Case Manager (Head Start) (Tier 2) at Hillsborough County in Tampa, FL

Duties and Responsibilities

Note: The following duties are illustrative and not exhaustive. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Depending on assigned area of responsibility, incumbents in the position may perform one or more of the activities described below.

• Analyzes a comprehensive body of social, economic, legal, environmental, occupational, physical and mental health information derived from in-depth client interviews, observation, research and investigation; to assess client needs, to determine client eligibility for services, to determine causes of client's situation, to develop recommended services and courses of action to satisfy client needs, and to develop a case management plan to be used to evaluate service delivery, follow-up, reassessment and service modification which will result in client self-sufficiency in any one of the programs sponsored by aging services, children's services, health and social services, head start, the correction system, or the court system.
• Supervises case managers, interns, or volunteers from local community.
• Counsels' individuals, families and groups; may perform crisis intervention; advocates for clients; and collaborates with community service agencies to provide information and services necessary to meet various socioeconomic needs in a variety of settings, to improve situations and restore to self-sufficiency in a community setting.
• Conducts outreach and service coordination activities.
• Writes comprehensive client social histories; social services program policies and procedures; handbooks and manuals; case management plans, reports, studies and summarizes; and other pertinent information used to document contacts, resources used, performance of service providers, satisfaction of client needs in conformance with local, State and Federal guidelines, and to improve and enhance program delivery.
• Attends community-based meetings with stakeholders and providers and act as agency representative.
• May conduct surveys, research references, and develop programs; and plans, coordinates, facilitates, conducts, and evaluates training, workshops and other activities designed to enhance client abilities to eliminate their need for support services and become self-sufficient.
• Assists with quality improvement activities, to include on-going case record reviews, data collection and analysis for performance outcomes and satisfaction surveys, and audit preparation.
• Provides client assessment and other related information to public officials and others for their use in determining appropriate courses of action relative to client needs and situations; coordinates with social service agencies, psychologists, law enforcement, attorneys and judges to develop requirements to satisfy client needs; and attends or conducts meetings to exchange social service information.
• Understands and utilize principles of family-directed care/practice while working with assigned case load.
• Performs case by case quality control functions, auditing case actions: reviewing expenditures; reviewing documentation to ensure accuracy and procedural compliances; and reviewing questionable claims to authorize or deny payments.
• Conducts staff training and orientation programs.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Job Specifications

• Knowledge of the theories, techniques and methods of social services program delivery, and case management procedures.
• Knowledge of applicable Federal, State, County and community social service programs for which most clients are eligible: eligibility requirements, application procedures, and other relevant program policies.
• Skill in interviewing clients to identify deficiencies in personal, legal, social, economic, and health needs.
• Skill in counseling others in attaining self-sufficiency.
• Skill in the application of crisis intervention techniques.
• Ability to develop work procedures and standards.
• Ability to work effectively with others.
• Ability to plan, organize, evaluate and supervise the work of others.
• Ability to collect, organize and evaluate data and to develop logical conclusions.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the day, proper body mechanics required -- bending, stooping, turning, stretching, reaching above the shoulders and occasional lifting and involved.
• Must be able to observe, listen and communicate effectively.
• Must function independently, have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, support agencies, and outside agencies.
• Must be able to relate to and work with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times hostile people within the facility.

Work Category

• Sedentary work - Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Minimum Qualifications Required

• Graduation from an accredited four-year degree granting college or university in social work, psychology, sociology, nursing, gerontology or directly related to the position duties; AND
• Two years of social services program experience interviewing clients, assessing client's needs and eligibility, or counseling clients; OR
• An equivalent combination of education (not less than a high school diploma/GED), training, and experience that would reasonably be expected to provide the job-related competencies noted above;
• EXCEPTION: Certain positions, particularly those funded by grants, may require a bachelor's degree without the option for equivalent substitution. These requirements will be specified in the job posting as determined by the grant; AND
• Possession of a valid Florida Driver's License.