Atlas House - Case Manager

Positions Summary:
The Atlas Case Manager/Social Service Staff is responsible for facilitating effective communication and working relationships with families, community partners and the Clinton School staff; assisting in the on-site implementation of the Imani therapeutic milieu; providing direct services to clients including individual and group counseling and family skill building; and providing case management to one of Imani’s two client teams.  This position will assist with third on the floor supervision of clients and support to the direct care staff team. This position reports to the Program Manager regarding administrative, personnel and clinical matters in the management of case load, ongoing program implementation issues and intake planning.  

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with major study in social work or a closely allied field AND one year of experience in the care and treatment of children or young adults; OR a Bachelor’s degree with major study in social work, psychology, sociology or a closely allied field AND two years of experience in the care and rehabilitation of children or young adults.
• Prefer minimum of three years’ experience working with adolescents and families, including at least two years residential experience providing treatment services to sexually aggressive youth and their families.
• Prefer experience working with the Department of Health Services or the Juvenile Justice system.
• Prefer one year of case management experience; preferably in a BRS facility setting.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Genuine concern for young people and the ability to treat all people with dignity and respect, and openness to learning and implementing a Positive Youth Development approach to youth work.
• Ability to work effectively within: culturally diverse populations; team dependent models; crisis management; strength-based theoretical orientation; adolescent development; and family reunification.  
• Knowledge of stages of change, motivational interviewing, and trauma informed care.
• Knowledge of community resources that support and promote independent living skills.
• Knowledge of Oregon Youth Authority, Department of Community Justice, and/or other systems of care for adjudicated youth. 
• A commitment to on-going training and a willingness to receive and act upon feedback.
• Ability to accurately read, record, and interpret information and complete written documentation that meets contract and program guidelines.
• Ability to provide visual and auditory supervision of program and youth.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a broad variety of people, including youth, families, staff, supervisors, and community partners.
• Ability to stay calm and emotionally available in an environment serving young people who require a high level of supervision and redirection from staff.
• Ability to exercise independent discretion and judgment within program guidelines.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-dependent environment and to act on the agenda of the program.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries working with youth and in handling confidential information. 
• Ability to climb and descend at least two flights of stairs.
• Ability to escort and supervise clients in the community which may require standing and walking up to an hour at one time.
• Ability to stay awake and alert throughout entire assigned shift and to perform routine dorm checks and facility walk-throughs.
• Ability to effectively monitor safety and demonstrate group management skills and effectively de-escalate potentially chaotic or volatile situations.
• Ability to regularly attend scheduled shift, be punctual for scheduled shift and meetings, and be in a condition suitable for assuming responsibilities of position.
• Manual dexterity allowing performance of routine office tasks such as writing, phone use, filing, copying, and use of computer keyboard.
• Manual/physical capability to bend, stoop, kneel, and reach, as well as occasionally lifting up to 20lbs (including overhead) in order to perform functions such as accepting donations or unpacking groceries.
• Ability to perform and/or supervise routine household tasks such as cleaning, cooking, washing and folding laundry, emptying trash, sweeping/mopping, etc. 
• Ability to participate in E-Cell coverage, including 24/7 after-hours support.

Other Requirements:

• Personal transportation allowing for travel within the Portland metropolitan area is required; a personal vehicle for travel and/or transport of clients is preferred. All employees who drive for work purposes must have and maintain a valid driver’s license for state of residency, have a driving record that permits coverage under the corporate auto liability policy, and complete the agency’s driving approval process before driving for work. If driving a personal vehicle for work purposes drivers must also have personal auto liability coverage ($100,000/$300,000 levels strongly recommended). Employees are not to drive for work purposes until they have received written authorization to do so.
• Bloodborne Pathogens training is required on first day of employment and annually thereafter.
• Must complete Mandatory Abuse Training within the first 30 days of employment and annually thereafter.
• Provides emergency first-aid, as needed, and must have and maintain standard first-aid/CPR certification.
• Must pass criminal history background check.
• Food Handler's Certification required within two weeks of hire.
• Must obtain National Provider Identification Number through the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System within 5 days of hire.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Creates and maintains an optimal environment for adolescents in residential facility in accordance with DHS Licensing, Atlas program and agency policies and procedures.
  
