POSITION SUMMARY/JOB PURPOSE:

The COPSD/Care Coordination Specialist provides services under the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model. This model of treatment offers a more comprehensive, holistic, and integrated model of care. Care Coordination provides care across a spectrum of health services, including access to high-quality physical health and behavioral health care, as well as social services, housing, education systems, and employment opportunities as necessary to facilitate wellness and recovery of the whole person. Care coordination closes gaps in treatment by helping individuals access multiple types of services within the community, transportation, and provides follow-up to ensure the individual starts treatment with those services to achieve their recovery goals. In addition to care coordination, this position also provides rapid and timely access to comprehensive mental health and substance use treatment services. Co-Occurring Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders (COPSD) is an evidence-based practice used to help treat individuals who are suffering from a mental illness and substance use disorder obtain sobriety and achieve recovery goals.  This position will provide counseling using the Seeking Safety curriculum or other evidenced-based curriculum to meet the needs of the individuals being served. The COPSD/Care Coordination Specialist will provide the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of addiction counseling that is defined by the CSTAT Technical Assistance Publication (TAP21) Addictions Counseling Competencies: the Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude of Professional Practice. This position will provide Care Coordination and COSPD services to youth and adults who are receiving services through the outpatient Mental Health Clinic but also struggling with substance use/abuse.

This position works independently, under limited supervision, reporting major activities through periodic meetings.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:

Education Required:  A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in psychology, social work, medicine, nursing, rehabilitation, counseling, sociology, human growth and development, physician assistance, gerontology, special education, educational psychology, early childhood education or early childhood intervention or a bachelor's degree with at least 30 hours of coursework in the previous fields.

Experience Required:  At least 1 year experience working with individuals struggling with mental health, substance use, involved in the criminal justice system, or working with individual during acute crisis needing psychiatric hospitalization preferred.

Registration, Certification, Licensure or other Qualifications Required: 

• Must maintain a valid Texas Driver's license, auto liability insurance and a driving record acceptable to PermiaCare's insurance requirements.
• Required to pass criminal history and background checks as well as pre-employment drug screen.
• Must obtain QMHP certification within 6 months.
• Must possess current and valid LCDC or LCDC intern license or obtain one within 6 months.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide addiction counseling that is defined by TAP21 and follows the rules and regulations of TAC 25 Section 140.400(28).
• Actively work on closing gaps in referrals between PermiaCare departments.
• Provide holistic care across the health spectrum by addressing all needs identified by client.
• Provide the appropriate evidence-based practice to meet the needs of the individual being served.
• Provide evidenced based COPSD services to meet the needs of the individual, when applicable.
• Provide counseling for substance use disorder (s), when mental health illness is not present, to meet the needs of the individual being served.
• Link clients to integrated services including medical care, substance abuse treatment, crisis services, mental health services, veteran services, or any other needed services identified by client.
• Provides transportation to meet the needs of the individual being served at the request of the person in treatment, agency, supervisor, or other staff as appropriate
• Encourage and/or include participation of family members and others important to the client, subject to privacy and confidentiality requirements and client's consent.
• Develop recovery plans that are comprehensive, person-centered, and family-centered in agreement with and endorsed by the client.
• Recovery plans are specific for COPSD/Care Coordination Goals and clearly identify client's recovery goals, client's needs, and goals and objectives to accomplish recovery goals.
• All follow up documentation and progress notes should be person-centered and completed within required timeframes.
• Provide care coordination to individuals to meet client needs.
• Meet unit performance measures or targets.
• Maintain assigned caseload of individuals with mental illness.
• Coordinate services to designated caseload.
• Enter accurate and appropriate documentation of services within timeframe required.
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive records and treatment information, client files and protected health information in compliance with HIPAA, laws, rules and regulations, and established procedures.
• Maintain regular and reliable physical on-site attendance. Regular attendance, dependability, and promptness are required for the scheduled work day 100% of the time, to ensure consistency and completeness of program's processes.
• Comply with the Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation policy and reporting requirements.
• Adhere to the Code of Conduct and Standards of Behavior policy requirements.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with individuals served and their families, supervisors, co-workers and visitors by demonstrating cooperative, courteous and respectful behavior at all times.
• Communicate regularly with supervisor.
• Open and process mail/email in a timely manner.
• Answer phone, collect phone messages and respond to requests timely and accurately.
• Maintain safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules and regulations.
• Perform all work functions and interactions using a trauma informed approach.
• Display professionalism when representing PermiaCare and the program in the community.
• Maintain compliance with legal requirements and company policies and procedures.
• Maintain valid and current driver's license, auto insurance, acceptable driving record and reliable transportation at all times. Driving may be required for this position.
• Complete all training as assigned prior to due date.
• Other duties as assigned.

MARGINAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (these duties are not designated as essential for the purposes of ADA; they are still required duties):

• Fill in for other MH as needed.
• Maintain a current knowledge of HHSC LCDC licensure standards and apply those that are appropriate to the COPSD program.
• Learn and apply, through center training and independent study of provided Medicaid materials, the Medicaid covered services for this position, the proper application of these services, and the codes used to describe these services.
• Progress notes clearly show progress or lack of progress in accordance with current provider agreement. (Meeting Minimum Requirements of Current Internal Provider Agreement).
• Perform crisis services as needed.
• Discharges and discharge summaries are completed when needed and in accordance with regulatory guidelines.
• Identify client needs and client risks through administration of TRR assessments and in collaboration with the CCBHC manager, the UM team, the IT team, and the UM committee.
• Provide translation, if applicable.
• Participate in team meeting or staffings.
• Participate in community activities and/or attends community meetings as needed.
• Participate in workgroups and committees as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES:

• Knowledge of current research in assigned priority population.
• Knowledge about chemical dependency and mental health disorders.
• Knowledge of HIPAA and ability to protect confidentiality.
• Effective multi-tasking skills.
• Good organizational skills.
• Welcoming, positive behavior.
• Ability to express self clearly and effectively, orally and in writing.
• Effective time management skills.
• Exceptional customer service skills, including positive attitude.
• Cultural sensitivity.
• Dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Knowledge of trauma informed theories, principles and practices.
• Flexibility and adaptability to different work environments.
• Excellent computer skills, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Electronic Health Records (EHR).
• Reading and comprehending.
• Reasoning and analyzing.
• Ability to coordinate with various inter-agency personnel.
• Ability to fulfill PMAB and CPR/First Aid requirements.
• Ability to work independently.
• Good interpersonal skills, including ability to build rapport with individuals including co-workers.
• Ability to display comfort in interacting with individuals of diverse cultural, ethnic and economic backgrounds and with social service, healthcare, educational and criminal justice organizations, as needed.
• Ability to acquire and utilize new skills as the job requires.
• Ability to work cooperatively and productively with supervisor, individuals, co-workers, and groups of persons at all levels of activity, contributing to a spirit of teamwork.
• Ability to maintain highly confidential information.
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
• Ability to plan and schedule work and implement directives without constant supervision.
• Model professionalism by appropriate dress, language, ethics and work habits.
• Ability to drive personal and/or company vehicle.  This position may require travel to agency program sites, community and residential sites, and/or locations outside the PermiaCare catchment area.  This position may require transport of agency individuals and/or individuals served.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Abilities Required:

• Light Lifting, under 15 lbs
• Light Carrying, under 15 lbs
• Walking
• Standing
• Sitting
• Operating office equipment
• Operating motor vehicle
• Ability to see
• Hearing (with aid)
• Ability to write
• Ability to count
• Ability to read
• Ability to tell time

Other (specify):  driving required. May require some travel after hours and overnight.

WORKSITE CONDITIONS:

• Travel
• Inside
• Working closely with others
• Working alone

ADA Statement:  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EEO Statement:  PermiaCare is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of duties, activities or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.  Duties, activities and responsibilities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. This job description does not constitute an employment contract with PermiaCare.  Employment is at-will.