Outreach Case Manager

Full-time position starting at $ $31.30/hr (D.O.E) with COMPETITIVE BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability
• Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account
• Generous PTO, paid sick time, 15 days of paid vacations, 13 days of paid holidays, plus a personal holiday
• CCS/CHS 403(b) Employee Saving Plan
• CCS also offers optional enrollment in supplemental cancer insurance, hospitalization and critical illness insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Licensure supervision is available (LICSW, LMHC, LMFT) for applicable employees, as well as oversight, if needed, for first 50 clinical hours required for a SUDPT credential.

Who We Are

Catholic Community Services' Counseling, Recovery & Wellness (CReW) Program is a licensed community mental health and substance use disorder treatment program and provider of the King County Integrated Care Network (KC-ICN). Our collaborative team focuses on serving adults with mental illness and/or substance use disorders to help improve the quality of life for our clients and our great community. Services offered utilize Harm Reduction and Recovery principles, with an emphasis on building collaborative relationships with the persons served as the first step towards lasting engagement in treatment. Range of services includes diagnostic assessments, individual therapy, peer support, case management, group counseling, skills training, care coordination, medication management, and psychoeducation. Our team was created out of the need for onsite supportive services in our agency housing program and we adapt our services to best fit the unique needs of our clients in a variety of locations within South King County. CReW is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Candidates from all walks of life are strongly encouraged to apply.

Position Summary

The Outreach Case Manager position is a collaboration between CReW and the Health Care for the Homeless Network to provide outreach, engagement, and referral/linkages to individuals and families that are experiencing homelessness and have behavioral health conditions in South King County (SKC). This position will provide services at various sites, including day centers, shelters, housing sites, encampments, the streets and other community locations in South King County. The position will balance responsibilities across multiple funding contracts with a range of program eligibility and required caseload tracking. While the primary focus is on outreaching and engaging individuals who are not connected to needed health care services, the Outreach Case Manager will also carry a caseload of engaged individuals as well as provide secondary support for people enrolled in long-term outpatient behavioral health treatment through CReW. Services will be provided from a Harm Reduction and Trauma-Informed Care approach, utilizing motivational interviewing skills and close team collaborations. The positon will operate with a great deal of independence and so requires strong interpersonal relationship and communication skills, common sense regarding personal safety, creative thinking, multitasking, and conflict resolution skills.

What We Offer

As a full-time position (37.5hrs/week), employees are eligible for medical, dental & vision insurance coverage, pension and 403(b) plans. CCS also offers optional enrollment in supplemental cancer insurance, hospitalization and critical illness insurance. Employees accrue generous amounts of sick time and paid vacation, in addition to 13 paid holidays annually.

Outreach and Engagement:

• Provide a range of services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, including initial rapport building; assertive and progressive engagement; screening, brief risk intervention and referral to treatment, and crisis supports.
• Conduct outreach activities at various locations including shelters, encampments, libraries, jails, social service agencies, hospitals, and other health care clinics to make contact with individuals living outside, build relationships, and offer needed services.
• Provide frequent and repeated contacts, developing relationships with individuals in order to assess their service needs and responding with appropriate referrals and linkages to resources.
• Offer behavioral health and homeless assessments (such as the VAT), individual service planning, case management, and care coordination to make referrals for permanent housing placements.
• Help individuals access essential needs and resources such as food & clothing, personal identification, shelter, housing, entitlements, medical care, behavioral health treatment, etc.
• Refer eligible individuals to ongoing and intensive case management programs when indicated, accepted, and appropriate.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with all community partners through timely and effective communication and participation in all required meetings and activities.
• Advocate for individuals living outside with a wide variety of other service providers.

Clinical Assessment and Intervention:

• Contribute and collaborate as part of a multi-disciplinary team on diagnostic formulation of bio psychosocial assessments for individuals enrolled in Outpatient services.
• Assist with completing MH and COD assessments for individuals seeking ongoing treatment.
• Provide and/or facilitate a range of therapeutic responses and interventions, including case management, and/or skills training, intended to support the overall recovery of the individual.
• Plan interventions collaboratively with treatment teams, focusing on a non-judgmental and strengths-based approach.
• Participate in psychiatric consultation, staffing, and supervision.
• As part of the treatment team, assist with medication monitoring, noting changes in symptoms, and reactions to medications or side effects.
• Facilitate support groups that focus on a range of topics, some of which include: activities of daily living skills, housing transitions, social skills, grief and loss support, concepts of recovery, education and health resources, or others.

Case Management:

• Assess client needs and required level of services, identify community resources to meet those needs, facilitate clients' access to services, and advocate for them on a continuing basis. Such needs may include accessing housing, financial and health benefits, primary health care, mental health treatment, substance use counseling, chore service, protective payees, transportation, food access, and legal services.
• Assist clients with locating resources and services for affordable housing, as well as offer assistance with the move-in and transition process via skills training and advocacy with landlords to promote long-term stability.
• Provide and/or arrange necessary crisis response and stabilization services. Respond to crises in a prompt, effective and collaborative manner.
• Seek clinical consultation as needed to insure quality of care for clients; participate in clinical review and case conferences for clients on caseload.
• Collaborate closely with staff in other agencies or programs such as housing, clinical, medical care to help coordinate care and ensure housing, medical, financial or emotional stability.
• Represent the CReW program in a variety of settings to build awareness and develop community partners in coordinating new client referrals.
• Attend CREW staff meetings and other meetings and clinical trainings as required.
• Comply with the agency's clinical accountability policies and procedures; maintain current and complete clinical records; participate in quality assurance review when assigned.
• Responsible for upholding a culture of privacy and security in highly confidential work environment (HIPAA covered entity service area).
• Comply with all CCSWW policies and procedures that involve access to and safeguarding of client Protected Health Information (all forms).
• Document services provided using clear, accurate, and well-organized notes in an electronic health record system.
• Track all expenses and mileages accurately, effectively and in a timely manner.
• Seek assistance and report incidents to the right people at the right time.Additional duties as assigned.

Job Conditions

This position requires the employee to work in an environment where there may be exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and other potentially infectious material. Other exposures could include cleaning supplies, bedbugs, chemicals involved in pest control, paint and other materials used in building maintenance, building temperature fluctuations, dust, noise, and odors. Working conditions include interruptions, crisis response, and regular interactions with individuals who are dealing with issues of chemical dependency and/or mental illness, or are experiencing anger or frustration.

• Bachelor's degree in social services or equivalent experience.
• One year direct services experience with vulnerable populations including people in homelessness, with mental illnesses or substance use disorders.
• Current Washington State Agency Affiliated Couselor Registration OR ability to obtain within 60 days from hire.
• Active Washington State Driver's License with reliable transportation and proof of insurance coverage. Ability to meet CCS Driving Policy Requirments. Willingness to transport clients with personal vehicle.
• Experience providing services from a harm reduction and trauma-informed care perspective.
• Ability to prioritize workload and responsibilities in timely and efficient manner both independently and in consultation with supervisor.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, clients, and outsdie contacts form a wide variety of ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds.
• Flexibility around servcies delivery, including creative strategies for interventions and developing weekly schedules.
• Computer skills and ability to learn and use CCS client database system.
• Commitment to CCS's Mission Statement.
• Current TB test, or willing to obtain within 30 days of hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Peer Counselor- Recognition as a Peer Specialist by DBHR or ability to complete Washington State Peer training and pass exam within three months of hire.
• Substance Use Disorder Professional or Trainee Certification (formerly, CDP/T).
• Lived experience with homelessness.