Mental Health Case Manager, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

The Mental Health Case Manager provides services designed to support and maximize the members ability to better direct their own health care experience through the use of supportive interventions, psycho-educational interventions, crisis planning and intervention, linkage to health plan and community resources and other activities geared at maintaining or enhancing the members coping capacity and stability. The Mental Health Case Manager will respond in a way that demonstrates respect for the cultural, religious, and ethnic differences among patients and families. The Mental Health Case Manager contributes to the medical teams understanding of patient beliefs, behaviors, and barriers regarding the members illness and also works to support the clinical efforts of the Psychiatrists, Nurse Practitioners or Therapists involved in the care of the members mental illness. The Mental Health Case Manager also provides linkage and coordination with other care providers in the community or within KPNW and other duties as designated. The Mental Health Case Manager also helps make connections for the member in the community and may meet and support member in the community as deemed necessary.

• Provide outreach and care coordination as requested by MH care team, or as needed to facilitate smooth transition between MH Providers and different level of care, including assistance in the transfer of members to a higher level of care, hospitalization as may be needed or transition back to care via Primary Care team. Perform crisis planning and intervention as needed.


• Assess and triage referred cases utilizing chart reviews, screening calls, and full assessments, related to anticipated level of care needs. Determines level of care. Provide effective communication of findings, actions taken, and further recommendation to appropriate care providers utilizing standardized approved documentation tools and verbal communication as warranted by acuity.  Develops and documents patient-centered plan of care in collaboration with the member/family, appropriate KP staff, and providers. Development of relapse prevention plans as indicated.


• Serves as an integral member of interdisciplinary care team. Attends and facilitates care conferences, provides consultation and coordination with care team members. Advocates and collaborates across systems to support member.


• Provide brief interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation, problem-solving, motivational interviewing, or other appropriate short-term approaches to promote patient engagement, self-management, and recovery.


• Maintains thorough knowledge of Kaiser Permanente services/benefits, public/private community resources, as well as federal/state laws which effect health care planning.  Participates in educational activities which further members capacity to better direct their own health care experience.


• Participate in ongoing department and organization process improvement. This may include initiatives to broaden access to services, increase member satisfaction and development of practice guidelines. Maintain data on population cases managed, utilization of services, and outcomes. Support care coordination for populations as identified by the mental health department.

• Minimum one (1) year of previous social work experience.


• Per the National Agreement, current KP Coalition employees have this experience requirement waived.

• Masters degree in social work (MSW).

• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (Washington) required at hire
  

• Ability to work effectively on a multi-disciplinary team.
• Broad-based knowledge of Mental Health diagnoses and treatment.
• Knowledge of risk factors of suicidality and lethality. Skills and ability to assess risk, lethality, and handle crisis situations.
• Demonstrates effective interpersonal, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in advocacy, education and counseling, and resource research skills.
• Able to type 30 words per minute.
• Experience in collaboratively working with interdisciplinary teams and within a dynamic work environment.
• Core philosophy/value consistent with patient-centered approach to care.
• Culturally effective capabilities demonstrating a sensitivity and responsiveness to varying cultural beliefs.

• Minimum (3) years of experience post licensure in hospital, outpatient clinic, or other mental health agency.
• Working knowledge of KPWA services and benefits.
• Expertise with brief interventions and case management techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership to a multi-disciplinary team.
• Advanced knowledge of local and national resources related to health care.