently utilized crisis services. The Secondary Response Team-Case Manager connects with clients and families within 24 hours of a psychiatric/mental health crisis event or upon discharge from psychiatric hospitalization. This role involves assessing clients' ongoing needs, linking them to appropriate resources, and facilitating referrals to various programs within our organization and the broader community as needed. The ideal candidate will possess strong interpersonal skills, a deep understanding of social service systems, and a commitment to empowering clients toward stability and recovery.  The Secondary Response Team-Case Manager ensures stabilization, assesses service needs and makes recommendations for assistance and maintenance of mental health functioning.  Services may be provided via office-based telecommunication, within a community setting (i.e. hospitals, homes, schools), and/or video conferencing where applicable.

Reporting Relationship:

Reports To: Secondary Response Manager; Clinical Services Manager; Director of Clinical Services, Vice President of Clinical Operations

Supervises (Position Title): None

Principal Duties/Responsibilities:

• Under the clinical direction of a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP), completes case management linkage and referral post mobile crisis event to determine client needs, provide information about available resources, and make recommendations for programming based on needs identified. Client engagement assesses stabilization, ensures behaviors are maintained, and encourages engagement with mental health services.

• Participate in psychiatric hospital staffing meetings by assisting treatment team members with discharge planning and aftercare recommendations post discharge.

• Coordinates initial appointment and assessment services where appropriate with the linked outpatient mental health provider.

• Will make the appropriate referral to the outpatient team case manager for additional assistance when needed to navigate social service systems including educational, medical, social, recreational services etc. and provide necessary application assistance for people served. Complete consultation and follow-up with referred systems where applicable to ensure that client needs are fully met.

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date case files, including assessments, service plans, and follow-up notes in accordance with organizational policies and state regulations.

• Participate in program evaluation efforts, providing feedback on client outcomes and areas for improvement.

• Assures that all services are provided in accordance with standards of informed consent, maintenance of client rights, standards of confidentiality and are consistent with Agency procedures, licensing standards, and standards of professional practice, and adheres to guidelines defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Completes service documentation in alignment with agency and program core performance standards.
• Assures that all clients are serviced timely and with coordination from schools, hospitals, primary healthcare providers, and other agencies, when other systems are involved in the assistive needs of the client and/or family.

• Provides all services in accord with agency, accreditation and Medicaid standards.

• Maintains current knowledge of client resources and agency procedures, including current knowledge of mental health diagnosis, reporting requirements of the Illinois Departments of Children & Family Services, and Department of Human Services, Offices of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities.

• Understands and accepts the responsibilities as a mandated reporter of child abuse & neglect as described in the Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act as well as confidentiality rules and regulations set forth by the agency, Department of Health and Human Service, Department of Children and Family Services, Office of the Inspector General, and Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse as applicable.

• Performs other duties commensurate with the responsibilities outlined herein.

 Requirements:

To be considered for this position, the individual is required to have a minimum designation of an RSA (Rehabilitative Services Associate) defined as any individual with a High School (or GED) Diploma, who is 21 years of age and has provided rehabilitative services to children, adults, and families.

All MHP candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in a behavioral health discipline including social work, psychology, or counseling and six months of experience in working with children; or be a licensed practical nurse license pursuant to the Illinois Nursing Act of 1987, which will designate them as an MHP.

Must understand assessment and clinical processes, have knowledge of agency programming and how to navigate social service systems to provide families support short-term aftercare and case coordination.

Six months of experience in working with children; or be a licensed practical nurse license pursuant to the Illinois Nursing Act of 1987.

Previous experience in case management and crisis intervention is strongly preferred. 

The position requires the use of a personal auto, valid driver’s license, and Motor Vehicle Report acceptable to the agency’s broker and verification of insurance coverage.

* Non-essential duties

Skills, Knowlege, and Abilities:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport with diverse clients.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrate the experiences, beliefs, attitudes and awareness that indicate cultural sensitivity to the client population served, mission values of the agency, and principles of child and family centered behavioral health services.
• Ability to successfully function within a multi-disciplinary team format and be relied upon to successfully work independently and maintain performance consistent with agency policies, procedures, and standards of performance.
• Must understand assessment and clinical processes, have knowledge of agency programming and how to navigate social service systems to provide families support short-term aftercare and case coordination.
• Must have the ability to empower individuals and promote healing and maintenance of life skills to improve and maintain functioning that leads to client independent self-advocacy.

Mental/Physical Demands: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.  Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.  Work requires prolonged concentration using a computer in analyzing and manipulating data. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to sit.  The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Conditions: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  Duties are performed in a typical office environment.  No unusual or adverse working conditions exist.

This description documents the general contents and requirements of the job. It is not to be construed as an exhausted statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.  The principal duties and responsibilities shown are all essential job functions except for those indicated with an asterisk (*). The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.