Case Manager

Element Q Healing Center; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 44,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental Insurance

Health Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Element Q Healing Center in San Diego seeks a temporary Case Manager to advocate for clients, coordinate care, and support staff in navigating benefits and treatment planning.

The assignment may extend through November 1, 2026, with potential extension depending on needs. We are open to part-time or full-time availability, with a minimum of 20 hours per week. Health benefits are offered for 32+ hours per week.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Preferred: Associates or Bachelors degree in psychology, sociology, or related field.
• Preferred: 2 years experience in the behavioral health field.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a client advocate to support, guide, and coordinate case management care for clients as they navigate their wellness journey.
• Support clients through benefits applications and recertifications, ensuring deadlines are met while managing follow-through.
• Develop and maintain individualized case management plans with the treatment team.
• Conduct psychosocial and resource assessments to identify client needs and barriers.
• Coordinate services including housing, transportation, insurance, financial assistance, employment, education, legal resources, and community supports.

Skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Documentation

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Associates or Bachelors in psychology/sociology/related field

Tools

KIPU EMR

Job description

To serve each person’s journey by creating space for growth, connection, and renewal. Through identity, gender, and culturally affirming practices and trauma-focused care, we empower LGBTQIA+ community members to not only discover their voice but to embrace the strength and power within it.

Element Q Values:

Team Oriented, Accountable, Committed, Flexible, Proactive

POSITION SUMMARY

The Case Manager is responsible for serving as a client advocate to support, guide, and coordinate care for clients as they navigate their wellness journey. This includes providing assistance to clinical and administrative staff, leading relevant groups, enforcing structure, documenting client progress, participating in treatment planning, and ensuring strong collaboration with team members while maintaining HIPAA compliance and a safe, supportive environment.

This is a temporary position to support departmental operations during an employee’s leave of absence. The duration of this assignment is not yet determined and may change based on the employee’s approved leave status and return‑to‑work timeline. The anticipated end date is November 1, 2026; however, the assignment may end earlier or be extended depending on operational needs. We are open to part‑time or full‑time availability, with a minimum of 20 hours per week. Health benefits are offered for employees regularly scheduled at 32 hours or more per week, effective 1st of the month following 30 days of employment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Client Care Coordination

• Serve as a client advocate to support, guide, and coordinate case management care for clients as they navigate their wellness journey.
• Support clients through the full lifecycle of their benefits applications and recertifications, ensuring they understand requirements and deadlines while independently managing the administrative and follow-through work needed to keep their cases on track.
• Develop and maintain individualized case management plans in collaboration with the treatment team.
• Conduct psychosocial and resource assessments to identify client needs and barriers.
• Coordinate services including housing, transportation, insurance, financial assistance, employment, education, legal resources, and community supports.
• Assist clients with applications for benefits including disability, Medi-Cal, Social Security, food assistance, and other available resources.
• Coordinate referrals to medical providers, psychiatrists, primary care physicians, specialists, sober living, residential treatment, outpatient providers, support groups, and community agencies.
• Collaborate with family members and support systems when appropriate and authorized.
• Assess clients, evaluate effectiveness of care plans and client progress, and participate in client treatment planning and case review.
• Exercise sound critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Provide conflict resolution, safety, and maintain calm redirection in high-stress environments.
• Coordinate and encourage engagement with client group attendance and offsite activities.
• Maintain HIPAA compliance in all client interactions and documentation.
• Coordinate aftercare appointments before discharge.
• Confirm outpatient providers, psychiatry appointments, therapy, support groups, and recovery resources are established.
• Assist with housing transitions when needed.
• Ensure discharge documentation and referrals are completed accurately and timely.
• Lead groups pertaining to case management, self-empowerment, and growth.

Benefits and Resource Support

• Assist clients in understanding insurance benefits and available financial resources.
• Coordinate with admissions and utilization review regarding coverage issues when appropriate.
• Help clients identify community funding resources when applicable.
• Prepare, track, and submit all time-sensitive client documentation — including but not limited to EDD, health insurance, SNAP, and other public benefits filings and recertifications — accurately and by required deadlines.
• Maintain a working knowledge of eligibility rules, recertification requirements, and filing deadlines for all benefits programs relevant to assigned clients, and proactively apply that knowledge without waiting for direction.
• Enforce structure and regulated client obligations.

Documentation

• Complete timely, accurate, and compliant documentation in the electronic health record.
• Maintain detailed case management notes.
• Track referrals and follow-up outcomes.
• Ensure documentation meets regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Provide assistance with clinical and administrative staff.
• Participate in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings.
• Communicate client progress, barriers, and resource needs to clinical staff.
• Collaborate closely with therapists, psychiatrists, admissions, utilization review, outreach, operations, and alumni teams.
• Support smooth transitions between levels of care.
• Provide assistance with clinical and administrative staff.
• Remain helpful and adaptive in providing assistance across all staff departments.
• Serve as a point of de‑escalation for both client and team relations.
• Maintain a safe and secure environment for both clients and staff.
• Mentor and coach team members to create an environment of growth.
• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned to better serve client care.

Community Resource Development

• Build and maintain relationships with community providers and referral resources.
• Develop an up‑to‑date directory of community resources.
• Identify new partnerships that improve access to services for clients.

Client Advocacy

• Advocate for client needs while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Empower clients to develop independence and self‑advocacy skills.
• Promote dignity, inclusion, and equitable access to care.

Quality Improvement

• Participate in quality improvement initiatives.
• Assist in identifying system barriers and recommending process improvements.
• Support accreditation and compliance initiatives as requested.
• Maintain strong, clear communication with clients and staff, including proactively flagging issues, risks, or open questions .

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrates knowledge on substance use disorders, mental health, and evidence-based modalities.
• Individual is fully cognizant of program policies and procedures as they pertain to conduct, ethics, and client care.
• Individual possesses broad knowledge of behavioral health and mental health treatment services.
• Individual demonstrates ability to clearly communicate both verbally and in writing with clients as well as with various departmental staff.
• Individual demonstrates ability to thoroughly document all encounters, shift notes, incident reports, and case reviews.
• Individual demonstrates integrity and ability to maintain the utmost level of confidentiality as it pertains to HIPAA and PHI in healthcare.
• Experience with KIPU preferred.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Cultural sensitivity and desire to work with an ethnically diverse adult population

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Preferred: Associates or Bachelors degree in psychology, sociology, or other social services degree or other case management certificate.
• Preferred: 2 years experience in the behavioral health field

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND EXPERIENCE

• Familiarity with co‑occurring disorders and the twelve‑step program of recovery (Preferred).
• Demonstrates Proficiency in Verbal & Written Communication Skills.
• Ability to work as a team member, with strong communication, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under stressful conditions and be flexible in relation to department needs.
• Knowledge of current utilized technology and EMR software (i.e. Kipu) (Preferred).
• Cultural sensitivity and desire to work with an ethnically diverse adult population.

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS/SCREENINGS

• RAD‑T, CADC
• CPR & First Aid Certificate
• Current Health Screening (DHCS 5077)
• Current TB Screen

BENEFITS

• Fulfilling Work
• Positive Culture
• Dental, Health, and VIsion Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• $25 per hour pay

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.