  • Provides orientation and training on an on-going basis.
  • Co –Facilitates as necessary Imani staff and staffing meetings and provides ongoing clinical client staffing and training to the Imani staff.
  • Ensures the implementation of procedure and policies which allow for a physically, socially, and emotionally secure environment for residents.
  • Attends monthly clinical team meetings.
  • Reviews all incidents reports in accordance with Janus and Atlas Policy. Reviews incidents reports with Program Director weekly and provides copies to DHS and the Juvenile Court in a timely fashion. 
• Coordinates Team activities to intake new youth for placement in the program. 
  
  • Schedules and facilitates intakes for clients and families.
  • Ensures that Intake documentation is complete and client file is set up on first day of placement.
  • Oversees client and parent orientation to facility, staff, and house residents.
• Provides case management for clients.
  
  • Assesses strengths and needs of clients in cooperation with client, family, case workers, court workers, and other residential/shelter staff.
  • Maintains weekly contact with client families and provides oversight in client passes, contact, visits and material approvals. Responsible for managing client financial accounts including utilization of chore money.
  • Conducts weekly individual counseling, skill building and case management with each client for a minimum of one hour per week.  Assures involvement of DHS worker, juvenile court counselor, family, client and other community partners in all aspects of treatment planning.  
  • Facilitates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy group and other group therapy as needed.
  • Provides family skill-building counseling for client families and assists the clinical supervisor in facilitating monthly multi-family groups.
  • Oversees and coordinates implementation of all required BRS documentation in keeping with contract requirements, including the comprehensive assessment, initial and master service plan, service plan updates and discharge plan.
  • Serves as a primary communication liaison between the program and other agencies and the family/ support resource.
  • Represents Atlas in court and is able to articulately speak to client treatment progress.
  • Attends Monthly Juvenile Court staffing meetings as needed.
  • Assist therapist(s) with any needed clinical related tasks
• Provides and coordinates clients’ weekly schedule of treatment services. Ensuring that the client receives the minimum number of service hours required per week. 
  
  • Provides quality assurance for client and house files in according with DHS BRS standards.
• Maintains current clinical records in accordance with agency procedures and funding-contract standards.
  
  • Oversees the creation of client clinical treatment plans and is responsible for its implementation as well as the ongoing construction of weekly client goals based on the treatment plan.
  • Prepares written progress reports and co-facilitates 90 day review meetings with the client, their family, DHS and juvenile court.
  • Prepares written initial assessments, treatment plans and discharge summaries for clients within first 45 days of acceptance and last 30 days of termination.
• Provides emergency first-aid, as needed, and maintains a current standard first-aid certification.
• Prepares meals and/or supervisors clients during meal prep times as needed.
• Models and encourages direct, respectful and professional communication among staff members and facilitates development of a positive staff support network.
• Models cultural sensitivity and encourages diversity among staff members and clients, facilitating a respectful living environment.
  
  • Makes cultural presentation as assigned by Program Manager.
  • Actively seeks out and participates in diversity training.
• Performs other program related duties as assigned by Manager, Program Director, or Executive Director.

Working Conditions:

• May involve exposure to communicable diseases, including a variety of illnesses and infections such as the common cold, TB, Hepatitis, flu, meningitis, and HIV.
• May involve exposure to upset, angry, severely traumatized or emotionally disturbed children, adolescents, adults, and families.
• May involve time in excess of routine schedule and/or overtime, including evening/overnight, weekend hours, and/or holidays.
• May involve exposure to information that graphically describes physical, sexual and emotion abuse of children and may experience vicarious trauma. 
• May require working and providing services at locations other than program site (i.e., schools, café’, clinics, etc.,) and may, therefore, be exposed to environments not under agency control (i.e., second-hand smoke, varying hygiene practices, etc.).

This position description is intended to give the reader a general idea of the overall purpose and the main activities and responsibilities that are intrinsic to this position. While this description is intended to be representative, it is not intended to be limiting.