Assistant Chief Caseworker BHDS

Compensation Range:

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If you're passionate about making a difference, apply today to join us in serving the community!

Job Description:

JOB SUMMARY

• This is a supervisory position within Lancaster County Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (BH/DS). 

• This employee will provide oversight, supervision, and direction within the Adult Mental Health Unit, supporting both Blended and Administrative Case Managers.

• The employee must exercise considerable independent judgment and decision making in working with component staff. As needed, based on supervisory direction, this position may be responsible for overseeing a caseload in the absence of staff members.

• The employee must be familiar with eligibility and discharge criteria as well as the expectations and requirements to provide blended case management services as defined by the state. 

• The employee also works to ensure that collaborative relationships exist between local adult serving agencies, providers, insurance and managed care companies, and local community systems.

• The employee serves as a liaison to those systems to provide education regarding mental health, recovery principles, and case management services.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

• This position can supervise a staff of six BCM/ACM Caseworkers and one Caseworker - Senior; also, at times will supervise student interns.  

• Staff work is largely self-determined and related to consumers’ needs and goals as well as State documentation and reporting requirements.

• Staff work performance is reviewed by formal and informal supervision, by observations both within the office and in the field, by the monitoring of documentation and productivity as well as through consumer, peer and provider feedback and the results of consumer satisfaction surveys.

• This position can be assigned duties by the Chief Caseworker as well as the Program Planner of Behavioral Health Services.

• This position reports to the Chief Caseworker and meets with the Chief Caseworker on a regular basis to receive feedback, discuss issues related to the agency as a whole and review the functioning of the BCM/ACM unit.  

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Provide bi-monthly supervision and direction to the Adult Blended/Administrative Case Management Unit Staff

• Provide availability to meet with staff to discuss crisis situations

• Coach staff to develop job performance goals and review on a regular basis

• Review performance goals and conduct annual performance evaluations

• Maintain documentation of employee performance including any disciplinary action

• Review and approve timesheets and time off requests

• Monitor individual and unit productivity weekly and ensure staff are meeting expected goals

• Conduct unit case management meetings on a monthly basis

• Regularly review staff documentation for accuracy, quality of content, and consistency

• Ensure compliance with all BCM regulations and guidelines

• Attend and participate in monthly component meetings

• Develop, monitor, and update the BCM 24 hour on-call list

• Case manages a small caseload of consumers during extended leave of staff or in the event of staff vacancy as discussed and approved by direct supervisor

• Routinely provides own transportation to and from consumer's home, meetings, outreach visits, and other job-related appointments in a timely manner and be able to access those locations with reasonable accommodations

• May provide transportation for consumers as needed

• Provide on call services on a routine basis and/or as required

OTHER SPECIFIC TASKS OR DUTIES

• Assist staff in prioritizing their workload

• Provide training and orientation for new staff and interns

• Ensure full coverage during extended staff vacancies and absences

• Review billing issues and provide assistance in resolving any related problems

• Attend supervisor meetings and other administrative/management meetings as required

• Participate with Chief Caseworker in hiring of new staff

• Develop and maintain a collaborative network of relationships both internal and external to the agency

• Assign new cases to staff based on productivity and workload

• Determine with staff when BCM/ACM services for particular consumers should be referred for termination

• Prepare for and participate in monitoring visits by the State and/or funding entities

• Participate in training/education of community providers regarding MH services

• Adherence to all county and agency policies and procedures

• All other duties as assigned by Unit Director and Component Director.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• Two years of professional experience in public or private social work and a bachelor's degree with major course work in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences; OR

• Any equivalent combination of experience and education which includes 12 college credits in sociology, social welfare, psychology, gerontology, criminal justice, or other related social sciences.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of CSP and how they relate to the adult MH system

• Knowledge and understanding of State defined MH priority populations and eligibility criteria for adults and children

• Knowledge of Recovery and Resiliency principles as they relate to the populations being served

• Knowledge of issues related to Childhood Development, Transitioning Youth and the Aging population

• Knowledge of specialty populations such as the Dually Diagnosed (MH and MR or MH and D&A),

• Knowledge of and sensitivity to cultural issues which may impact mental health treatment.

• Ability to interpret policies and incorporate them into procedures and guidelines

• Demonstrate basic computer and word processing skills

• Access to transportation and the ability to travel quickly to appointments.

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS/CLEARANCES

• Required prior to active employment: Pennsylvania Childline Child Abuse History, Clearance, Acceptable-PA State Police Criminal Record Clearance, Acceptable FBI fingerprint clearance

• Acceptable Drug screening

• Clearances no more than one year old at time of employment will be accepted.

• Required clearances must be received prior to active employment.

• PA Driver's License and acceptable driving history

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The supervisor must be able to work in a busy and open environment. Travel to and from consumer locations, providers, hospitals, etc. is also required. This position must be able to use a computer for data entry both within the office and while working in the field.

• This position has been identified as having the potential for exposure to Hepatitis B.  Access to training and a voluntary vaccination against Hepatitis B is provided.

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

The County of Lancaster offers comprehensive benefits to our employees.  Read more about our benefits here.

Lancaster County Government provides Equal Employment Opportunity for all persons regardless of race, religion, age, sex, national origin, genetic information or disability. The County also observes all applicable laws regarding Veterans status. The County reflects this action in all areas of employment and compensation practices and policies. Employment with the County is based upon the ability to perform the job as well as dependability and reliability once an individual is hired.