Mental Health Specialist/Case Manager

SIHB Core Competencies

Core Competencies are foundational commitments and skills that all Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB) staff are expected to develop. These competencies define common measures for performance that are applied to every role in the organization.

• Commitment to Indigenous and Organizational Values: Everything we do at SIHB is centered on Traditional Indian Medicine. It is our responsibility to maintain cultural integrity in all that we do.
• Accountability: All employees of SIHB effectively manage their own work and the work of their teams. We take ownership of our actions and decisions. We all strive to deliver the highest quality work and care, while respecting our teammates and Relatives.
• Collaboration: SIHB is a team-oriented organization. As team members, we share the responsibility of working toward a common purpose. We collaborate with our colleagues across the organization to deliver the highest quality of care and results in alignment with our mission, vision, values, and Theory of Change.
• Communication: We practice effective and clear communication with staff, Relatives, teams, and community. We demonstrate empathy among each other and with those we serve, and transparency in our decision making.
• Customer Service Orientation: All employees of SIHB recognize the needs of the diverse community we serve. We put the needs of our Relatives first by delivering the highest quality, professional, responsive, and innovative care. Our Relatives come first and deserve the best.

Position Summary

This position is a hybrid role with responsibilities as a both Mental Health Specialist and Case Manager (MHS/CM). Here at SIHB we offer a holistic model of health care. Therefore, these employees will have responsibilities that straddle two departments with a unique opportunity to develop case management skills as well as clinical mental health services skills.

The role of Mental Health Specialist is a professional position providing a variety of outpatient mental health services within a community health care clinic serving the American Indian/Alaska Native community of Seattle/King County. Employees will receive extensive clinical training to develop their skills to provide direct mental health services including but not limited to intake, assessment, developing service plans, crisis/safety planning, progress notes, and discharge. Mental Health Specialists participate in weekly clinical case staffing to ensure quality care for our Relatives, as well as Multi-Disciplinary Case Staffing for Relatives requiring more comprehensive services.

In the role of Case Manager, employees receive extensive training surrounding the various unmet needs our relatives may be experiencing, while gaining an understanding of how to assist our relatives in a culturally appropriate way. Regardless of the initial service a relative may access, if additional services are needed our care coordinators will assist relatives in connecting with various programs. Relatives who are identified by either a practitioner and/or a direct service worker as warranting more assistance to stabilize, will be referred for case management per department/program protocols. Based on the imminent and/or primary need(s) of the relative SIHB will determine what program or department will manage the case and work in close collaboration with internal multi-disciplinary teams and/or with community partners to ensure a relative becomes stabilized. All Case Managers are trained to provide case management coverage across the agency in the event a program may require temporary coverage.

Organizational Structure/Reporting Relationships

This position reports directly to both the Mental Health Director and the Human Services Program Director. Both of these programs are umbrellaed under our Behavioral Health Division. Therefore, to ensure our Indigenous Knowledge Informed Systems of Care concepts are integrated close support will be offered by our Associate Officer Team. This position has no direct reports.

Organizational Responsibilities

• Hold Indigenous values and practices with respect and integrity
• Hold yourself accountable to the highest standard by being resourceful, innovative, creative and solutions-oriented
• Actively participate in organizational activities with the understanding that success is achieved through teamwork. And always remaining focused on the relative.
• Recognize that communication is central to the organization's success and actively champion your words and actions to maintain respect for others, encourage constructive feedback, be open to share laughter and acknowledge differences in skills and opinions, all while keeping others' best intentions in mind.
• At SIHB, we refer to our customers as Relatives. Our Relatives come first and deserve the best. Serve the needs of our Relatives first by delivering the highest quality, professional, responsive and innovative care.

