Title: Case Manager

Classification: Full-time, non-exempt

Reports to: Whole Person Care Program Manager

Supervises: None

Hourly Pay $29.40 per hour

ABOUT RITTER CENTER:

For over 44 years, Ritter Center has been dedicated to preventing and resolving homelessness and improving the health, dignity, and well-being of people living in poverty in Marin.

When you join Ritter Center, you join a highly trained staff that combines clinical best practices with a whole-person care approach to solving each person’s medical and mental health, housing, and food needs. 

We are looking for staff who are ready for a career with a mission-driven organization, want to be valued, have diverse experience, and have compassion. If this sounds like you, we would love to have you join us!

 All positions at Ritter Center require a background check and Livescan fingerprinting.  

Please visit our jobs page on our website for a complete list of our employee benefits.  

Position Description: 

This is a professional-level position requiring a high level of responsibility, knowledge, and ability in coordinating and providing services to clients with complex needs. A good fit for this position is able to think on their feet and quickly assess the needs of chronically homeless people with the help of a multidisciplinary team. The Case Manager provides case management, counseling, and advocacy services to these individuals and families who are extremely low-income with a variety of barriers to permanent housing which may include mental illness, chronic illness, and physical disabilities.  

Under supervision, the Case Manager will provide flexible support services to program participants to assist in securing housing in the community and coordinating health care needs. Other responsibilities include outreach, mental health assessments, screening for eligibility, development of comprehensive care plans, and preparation of reports and clinical case notes for WPC reimbursement. Through the coordination of services and partnerships with local agencies, participating clients will receive help in obtaining needed supportive services such as mental health services, In-Home Support Services, educational or vocational counseling, assistance to maintain benefits through Medi-cal, SSI, and any other entitlement or benefit programs they may qualify for.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Engages and works with chronically homeless individuals and families with severe and persistent mental illness, physical disabilities and/or a history of substance use, a history of chronic homelessness, and/or terminal illness.
• Interviews clients while using clinical skills to evaluate and determine the extent of social service needs for each individual client.
• Conduct assessments with individuals to determine their psychiatric and psychological needs. Monitors health issues, make appropriate medical referrals, and coordinates medical care as needed.
• Functions as a part of an inter-agency multidisciplinary team; making referrals to other community resources for services and coordinating services with other social services and support agencies. 
• Contacts public social welfare and mental health agencies to obtain and provide information to program participants.
• Acts as an advocate for the client. Assisting participants with locating appropriate housing, assisting with the move-in process, helping participants obtain needed household items, and other tasks that help participants maintain a supportive housing environment.
• Provides mediation and advocacy for participant between landlord and surrounding community members. 
• Provides assistance with daily living tasks such as money management, shopping, and cooking as needed while assessing for needed assistance with Activities of Daily Living.
• Works with participants to obtain and maintain entitlements; develops ongoing consultation with participants' family members, case managers and other care providers; makes timely referrals to supportive services and intervenes to avert crises. 
• Coordinates and provides flexible support services and skills training to participants once they are housed, with the objective of helping them to stay housed and to achieve the goals set forth in their coordinated case plan. 
• Assists the CE Coordinator and Outreach Team with outreach activities towards eligible homeless persons.
• Writes reports and performs daily WPC charting and billing; collects data for the purposes of program administration and monitoring. Meets with clients a minimum of three times a month.
• Prepares and maintains casework records, court, and other evaluative reports and relevant correspondence; maintains accurate case notes and related records and files.
• Creates comprehensive care plans for each client and inputs into the WPC database 
• Meets with Assertive Case Management Team for the daily meeting
• Perform other related work as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Per our Federally Qualified Healthcare Center (FQHC) requirements employment at Ritter Center requires compliance with being able to produce a negative TB test prior to the start of employment, as well as being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (unless applying for an exemption) per the August 5th State Public Order for Healthcare Facilities, providers and employees.
• Current issues regarding independent living with support services for special needs populations.
• Familiarity with Housing First and Harm Reduction concepts  
• Understanding of Motivational Interviewing and techniques in engaging homeless and/or dually diagnosed.
• Principles, procedures, techniques, trends, and literature of the social service and mental health fields; assessments, interviewing, and recording and tracking case plans.
• Public assistance and social service programs and the role and function of public housing and social services agencies as well as basic principles of public assistance policies and programs.
• Concepts of social work and case notes that involve meticulous record keeping which includes computer applications related to the work.
• Goals and current trends of subsidized housing and participants; techniques for dealing with individuals from a variety of socio-economic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds and those who may have physical and/or emotional problems.

Skill in:

• Interacting dynamically and relating well with homeless, mentally ill, disabled and terminally ill populations.
• Assessing needs and developing appropriate treatment plans; analyzing problematic situations and taking decisive action and establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with clients. 
• Interpreting social services programs to applicants and participants; effectively using and seeking out appropriate resources and services. 
• Applying existing rules, regulations and policies; working constructively within a community setting with a community consultation panel.
• Working cooperatively with Housing Authority staff, outside agencies, and the public. 
• Communicating effectively both verbally and in written form including effective use of interviewing techniques.
• Working effectively with people with varying backgrounds, educational levels, races and cultures.
• Operating standard office equipment, including job-related computer hardware and software applications, facsimile equipment, and multi-line telephones.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work. 
• Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
• Equivalent of a four-year degree from an accredited college or university in sociology, psychology, counseling, or a closely-related field and three years of experience in mental health, social services, or a community services organization. Significant experience may be considered a substitute for education.
• Experience working with chronically homeless populations is preferred.  
• Master’s Degrees in a related field may be substituted for work-related experience. 
• Must possess a valid California Class C driver's license and have a satisfactory driving record.