Case Manager I

Who we are: La Clínica de La Raza is a community-based health center committed to providing culturally appropriate, high-quality, and accessible health care to the diverse communities of the San Francisco Bay Area. We have spent over 40 years advocating for and creating a health home for the many that have been denied access to care. As health care activists, we are dedicated to ensuring all individuals have access to quality healthcare regardless of coverage. From our genesis as a community health center in 1971, we understood that we cannot heal our communities without also addressing the economic and social factors that affect health. Many times, this requires that we go outside and provide services in other settings to build the bridge that links individuals to our health center for preventive and primary care. Over 90,000 individuals come to La Clínica because it is a welcoming place that addresses the whole person, coordinating and connecting them to a broad network of services to improve and maintain their health and well-being. While we are still known for our activism and spirit of social justice, we are also proud to have grown into a sophisticated provider of primary health care services with 35 sites across Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties. We are also a National Health Service Corps approved site. As such, our therapists and providers are eligible for federal and state loan repayment!

About the position: Under the supervision of the Site Manager and Clinical Supervisor, the Case Manager works actively to mitigate the social determinants of health that disproportionately impact our patient population. As an essential member of the primary care team, the role of Case Manager requires developing strong relationships with at-risk patients (and families), as well as other service providers to support our patients in accessing culturally appropriate psychosocial services. Along with patient education, motivational interviewing, and emotional support, patient advocacy is required for this position. The Case Manager provides patient services within the primary care clinics (occasional meetings off-site may occur).

The Case Manager role is most suited for someone seeking to advance their career in behavioral health or related social service, and that has had experience in a medical/social service setting (ideally providing case management and crisis intervention services). La Clinica also supports and encourages continued education, training, and career advancement.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Demonstrated cultural competence and proactive self-reflection on positionality and incorporation of antiracism approaches to clinical care
2. Knowledgeable in the principles, practices and techniques of social work; basic psychological theory and practices as related to human behavior
3. Familiarity with local resources and regulations (i.e. behavioral health care setting)
4. Familiarity with Motivational Interviewing
5. Ability to quickly identify risk factors as they relate to patient safety and communicate these immediately and effectively to appropriate team members
6. Ability to form empathic and collaborative relationships with patients with medical and behavioral health challenges and flexibility in meeting patients’ needs
7. Excellent organizational skills and a high degree of interpersonal competence with both staff and patients
8. Ability to work with others on the startup of a new program
9. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment as part of an interdisciplinary team, and to establish effective working relations with staff, patients and community partners
10. Ability to take on new tasks as needed
11. Ability to conduct psychosocial assessments
12. Ability to work across cultures and demonstrate support of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Experience and Other Certifications

• Case Manager I must have BA in social work, psychology, counseling or related field from an accredited program or university
• Must hold a current BLS (Basic Life Support) Certificate. You will have 30-day grace period to obtain your certificate from the date of hire.
• Two years counseling or case management experience in a medical/social services/mental health setting preferred
• Experience providing support and advocacy
• Experience with Motivational Interviewing preferred

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Improve access, coordination and care management for La Clínica patients who have medical and behavioral health care needs
2. Act as a single point of contact to receive referrals, including warm handoffs, from behavioral health agencies
3. Support patient engagement, linkage, coordination, monitoring, follow-up and advocacy
4. Establish and maintain good working relationships with staff, medical providers and outside professionals
5. Participate in case presentations, seminars, supervision, meetings, trainings, peer review as needed
6. Maintain close communication with related health, educational, behavioral health and social service agencies
7. Promote timely and coordinated internal communications among patients, clinic primary care providers, behavioral health clinicians, case managers, consulting/treating psychiatrists and others involved in the patient’s care provision
8. Facilitate warm hand-offs between medical and behavioral health staff, and provides referrals for community resources to support whole person health
9. Use Electronic Health Record (EHR) and population management tools to collect data, communicate with medical and behavioral health providers and produce reports to support collaborative care, improved health outcomes and program compliance
10. Monitor participation in primary care and behavioral health care and provide outreach, advocacy, referral, linkage and follow-up through phone calls, meetings, and coordination in order to effectively and efficiently link patients to all levels of assessment and care within both primary care and behavioral health systems of care. Follow up on no-shows.
11. Attend external meetings as needed to ensure the coordination of care
12. Involve family members/significant others as necessary to increase patient participation and improve patient well-being
13. Provide education, information and referral to La Clinica patients to ensure linkage and utilization of care to ensure access to community services and resources
14. Establish and maintain good working relationships with staff, medical providers and outside professionals; participate in case presentations, seminars, supervision, meetings, trainings, peer review as needed; and maintain close communication with related health, educational, and social service agencies