Economic Self Sufficiency Care Coordinator

Are you looking for a purpose-driven career? At Metrocare, we serve our neighbors with developmental or mental health challenges by helping them find lives that are meaningful and satisfying.

Metrocare is the largest provider of mental health services in North Texas, serving over 55,000 adults and children annually. For over 50 years, Metrocare has provided a broad array of services to people with mental health challenges and developmental disabilities. In addition to behavioral health care, Metrocare provides primary care centers for adults and children, services for veterans and their families, accessible pharmacies, housing, and supportive social services. Alongside clinical care, researchers and teachers from Metrocare's Altshuler Center for Education & Research are advancing mental health beyond Dallas County while providing critical workforce to the state.

Job Description:

The mission of Metrocare Services is to serve our neighbors with developmental or mental health challenges by helping them find lives that are meaningful and satisfying. Our vision is that regardless of challenges faced, the people we serve maximize the ability to find the meaning and satisfaction they choose for their lives. Our Center values Integrity, Quality, Diversity, and Perseverance. We are an agency committed to quality, accountability and culturally/gender-responsive, and trauma-informed care to individuals experiencing serious mental illness, development disabilities, and/or co-occurring disorders. Metrocare programs focus on the issues that matter most in the lives of the children, families and adults we serve.

The Economic Self Sufficiency Care Coordinator is the point of contact in linking to governmental benefits and entitlement programs for individuals engaged mental health services.

The Economic Self Sufficiency Care Coordinator assists individuals in applying for and following up with Social Security Disability, Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, SNAP, Housing programs, and other governmental assistance. The Economic Self Sufficiency Care Coordinator uses the SSI/SSDI Outreach/Access and Recovery (SOAR) model to guide the application process. The Economic Self Sufficiency Care Coordinator is also responsible for coordinating intra and interdisciplinary with the treatment team, for instance, the Case Manager, or Care Coordinator, as well as with other members involved in the client's care.

The Economic Self Sufficiency Care Coordinator coordinates an individual's initial application and monitors outcomes and follow-up needs. The purpose is to provide better access to basic needs and improve the overall quality of life. Experience interviewing customers, evaluating their needs, and providing personalized counsel on the benefit programs and options. Extensive knowledge and experience working with public benefits, health care options, and other benefit related concerns desired. Advises and counsels persons and their families regarding eligibility rules and application procedures for public benefits; provides information and suggestions by personal meetings and through phone communications; assesses needs of individuals and records actions taken and contact made to ensure progress is made with each consumer.

Home Clinic - Samuell

Starting at $24.04 - determined by education and related experience level, with potential for adjustment based on qualifications.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides linkage and monitoring of individuals with governmental assistance programs such as Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid, and Medicare, insurance through healthcare.gov.
• Provides services and documentation in accordance with Metrocare and Care Coordination Guidelines as well as Metrocare policies and procedures.
• Coordinates with inpatient facilities, including emergency departments, behavioral health hospitals, state hospitals, and residential treatment facilities, in arranging benefits for referred individuals.
• Coordinates with the multidisciplinary team in ensuring consumers receive timely linkage to benefits upon intake or re-initiation of services. Benefits assistance must include an effort to schedule a follow-up appointment with a Metrocare provider within 72 business hours of the individual's discharge. The liaison (or designee) will communicate with the referred individual within 24 hours of that discharge, continuing contact every day until the first benefits application appointment is completed.
• Assists clients with housing search, locating housing options; verifies and documents clients eligibility for homelessness prevention or rapid re-housing assistance, or other assistance.
• Assists with getting clients added to the housing priority list for Dallas and Collin County.
• Be responsive to communication with assigned individuals, collaborating team members, and collaborating agencies/benefit programs. Responds to phone and email within 24 hours in a timely and comprehensive manner.
• Interacts with other team members to provide comprehensive and timely assistance in resolving issues that are barriers to an individual's ability to meet basic needs and medications.
• Aids individuals keep all appointments with benefit programs to support successful applications and follow-ups.
• Facilitates communication between Medical Records and Social Security Administration/Disability Determination Services.
• Develops close working relationships with internal and external referral resources.
• Maintains confidentiality of information concerning individuals in care and family members
• Attends and participates in all scheduled team meetings.
• Contributes to team knowledge and understanding benefits. Assists the business, clinical, medical, and nursing staff by reporting benefit needs, services, and any potential barriers to benefits.
• Assist clients in linking with resources and a system of community support and entitlements.
• Completes paperwork requirements and maintains quality, up-to-date records regarding benefits assistance.
• Documents successful and unsuccessful provision of supportive services within 24 business hours.
• Documentation requirements will include the Release of Information and Consents to expedite the transition of care.
• Works with family members/support system to gain support in accessing benefits
• Is knowledgeable about and remains in compliance with internal and external policies, procedures, regulations, and standards, including Metrocare policies and procedures, Quality Assurance Plan, and all applicable regulatory standards.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES:

The competencies listed here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Analytical skills, professional acumen, business ethics, thorough understanding of continuous improvement processes, problem solving, respect for confidentiality, excellent communication and presentation skills
• Ability to assess and organize complex information regarding an individual's goals in usuable format that is clear to the individual and participating members of the therapeutic team (natural supports, internal and external providers)
• Knowledge of Social Drivers of Health and how to assist an individual in service in accessing necessary services
• Clinical skill for evaluating the accuracy of clinical screening and providing appropriate clinical intervention
• Knowledge of Trauma Informed Recovery Planning, Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing and Person Centered Approaches to Care
• Interpersonal skills to communicate and encourage collaboration among therapeutic team members

QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in social work, psychology, social work or related human services field
• Minimum of 2 years' experience in behavioral health care, working with individuals with severe persistent mental illness and/or substance use disorders
• Strong knowledge base of Dallas County community providers and resources to include behavioral and physical health care, housing, transportation, employment/academic supports and other social service agencies

OR

• Master's degree in psychology, Social Work, or related field.

Perferred:

• SOAR Certification, HMIS experience, Bilingual: Spanish-speaking

REASONING ABILITY:

• Ability to carry out oral and/or written instructions
• Ability to operate as a team member, yet able to make positive, individual judgments
• Ability to assess needs of consumers
• Ability to recognize and report side effects of psychoactive medications
• Ability to assess a potential crisis situation and ensure the delivery of services at the proper level of care
• Ability to work collaboratively with co -workers
• Ability to work in a high stress environment, take initiative and be creative
• Ability to drive a multi-passenger vehicle
• Ability to successfully use an automated clinical record keeping system

COMPUTER SKILLS:

• Intermediate level on MS Excel, Email and word processing programs
• Ability to utilize Internet for resources.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, TRAINING, REGISTRATIONS:

• TB Test, CPR, First Aid and SAMA to be provided within 30 days for hire.
• TAC web-based training
• Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Trainings completed within the first year of hire.

Benefits Information and Perks:

Metrocare couldn't have a great employee-first culture without great benefits. That's why we offer a competitive salary, exceptional training, and an outstanding benefits package:

• Medical/Dental/Vision
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement Plan, including employer matching
• Health Savings Account, including employer matching
• Professional Development allowance up to $2000 per year
• Bilingual Stipend - 6% of the base salary
• Many other benefits

Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
Tobacco-Free Facilities - Metrocare is committed to promoting the health, well-being, and safety of Metrocare team members, guests, and individuals and families we serve while on the facility campuses. Therefore, Metrocare facilities and grounds are tobacco-free.
No Recruitment Agencies Please

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