Recovery Navigator Program - Outreach Case Manager

Island County; Coupeville (WA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Island County is seeking an Outreach Case Manager to coordinate outreach, long-term engagement, and supportive services for participants through intensive case management and collaboration with county service providers. Referrals come from law enforcement, community organizations, and EMS, with field-based services for individuals who may have complex needs.

The role involves assessments to determine stressors and needs, development of individualized service plans, housing assistance, benefits

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, or related field, or AA plus 2 years in behavioral health preferred.
• Experience in engaging individuals in recovery and coordinating with community services preferred.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and manage sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Provide outreach and intensive case management at referral locations.
• Assess housing status, housing needs, and service needs.
• Coordinate with DSHS, SSI benefits, and behavioral health services.
• Develop housing connections and assist with occupancy.
• Create individualized service plans addressing basic needs and health care.
• Build relationships with crisis, law enforcement, and service providers.
• Attend work groups and accompany participants to appointments.
• Assist in budgeting and spending planning for participants.
• Identify gaps in resources and advocate for changes.
• Maintain participant files according to program requirements.

Skills

Independent work

Communication

Confidentiality

Time management

Data entry

Computer proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, or related field

Associate of Arts in psychology, social work, human services/related field + 2 years experience

Job description

The Outreach Case Manager provides outreach, long-term engagement, and supportive services for participants through intensive case management activities and collaboration with existing services available through Island County and all other service providers in the county.

Referrals come from individuals and organizations who might encounter an individual who could benefit from the Recovery Navigator program such as law enforcement, community-based organizations, and emergency medical services.

The Outreach Case Manager will provide direct, field-based services to individuals who may have extensive history of psychiatric hospitalizations, are unhoused, have co-occurring substance use disorders, mental health disorders or issues, medical problems, or are involved in the criminal justice system. Services might include helping individuals with housing, parenting, benefits, symptom management, medical care, behavioral health treatment and employment, all performed where those in need are located.

The Outreach Case Manager will provide assessments of individual needs to determine stressors and targeted intervention points to improve the individual’s overall stability and functioning. The Outreach Case Manager will work with Outreach Peer Navigators to ensure immediate field-based response when a referral is made. For individuals who are not interested in accessing SUD and/or mental health services, Outreach Case Managers will focus on regular and ongoing engagement to ensure a relationship is maintained so subsequent support can be quickly addressed.

• Provide outreach and intensive case management services for participants at the referral location to establish a working relationship and offer services.
• Assess participants for severity of chemical dependency and housing status and determine needs for other services.
• Establish communication with appropriate community services such as DSHS, SSI benefits, and behavioral health treatment, to initiate and facilitate the completion of application and enrollment. Meet with community service providers as needed to coordinate and establish services.
• Develop relationships with housing resources and assist the participant in gaining access to appropriate housing and maintaining occupancy.
• Develop and implement with the participant’s input an individualized service plan which addresses the needs of the participant for food, clothing, shelter, and health care and behavioral health treatment. Update this plan periodically with participant to reflect movement toward or attainment of articulated goals and the emergence of new needs.
• Develop and maintain a working relationship with crisis stabilization facilities, crisis responders, evaluation, and treatment facility staff, DSHS workers, behavioral health treatment providers, health care providers, shelter providers, landlords, detox centers, protective or representative payees, and other community programs which may support participants.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with local partners including local law enforcement and fire departments. Provide advocacy and support for participants within the criminal justice system including court appearances and written communication.
• Attend regularly scheduled Operational Work Group Meetings and the staffing of participants with partners.
• Accompany participants to appointments as needed.
• Assist participants in developing a spending plan and in shopping.
• Identify gaps and barriers in available community resources and advocate for systemic changes.
• Attend stakeholder work groups and committees to represent the experiences of program participants.
• Develop and maintain participant files for assigned caseload according to program, contract, and state requirements.
• Follow policies, procedures, and protocols for this program as a member of the Recovery Navigator Program team.
• Document all contacts in a timely manner including face-to-face interviews, collateral and networking contacts, and correspondence. Maintain case records in accordance with standards and requirements. Prepare reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing treatment and results data.
• Assist in staffing syringe services locations, including maintaining records and submitting monthly reports.
• Assist in maintaining opioid outreach specific data and compiling reports.
• Communicate participant progress by attending interdisciplinary meetings and supervision in compliance with agency policies and procedures. Collaborates and works with other community agencies and law enforcement.
• Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks, and participating in professional organizations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Ability and willingness to work independently under general supervision in a self-directed manner and the ability to work collaboratively with other team members and/or service providers or professionals.
• Ability to quickly grasp new techniques, deal with rapid changes in events, remain calm in stressful situations, relate to various personality styles in a calm, professional manner.
• Effectively communicate, both orally and in writing, with others for purposes of gathering and relaying information.
• Ability to identify community resources and services for participants and coordinate provision of services; to establish effective working relationships with internal agency staff as well as with relevant community organizations.
• Understand the need for maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Familiar with record documentation requirements and service plan development and implementation.
• Possess time management and organizational skills.
• Fluent in computer office programs and good data entry skills.

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, or related fieldor Associate of Arts degree in psychology, social work, human services/related field plus two (2) years’ experience in the behavioral health or related fieldsrequired.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Lived experience, defined as a current or past recipient of behavioral health services and/or with current or past involvement in the criminal legal system preferred
• Be in active recovery for at least two years, and able to provide appropriate case management and support services to program participants without impairing their ability to remain in recovery preferred.
• Possess or be willing/able to complete training to obtain a Peer Support Specialist certification or Community Health Worker from a State-approved training program.
• Preference will be given to applicants with experience working with individuals with complex life issues and/or behavioral health conditions.
• Satisfactory criminal history background check results are a condition of employment.
• Willingness to take part in familiarization with law enforcement policies and procedures.

Island County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.