Pay: $24.04/hour (additional $2,000 annually for fluency in eligible languages) 

The Behavioral Health (BH) Case Worker- School Liaison will work closely with local school districts to help family members navigate through educational and school-related concerns and needs, as well as works with school districts to identify family members who may be in need of family support. The Case Worker-School Liaison shall serve as a resource to families, schools, and the community in improving overall student attendance and graduation rates, reducing truancy rates, identifying systemic issues, barriers, trends and needs, networking and disseminating information, designing solutions and expanding system capacity. The Case Worker-School Liaison is also responsible for providing direct case work/case management services including service eligibility determination, services plan development, service coordination, resource development, and advocacy. The Case Worker should attend to risk issues, documentation of care, timeliness of documentation, professionalism, caseload expectations, and administrative issues related to providing services.

Essential Functions

• The Behavioral Health (BH) Case Worker- School Liaison will work closely with local school districts to help family members navigate through educational and school-related concerns and needs, as well as works with school districts to identify family members who may be in need of family support.
• The Case Worker-School Liaison shall serve as a resource to families, schools, and the community in improving overall student attendance and graduation rates, reducing truancy rates, identifying systemic issues, barriers, trends and needs, networking and disseminating information, designing solutions and expanding system capacity.
• Provide the highest-quality care to clients in keeping with best-practice, agency standards, and the directives of the position. Practice within the ethical guidelines; maintain privacy and HIPAA standards.
• Compose oneself with professionalism, ethical practice, and compassionate regard for consumers/clients. To this end, the case worker should demonstrate competency, reliability, honesty, integrity, respectfulness, continued learning, positivity, mutual support, effective collaboration, active listening, and attention to the responsibilities of the job. The case worker should dress neatly, professionally, and appropriately to the situation. The case worker should communicate orally with etiquette, honesty, respectfulness and composure; written communication should demonstrate professional writing skills and be in keeping with the policies and procedures of the agency.
• Document all services in the required data entry system (e.g. agency Electronic Health Record, Virtual Gateway, CRM), in keeping with established timeframes, best practices, and through required forms/documents. Maintain other documentation particular to specific positions as needed (e.g. data associated with grants). Respond to Quality Management and Utilization Review protocols and alerts.
• Ensure that any issues or concerns related to risk (client risk, staff risk, facility risk, and/or programmatic risk) or ethical misconduct are immediately brought to a supervisor, assistant director, director or other licensed senior staff member.
• Provide services such that the following values are embedded in practice:
o Promote client-centered care that adheres to best practice standards and recognizes “client voice and client choice,”
o Recognize the multiple perspectives of clients and their caregiving system
o Be cognizant of issues of inclusion, equity and diversity of people that might otherwise be marginalized or oppressed.
o Utilize active and reflective listening as well as the exchange of feedback,
o Orient oneself in a strengths-based approach,
o Develop an understanding of the impact of trauma and substance abuse,
o Provide positive regard, empathy, curiosity, respect, and professionalism,
o Establish and maintain clear expectations and boundaries, and
o Remain cognizant of and proactive about any issues of safety / risk.
• Attend and participate in a variety of meetings and trainings as per position including but not limited to: supervision, group supervision, program team meetings, trainings, and other staff meetings as determined. This may include meetings with teachers, assistance with obtaining and Individual Education Plan, and meetings with other school personnel as necessary.

• Responsible for negotiating and implementing special events and other interagency activities that involve schools.
• Engage in ongoing learning and development of skills and professional growth through trainings, supervision, and ongoing delivery of services. The practice of professional development should also include self-reflection, self-awareness, and self-care.
• Respond accordingly to the administrative and/or financial systems related to services including referral, office administrative, billing, and supervisor.

Additional Responsibilities

• The Case Worker may represent the agency at community events or committees, as appropriate.
• Work in an integrative, collaborative, and supportive fashion with colleagues, supervisors, directors, and other personnel within the agency. Participate as an effective, productive, respectful member of the YOU, Inc. work force.
• As needed, assist Supervisor (or the Director and/or Assistant Director of BH services) with any data and/or information related to quality and compliance, productivity, and/or other administrative services.
• May provide case presentations or consultations, within the scope of knowledge.
• Completes other duties as assigned.

• Strong knowledge of the educational system. Developing and/or demonstrated proficiency in individual/youth and family case work and/or wrap-around care. Knowledge of mental health, , developmental care, child welfare, and/or juvenile justice systems preferable.
• Proof of a valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and reliable personal transportation to fulfill essential job functions is required. Privately owned vehicle has current and valid state registration and safety inspection sticker, is safe, and is ensured according to the minimum state requirements (pertaining to bodily injury and liability). As per Massachusetts state law, driving under the influence of any substance is against the law, prohibited, and may be grounds for immediate termination.
• Demonstrated and/or developing competency with establishing a therapeutic rapport with consumers and effective collaborative relationships with providers.

• Developing and/or demonstrated proficiency in providing care planning, care coordination, service delivery resource development, advocacy, and/or discharge/after-care planning.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion, confidentiality, collaboration, ethics, appropriate boundaries and good judgment. Demonstrated ability to seek out supervision and consultation as needed.
• Thorough and clear oral and written communication skills, organization skills, timeliness, and ability to work effectively with others.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to perform sedentary aspects of position, including, but not limited to desk and computer work, typing, driving to meetings and trainings, as well as driving/transporting clients as necessary.
• Must also be able to perform therapeutic activities with children and families.
• Must be in relatively good health and be able to perform the duties listed above.
• Employee may be required to intervene in order to de-escalate and/or provide safety and if essential, provide physical management of clients using methods and techniques as trained and approved by YOU, Inc, and appropriate to community and home-based settings. Employee needs to complete the agency’s human service worker safety and/or home-based worker safety training.