Case Manager

Children's Home of Jefferson County; Watertown (CT); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The Children’s Home of Jefferson County seeks a dedicated Case Manager for its Therapeutic Crisis Residence Program (TCRP). You will coordinate admissions, monitor treatment plans, and connect youth and families with community resources.

This 24/7 program requires strong organization, confidentiality, and communication skills, with on-site work and occasional local travel to schools and meetings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a Human Services field and at least one year of related experience.
• Strong organizational and communication abilities.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and work with diverse populations.

Responsibilities

• Fields phone calls, emails, and inquiries from potential referral sources.
• Collaborates with the Program Manager and Clinical Team to determine admission suitability.
• Facilitates admissions and discharges (scheduling, documentation, billing).
• Monitors the youth’s individual treatment plan and progress.
• Coordinates community-based referrals and discharge planning.
• Keeps thorough documentation, case records, and reports up to date.

Skills

Organizational skills

Office skills

People skills

Team player

Confidentiality

Diversity awareness

Communication skills

Time management

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in a Human Services field

Tools

CAIRS

Job description

Description

Summary/Objective:

The Children’s Home of Jefferson County’s (CHJC) Therapeutic Crisis Residence Program (TCRP) provides short-term residential support to youth experiencing symptoms of mental illness resulting from a psychiatric crisis. Through respite and therapeutic programming, TCRP aims to provide short-term interventions to youth in crisis, addressing the underlying issues which caused the crisis and avert or delay the need for acute psychiatric inpatient hospitalization or emergency department admission. The primary goal of TCRP is to work with youth and their families through a family-centered, trauma-informed approach, in a safe, structured environment, stabilizing youth and families in crisis.

Under the leadership of the Program Manager, the Case Manager is responsible for providing comprehensive support to youth admitted to TCRP. This position involves coordinating and managing care for youth experiencing emotional and behavioral crises, ensuring they receive appropriate services and interventions to stabilize their condition. The Case Manager will work closely with families, mental health professionals, and other service providers to develop and implement individualized treatment plans. Key duties include referrals, progress monitoring, and ensuring seamless transitions to community-based services upon discharge. As TCRP is a 24-hour, seven-day per week program, the Case Manager must demonstrate flexibility in both schedule and daily tasks.

Essential Functions:

1. Fields phone calls, emails, and other inquiries from potential referral sources
2. Collaborates with the Program Manager and Clinical Team to determine appropriateness for admission
3. Facilitates/arranges admissions and discharges (scheduling, obtaining/completing necessary documentation, completes billing requirements)
4. Monitors the youth’s individual treatment plan
5. Coordinates all necessary community-based referrals
6. Obtains regular updates from service providers on treatment goals, participation, progress, etc. and provides information regarding the youth’s progress, goal attainment, and discharge plan to said providers
7. Completes discharge summaries and distributes them as necessary
8. Provides regular updates to family members/discharge resources
9. Is responsible for the coordination and/or facilitation of family visitation and scheduled contact with family (including phone contact)
10. Oversees the quality and maintenance of all documentation, reports, and case records
11. As directed by the Program Manager, assists with other administrative tasks (publishing staff schedules, completing supply requests, etc.)
12. Provides thorough documentation regarding all activities to include but not limited to: face-to-face contacts, phone calls, case conferences, noted incidents, etc.
13. Responsible for ensuring a complete case record for each youth
14. Maintains and reviews the TCRP data trackers for complete accuracy
15. Completes all OMH required reports
16. Enters all admissions and discharges into CAIRS
17. Sends daily census information to designated staff
18. Collaborates with the Finance Department to ensure accurate billing
19. Responsible for acting as Campus Leadership for designated shifts:
    • Ensures adequate staffing coverage, handles call-ins
    • Holds TCRP Phone
    • Accepts referral calls and facilitates or oversees admission/discharges
    • Oversees the administration of youth medication (as needed)
    • Provides support and guidance to DCPs as needed
    • Ensures staff follow the programming schedule
    • Ensures youth are accounted for and attend scheduled programming or outside meetings/appointments/school (as permitted)
    • Is the main point of contact and liaison with Agency Leadership

Requirements

Special Requirements:

Work Environment: Works in a residential setting. Will require occasional travel to local schools, conferences and/or meetings and moderate travel within the community to include off-site/in-home visits. May have contact with service recipients that are agitated and/or confused, and/or are in crisis. Some risk involved working with service recipients with serious mental illness. Works in an office setting with a controlled temperature environment. Occasional exposure to inclement weather conditions may occur depending upon assignments.

Equipment: This position is required to maintain a working knowledge of related office equipment including personal computers and printers, audio-visual equipment, telephone systems, copiers, fax machines, etc.

Physical Demands: Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, carry, push/pull, climb, bend, and stoop. Must be able to perform fine motor skills, read, and type. Must be able to sit for long periods of time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

Full-time, hourly, non-exempt employee. Traditional hours required along with some non-traditional hours including one weekend shift and one evening shift per week. This position is required to work on-site, and offsite/in home visits.

Travel

Limited travel is required to meet program needs.

Required Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s Degree in a Human Services field, with at least one year experience in a similar field preferred.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge:

Strong organizational abilities and office skills are essential for this position. This person must also have excellent people skills and be a team player. Must be able to work with privileged information in an unbiased and ethical manner. Ability to work with diverse populations. Must demonstrate effective and excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to work cooperatively with others. Must be detail-oriented and possess excellent time-management skills. Requires self-direction, tact, diplomacy, and the ability to be clear, courteous, and professional. Able to react to change productively and handle other duties as assigned.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

Must maintain privacy of confidential information. Successful completion of routine pre-employment requirements as mandated by the New York State Department of Health, Office of Mental Health and Office of Children and Family Services along with ongoing clearances and exclusion checks. These requirements are to include employment health requirements, reference checks, criminal background checks/fingerprinting, State Central Registry clearance and your eligibility to work in the United States. A valid NYS driver’s license required. Corporate Compliance, HIPAA Privacy Security, and Workplace Harassment and Discrimination Training and Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, First Aid and CPR will be required following date of hire.