Intensive Case Manager

About the role

Job Type: Full-time

Program: SAGE (Support, Advocacy, Growth and Employment) Program at the STAR (Stability Through Access and Resources) Center.

The SAGE Program is DESC's comprehensive outpatient mental health program, licensed under the Washington State Behavioral Health and Recovery Division and provided under contract with King County Mental Health. The STAR Center is a time-limited, 24/7, behavioral health-focused non-congregate shelter program at 619 3rd Avenue and Cherry Street in downtown Seattle, serving unsheltered adults with significant untreated mental health and substance use disorders.

This position is physically sited at the STAR Center providing short-term behavioral health treatment and interventions to guests (typical stay 90 days). The Intensive Case Manager receives daily operational supervision from the on-site STAR Project Manager and clinical supervision from the DBHC SAGE Leadership team at the Downtown Behavioral Health Clinic (515 3rd Ave). This role is not part of minimum staffing requirements for the building.

Responsibilities

• Assume primary responsibility for coordinating all aspects of consumers' support and goal planners, including providing/coordinating psychiatric treatment, substance abuse treatment programs, 24-hour support services, and acute case management for food, clothing, housing, medical care, financial assistance, and vocational training/employment.
• Coordinate and facilitate connection to STAR Center wraparound services (shelter Case Managers, Peers, psychiatric providers, nursing, occupational therapy), including orienting guests, developing shelter retention plans, providing live connections, proactively identifying needs, and negotiating barriers to ongoing care through a behavioral health lens.
• Develop crisis and safety plans for SAGE clients at STAR Center in collaboration with STAR Center roles and SAGE Program staff.
• Complete timely and accurate demographic and clinical updates, integrated service plans, and clinical notes (logs, EORs, DALs, and other documentation); meet strict administrative deadlines; adhere to clinical accountability policies; participate in quality assurance reviews.
• Provide crisis intervention and risk assessment; write primary and supporting DCR affidavits when appropriate.
• Facilitate guests' timely transitions away from STAR Center to other shelter/housing opportunities, including care coordination, physical transportation, care team transitions, and referrals.
• Maintain flexibility and adaptability in orienting, contacting, and treating STAR Center guests; demonstrate willingness to implement creative problem-solving.
• Advocate for consumers' access to community resources and services; consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure continuity of care.
• Provide and/or support therapeutic group facilitation in collaboration with STAR Center staff, SAGE staff, and other providers.
• Provide individual counseling, as qualified.
• Engage in trauma-informed practice, including reframing unusual or unpleasant behavior in the context of DESC's Core Values.
• Support clients with achieving and maintaining healthy living conditions: attend care conferences, outreach and support clients in shelter units with tools/skills to maintain units, coordinate with shelter staff, participate in cleaning out units, document barriers to healthy living conditions.
• Participate in psychiatric consultation, supervision, program meetings, in-service trainings, clinical reviews, and case conferences for consumers on caseload and residing at STAR Center.
• Travel locally to outreach consumers; make home visits and assist with home inspections, annual recertifications, address and report maintenance-related concerns and housing retention barriers.
• Establish and maintain professional relationships with landlords and property managers; assist in building rule enforcement and lease compliance as necessary.
• Fulfill role of protective payee for some consumers: create monthly budgets, distribute funds, assist with purchases, keep accurate records.
• Support basic operational functions of the STAR Center (monitoring ingress/egress, staffing front desk, serving meals, responding to emergencies) during low staffing (holidays, exigent/unplanned circumstances).
• Comply with applicable program research and evaluation procedures.
• Attend external and internal trainings relevant to the position or established professional development goals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Ability to meet Washington Department of Health requirements for registration as a Registered Agency Affiliated Counselor (AAC) or any other superseding credential.
• Relevant bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or related behavioral science, OR a combination of 1 year of relevant paid work experience and demonstration of the ability to perform required job duties.
• Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle for agency-related business; current Washington State driver's license and insurable driving record required.
• Interest in working with clients who are difficult to engage and maintain in traditional mental health/substance use disorder programs.
• Knowledge of Recovery-focused, strengths-based work in mental health.
• Knowledge of Harm Reduction strategies.
• Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behaviors.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds.
• Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for consumers.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work, psychology, or other relevant behavioral science, or Bachelor of Nursing degree with specialty in mental health.
• Eligible for a Licensed AAC credential or any other superseding credential meeting RCW 71.05.020 requirements to act as a Mental Health Professional whose scope includes independently conducting mental health assessments and making mental health diagnoses (Mental Health Professionals are paid on a higher pay scale).
• Experience with evidence-based clinical interventions designed for short-term treatment, such as solutions-focused therapy.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English, or ASL-proficient.
• Bicultural background/experience and/or Qualified Minority Mental Health Specialist designation.

Benefits

• Insurance: Dental, Life, Long-term Disability, Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• ORCA card subsidy
• Paid Time Off: 34 days per year
• Retirement Plan
• Union Representation: SEIU Healthcare 1199NW

Schedule

• Days Off: Saturday, Sunday
• Shift: Office Day

Pay

$39.08 – $43.15 per hour

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to sit for long periods of time, communicate with other persons by talking and hearing, lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds, and operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.