Job Responsibilities

Mental Health Specialist

• Conduct initial assessment and evaluation of clients referred for mental health counseling by providers/SUDP's. Provide preliminary diagnoses of presenting problems/disorders and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
• Mental health counseling via initial assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, treatment assessment, brief therapy, crisis intervention, and long term counseling.
• Case management and care coordination with SIHB services and external referral sources. Maintain a full counseling caseload of individuals.
• Provide walk-in and telephone emergency services.
• Assist in the provision of screening and access to services for clients in need of inpatient psychiatric care.
• Participate in case staffing and meetings in consultation, and supervision with counseling and supervisory staff.
• Timely and complete chart documentation as per WAC, AAAHC, and SIHB standards/policies and procedures.
• Actively participate in internal quality improvement teams and work with members proactively to drive quality improvement initiatives in accordance with the mission and strategic goals of the organization, federal and state laws and regulations, and accreditation standards, when assigned.
• Other duties as assigned to position.

Case Manager

• Perform client intake into SIHB programming. This includes assessing their safety and needs. Identify options and resources to implement safety strategies.
• Assist relatives in developing their own care, safety plans, and self-sufficiency plans.
• Help relatives obtain community resources, such as: informal support networks, legal networks, housing assistance, job training programs, food banks and health care services
• Help relatives learn about: stalking, red flags, boundaries, abusive tactics of power and control, talking with children about DV, SA and healthy versus unhealthy relationships.
• Help relatives learn about safety best practices within the community
• Conduct education and support groups for victims/survivors
• Participate in community outreach events such as powwows, health fairs, community festivals, and other community events to increase awareness of SIHB and or programs
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to increase referrals and to educate staff on the services the Human Services team offer.
• Create internal referrals to connect relatives with needed services, Mental Health, Substance Use Disorder Program, Medical, Dental, WIC + Nutrition and Family Services, Traditional Indian Medicine, etc.
• Connect relatives with external referrals as needed and outlined on their case management plan.
• Present case at "Case Staffing" if deemed appropriate.
• If deemed appropriate make referrals at our Multi-Disciplinary Case Management Meeting, ensuring information is appropriately protected.
• Develop Safety Plans, Case Management Plans, document all encounters/case management notes, consultations, telephone contacts, and any other case management services offered immediately. Ensure all records are securely maintained.
• Complete and submit required reports within allotted time frames.
• Comply with confidentiality policies of SIHB and state requirements for victims of GBV
• Partner with other organizations seeking to support for GBV survivors
• Attend all SIHB, Human Service, GBV team and supervisory meetings as assigned
• Actively participate in internal quality improvement teams and work with members proactively to drive quality improvement initiatives in accordance with the mission and strategic goals of the organization, federal and state laws and regulations, and accreditation standards, when assigned.
• Other job-related duties as assigned

Background Qualifications

Required:

• Masters in Psychology, MSW, or related Master's Degree.
• Minimum two (2) years' experience counseling in outpatient setting.
• Minimum three (3) years' experience providing direct case management.
• Familiarity with health, social, and DV/GBV services and issues faced among American Indians/Alaska Native community in King County is preferred, and a desire to promote the delivery of appropriate health and case management services to this population.
• Knowledge of King, Snohomish, & Pierce County referral systems.
• Comply with all WAC requirements for Certification and License in Counseling. Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) or Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP) in WA State REQUIRED.
• Current WA State Driver's License is required. Clearance to operate company vehicles.
• Complete and maintain WA State training requirements for GBV/DV Advocates
• Complete all other trainings required by SIHB to offer HOLISTIC CASE MANAGEMENT.
• Applicant must pass background clearance check.

Preferred:

• Minority Mental Health Certification preferred.

Work Environment

Office hours are currently Mon-Fri, 8 hours each day, and some Saturdays; however, as our team expands, we will transition to a 4-10 work schedule. Duties may involve long hours performing sedentary work at a computer terminal. The position requires all work to be performed on-site, unless out in the field fulfilling the case management needs of relatives. Not eligible for remote work. Will work in collaboration with fellow staff members and community partners to ensure our relatives are making progress toward long-term stability.