CASE MANAGER - SUBSTANCE TREATMENT SERVICES

Position Summary:

The Case Manager is responsible for providing case management support to adults who are chronically homeless and disabled, interested in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction and seeking permanent housing. This person will assist program participants with needs related to housing, benefits, health, mental health and substance abuse needs. This person will function as an active member of an Assertive Community Treatment team.

Nature and Scope of Position and Department:

This position serves as a member of an assertive community treatment team (ACT team). While various members of the team may serve as “experts” in their particular field of expertise, all members of the team are expected to work with clients in a variety of shared functions. This team is designed to work with individuals who are interested in drug/alcohol recovery. It is likely that these individuals have either been unable to or unwilling to participate and succeed in traditional treatment settings. Therefore, it is critical that the members of this team work together in a collaborative manner that eliminates the traditional treatment borders and barriers. The Case Manager will provide support to the team related to homelessness, mental illness, and substance abuse.

Mission and Statement of Cooperation:

The mission of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively towards the prevention and elimination of homelessness throughout Colorado.

This mission will be accomplished through a variety of strategies, including educating the public about homelessness, advocating for improved services, and providing housing and services for the homeless to address unmet needs, develop new models, and promote systemic change.

Given the limitation of funding for programs serving the homeless, CCH encourages and expects a high degree of cooperation and collaboration among its staff, programs, and community agencies. The specific duties and responsibilities of each position necessarily requires flexibility cooperation to achieve the organization's and programs goals.

General Statement of Responsibilities:
1. Assist adults who are chronically homeless transition from homelessness.
2. Actively participate and contribute to the ACT team.
3. Work within a harm-reduction and strengths-based intervention framework.
4. Serve as a case management resource to the team related to homelessness, mental illness, and
substance abuse.

Specific Duties:
1. Participate in screenings and intake of interested participants
2.Outreach and engage adults who are chronically homeless and disabled.
3. Provide ongoing individualized support to clients participating in the program.
3. Asses/monitor client needs through regular contact to include crisis intervention as necessary.
4. Manage a caseload of specific clients related to service planning, documentation of progress,
service tracking, and outcome evaluation.
5. Provide services in the client’s home and community whenever possible
6. Provide transportation for clients, as necessary, to support an independent and stable
existence.
7. Access goods/services according to client need. This may include, but is not limited to, housing, personal identification information, benefits acquisition, health insurance, food, medication, treatment etc.
8.Serve as representative payee for clients SSI determines are in need of such assistance and comply with all necessary tracking/reporting requirements.
9.Work cooperatively/proactively with property managers and/or landlords to support housing tenure.
10. Share responsibility for after hour crisis pager coverage of program participants during weekday evening, weekends, and holiday time.
11. Provide advocacy from a client’s perspective in program decision making and planning.
12. Complete all required clinical or service tracking documentation in a timely manner.
13. Participate as required in outcome evaluation of program.
14. Active and ongoing participation in daily team meetings.
15. Assist other members of team in anyway necessary to facilitate treatment of
program participants.
16. Provide support and enhance communication with program participants.
17. Participate in regular supervision with the Program Manager of the program.
18. Perform other duties as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:
1.Flexible work schedule required, including some evening and weekend work.
2. Ability to prioritize multiple job responsibilities, work independently, and exercise good professional judgment.
3. General knowledge of homelessness, mental illness, and substance abuse and evidence-based practices used to promote their recovery.
4. Excellent interpersonal skills.
5. Ability to participate as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
6. Ability to collaborate with other CCH programs and outside agencies.
7.Effective oral, written and interpersonal skills.
8.Ability to provide case management, education and peer group sessions to clients with substance abuse and/or mental health problems as appropriate.
9.Basic computer skills to include e-mail, data entry, and file creation.
10.Clear understanding and respect for the importance of maintaining client confidentiality.
11.Ability to deal with clients in a safe, calm, and therapeutic manner.
12.Ability to effectively advocate on behalf of clients served.
13.Ability to create and utilize referral systems.
14.Valid driver license, reliable transportation, and willingness to travel to multiple locations in the Metro Denver area.

Physical Requirements and Demands:
1)Able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
2)Able to sit for long periods of time.
3)Able to speak the English language in an understandable manner.
4)Able to cope with interruptions, be flexible and be a team player.
5)Possesses sight/hearing senses, or uses prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
6)Possesses flexibility, personal integrity and the ability to work effectively with other staff members.
7)Able to operate business machines, (ie, computers, copy machine, fax machine).

Working Conditions:
1)Sits for long periods of time.
2)Is subject to frequent interruptions.
3)Works in an office environment as well as the home environment of the client for long periods of time.
4)May be called upon to work beyond normal working hours and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
5)Communicates with team members, other staff members and representatives of other organizations.