Case Manager

Job Overview:  The Montana Mental Health Nursing Care Center is a licensed residential facility for the long term care and treatment of persons who have mental disorder and who require a level of care not available in the community, but who cannot benefit from the intensive psychiatric treatment available at Montana State Hospital.

The Case Manager serves as a bridge between the patient, the facility, the family/guardian, and community providers/resources.  This position works with patients to identify discharge needs and develops a recovery plan based on their overall strengths and weaknesses to promote overall wellness.  The Case Manager ensures access to available resources and services, and coordinates the patient's transition between providers.

Major Duties or Responsibilities:

1. Care Coordination                                                                                                                       (50%)

• Facilitates and supports the patient's transition between providers.  Reviews assessments obtained from the service providers to develop a recovery plan based on the patient's overall strengths and weaknesses. 
• Establishes working relationships within the community, public, private and voluntary allied service providers to assist with patient care.
• Makes, manages and monitors referrals.
• Schedules and fulfills commitments to the patient for meetings and phone calls.
• Reviews admission packets making recommendations for acceptance.  Ensures all information is ready for medical records and Level of Care Screening and that Mental Health Commitment is in place as needed.
• Tracks all Mental Health Commitments.  Notifies Attorneys, Court, Guardians, Durable Power of Attorneys, and Mental Health Centers in advance of commitment expiring to coordinate Mental Health Commitment process.  Attends hearings as a court appointed friend.
• Writes letters to residents, guardians, individual serving as Power of Attorney, Attorneys, and Court giving notice of death or discharge to follow Mental Health Commitment Laws, and for dismissal of guardianships in the event of death.
• Coordinates release of residents' estates and personal belongings after death.
• Coordinates residents' funeral or memorial services with funeral homes and families.
• Coordinates therapeutic work program for residents.  Identifies individual residents who could benefit from the program.  Works with department supervisors to develop jobs; oversees and evaluates residents' work.  Maintains records and provides information to payroll staff. 

1.  Case Management                                                                                                                        (50%)

• Consults with patient, treatment team, family, and community providers to determine the most effective means to achieve successful community placement.
• Assesses patient needs in the areas of housing, finances, education, employment, social support, and outpatient mental health, substance abuse follow-up services.
• Consults with the patient, patient's family, and treatment staff to identify specific needs of the patient.
• Acts as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team to formulate goals, objectives, and interventions designed to address the problems identified by patient assessments.
• Documents in the clinical record as appropriate to reflect progress towards the objectives of the treatment plan.
• Completes a written aftercare plan and treatment summary to be sent to community providers, to ensure continuity of services.                                                                                                                                                                        

Physical and Environmental Demands: Physical hazards of the position include some risk of injury due to the behavior and unpredictability of the people served.  Physical demands may include prolonged periods of sitting or standing, lifting, or carrying property.  Emotional and psychological demands may be significant due to demands placed by the population served and interaction with wide variety of people within the organization.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Behaviors):

Required for the first day of work:

• Knowledge of and/or experience with the medical needs of elderly adults, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and/or individuals diagnosed with mental illness.
• Ability to identify problems, researching to develop and implement solutions.
• Ability to effectively communicate information both orally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain a calm and objective demeanor during periods of stress and pressure, defusing possible volatile situations.
• Able to compile and organize information accurately.
• Ability to operate a personal computer and general office equipment as necessary to complete essential functions, including using spreadsheets, word processing, database, email, internet and other computer programs.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

• High school diploma or the equivalent.
• Three years of job related work experience in areas such as case management, social work, human services, coordinating community services, or other related areas.

Other combinations of related education and experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis.