Caseworker 2 - Mental Health Adult Unit

GENERAL PURPOSE
The Caseworker 2 – Mental Health Adult Unit is a fulltime case management position designed to assist individuals in accessing community services in areas of employment, shelter, medical benefits, and financial assistance, in order to maintain their overall well-being.  This may include physical and/or mental health evaluations and treatment, education, vocational training, socialization, and advocating to state and federal agencies with regard to benefits and services as well as utilizing non-traditional resources  to provide support.
 
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
This position reports directly to the County Casework Supervisor for Mental Health.
         
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
This position does not exercise supervision over other functions.
 
ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION
Completes mental health (MH) intake interviews, paperwork and referrals to MH programs per the MH service plan.  Also, reviews referral material and available medical or psychiatric records concerning a consumer’s physical or mental condition, social and/or economic status, attitudes, and personality traits.
Maintains ongoing electronic records of each consumer’s progress including ongoing documentation through case notes, reviewing/linking medical records, financial information, and other pertinent documents, and completing/updating other  necessary documentation including social assessments, liabilities, authorizations and discharges as needed.
 
Participates in regular service/treatment planning and review activities that may include attendance at meetings, in person or virtually, for the purpose of developing, monitoring and updating individual service/treatment plans; completing documentation  for that individual following the meeting.
 
Completes and updates sliding-fee-scale liabilities annually or more frequently as dictated by changes in client income, insurance, marital status and/or number of family dependents.
 
Makes occasional home and or site visits when required by needs of clients.
 
Ensure that initial and annual authorizations for housing and employment services performed by contracted providers are completed on a timely basis and that routine re-authorizations are kept current.
Review referrals for employment services and coordinate with employment providers to complete intake process for these services, and monitor individuals receiving employment services and document progress.
 
Participate in monthly visits and reviews with employment service providers.
 
Participate in the monthly Employment Task Force meetings.  Assists with coordinating, facilitating, and documenting the meeting. Participates in subcommittees as needed.
 
Assess needs and makes interagency referrals to longer-term housing services. Makes necessary referrals for employment services. Make referrals to Targeted Case Management (e.g. ACT, ICM/BCM, or peer services) as needed. May also make referrals for individuals needing emergency shelter or to community programs that offer financial assistance for immediate needs such as food, clothing, and/or medication.
 
Assists individuals in accessing services to budget their financial resources and/or arranges for a representative payee.
 
Assists and arranges transportation for individuals without means, including authorization for bus tickets to help individuals get to mental health appointments, etc. May transport individuals to appointments as needed.
 
Reviews and prepares cases for discharge, which may include pre-discharge contact with individuals and service providers, to verify the service needs, consumer interest in services and/or alternate funding streams.
 
Assist individuals with SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) applications to increase access to SSI/SSDI.
 
Serve as an advocate for individuals navigating through agencies to promote understanding of mental illness, promote and educate staff regarding the identification of symptoms of mental illness, insure understanding of the referral process for services, and promote and develop mental health screening programs as appropriate; this may include outreach to primary health care settings/ professionals, senior centers personal care boarding homes, assisted living facilities, retirement centers, and other programs/agencies that serve large numbers of older adults.
 
Participate in Recovery focused meetings; such as Mental Health Planning Council/Older Adult Committee and NC Community Support Program meeting.
 
Liaison to the Mental Health Aging Program at Gracedale. Attend consumer meetings and participate in review meetings with the provider as needed.
 
Duties and responsibilities of this position involve work of a confidential nature in dealing with consumer interviews, records, information and contacts. Confidentiality is to be maintained at all times in accordance with current regulations and policies concerning use of consumer records.
 
Perform other related duties as required.
 
*An employee assigned to this title shall perform a majority, but may not perform all, of the duties listed in this job description. Conversely, minor level duties performed on the job may not be listed. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
 
REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
 
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE – Six months of experience as a County Caseworker 1; OR
 
Successful completion of the County Social Casework Intern program; OR
 
A bachelor's degree with a social welfare major; OR
 
A bachelor's degree which includes or is supplemented by 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences and one year of - professional social casework experience in a public or private social services agency; OR
 
Any equivalent combination of experience and training which includes 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences
 
Employee assigned to this title will be required to possess and maintain a valid and current motor vehicle operator’s license. Must have an acceptable driving record. Personal vehicle required for County business, employee is eligible for mileage reimbursement.
 
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES  
Knowledge of current social case management principles, techniques and methods.
 
Knowledge of the basic principles and methods of program interpretation and community organization.
 
Knowledge of current social, economic, and health problems and their impact on the growth and development of people.
 
Knowledge of individual and group development and behavior and ways of working effectively with adults and children who have social, economic, emotional, or health problems.
 
Knowledge of social welfare policy and law as they relate to agency function and purpose and societal structures.
 
Ability to work effectively with people and aid them to grow in the constructive use of their potential in adjusting to their specific problems.
 
Ability to learn, interpret, and apply relevant laws, regulations, and policies governing agency services.
 
Ability to learn how to conduct individual and family interviews and to use them to identify individual and family problems.
 
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, their families, other staff, outside agencies, and institutions, and the general public.
 
Ability to plan and organize work, prepare adequate records and reports, set priorities, and learn to maintain a caseload in an effective and timely manner.
 
Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of others.
 
Ability to clearly express ideas verbally and in writing.
 
Ability to read, write, speak, understand and communicate in English to perform the duties of this position.
 
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Telephone, personal computer (including word processing and spreadsheet software), writing implements, fax machine, and copy machine.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk or hear.  
 
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  
 
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
 
The noise level in the office is moderately quiet. Employee may also work in other environments such as schools, private homes, etc. These work environments may range from quiet to loud.
 
SELECTION GUIDELINES
Formal application, rating of education and experience, oral interview and reference check as well as job related tests may be required.
 
The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

FLSA STATUS:      FLSA NON-EXEMPT (Eligible for overtime)
DESIGNATION:     CAREER SERVICE 
PAY GRADE:         PS-35
UNION STATUS:   PSSU
  
Updated November 2023