Social Services Jobs in Pittsburgh, PA (Now Hiring) — 806 open — Page 24

Be the change you wish to see in the world! Come join our team to empower children and families in our communities to transform their lives and develop to their full potential. 

Pressley Ridge Benefits

The well-being of our employees and their families is important to us. At Pressley Ridge, we strive to provide the most competitive and comprehensive employee benefit programs that are affordable and help you and your family achieve and maintain your best possible health.

• Medical coverage available with a Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer match
• Prescription coverage
• Dental and vision plans
• Patient advocate and Medicare specialists available at no cost
• Dependent Care Flexible Savings Account
• Retirement savings plan with an employer match
• Free life insurance and AD&D
• Paid Time Off
• 9 paid holidays (7 recognized holidays plus a floating and birthday holiday per year)
• Tuition reimbursement (if applicable)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Position Summary

The primary function of the Service Coordination is to provide the person with serious mental health issues with professional assessment, service planning, service coordination, referral, and re-evaluation services required for a safe and healthy community life which is manifested through stability in relationships, housing and employment or meaningful activity. The development of enduring relationships with those served is critical, with persistent outreach, being the central contact point in the system, coordinating care and assisting the person in their recovery process. This is done in accordance with Pressley Ridge’s vision, mission and values, and emerging mental health Recovery Principles. This position provides an essential recovery orientation.

Essential Responsibilities

1. Clinical and Support
   1. Develops relationships with the individual, his/her family and other important people in his/her life as identified and with consent of the individual served.
   2. This engagement will be persistent and will result in an enduring relationship. The persistence is evident in frequent outreach and genuine concern over a lengthy period.
   3. Assesses individual and family strengths and needs in a collaborative method through individual and/or collateral interviews and reviews of social and clinical information provided by other entities.
   4. The development of an assessment is based on an understanding and trusting relationship, that needs and strengths vary over time and are evaluated in every contact (face to face and phone).
   5. This ongoing assessment will be augmented by consultation with other members of the treatment team and any others with relevant knowledge. Ideally the Service Coordinator’s information gleaned from the consumer will not be the only source of information for the assessment.
   6. Promotes service planning efforts in close collaboration with the consumer, family members and other service providers, which result in developing, documenting and implementing a comprehensive service plan driven by the individual utilizing all the agreed upon strengths and needs.
   7. The services provided then follow the conjointly developed service plan pursuing all the objectives developed.
   8. Reviews cases, meets with individuals’ families, members of the treatment team, agency directors, advocates, attorneys, school personnel and attends staffing in or out of the office.
   9. Ensures needs of individuals being served are met through the utilization of natural supports (family, friends), community and generic services and specialized services (MH/MR, Supported Employment, OVR, D&A).
   10. Serves as the “go-to” resource for the person served, his/her family and the system of care.
   11. Assures that there is an effective “safety net” resources for the persons served.
   12. Assures there is periodic assessment & cross-system planning to meet the needs while utilizing their strengths.
   13. Ensures contact with the individual being served (or the parents if the individual is a child or adolescent) based on the individual’s needs, assessment and regulations at a minimum of once or twice a month.
   14. Provides culturally competent services with consideration for the individual’s racial, religious, sex, sexual orientation, age and ethnic background and identification.
   15. Provides a full range of Service Coordination services to a designated caseload following regulations for the level of service coordination being provided.
   16. Develops relationships that endure with persistent outreach even when there is reluctance to receive services.
   17. Assists the person served in developing and using natural supports.
   18. Provides a consistent positive outlook which encourages recovery and full inclusion in the community.
   19. Prepares for, convenes/facilitates service planning meetings and provides follow-up after meetings.
   20. Assures there is cross-system coordination of services and that services are being provided.
   21. Ensures families have a crisis plan and crisis support including on call coverage and possible presentation for psychiatric hospital evaluations.
2. Quality Improvement
   1. Reviews charts for compliance with regulations.
   2. Documentation will use the individual’s language and describe his/her perspective.
   3. Adheres to regulations for each level of Service Coordination in this area.
   4. Evaluates all services received by individuals who are served by the Service Coordination program.
   5. Meets productivity requirements as set forth in current program guidelines.
   6. Maintains the statistical requirements for each level of Service Coordination service-this will include agency, county, state and managed care requirements.
   7. Creates and reviews service plans on an ongoing basis according to regulation.
3. Communication
   1. Advocates or problem-solves when the individuals are not receiving the service described in the service plan unless they no longer want that service.
   2. Communicates clearly to the person what they can expect from the system and what the system will expect of them.
   3. Advocates for and with the individual being served to ensure responsiveness from natural, community generic and specialized services/supports.
   4. Advocacy includes providing information, removing barriers, creating options and resolving problems.
   5. Ensures face-to-face and/or phone contact with the individual being served based on the individual’s needs but at the very minimum at least two (2) times per month to assist individuals to build upon strengths and achieve goals.
   6. Advocates persistently for those served and gives feedback on systemic problems.
4. Supervision
   1. Receives supervision.
      1. Receives supervision from and actively communicates with supervisor on an ongoing basis throughout the week by phone, email, written message and when possible, in person regarding program matters.
5. Leadership
   1. Convenes and facilitates interdisciplinary service planning meetings or other related team meetings to ensure appropriateness and responsiveness of services in relation to individual and/or family needs.
   2. Whenever possible, the individual, family and others requested by the individual will be present at in-service planning meetings.
6. Community Engagement
   1. Investigates new resources and communicates with directors of prospective resources as a liaison on behalf of the individual being served.
   2. Maintains an up-to-date catalog of available community resources, including location, eligibility requirements and alternative programming.
   3. Assists individuals and family to identify, link, access and coordinate such resources. The involvement of families is highly desirable and will vary based on the consumer’s wishes, the age of the consumer and other unique factors.
7. Documentation
   1. Maintains an accurate and timely record of Service Coordination activity.
   2. Records individuals being served and collateral contacts.
   3. Updates forms, as needed.
   4. Completes Service Documentation forms, Service Coordination Outcomes and other program material within designated time frames.
   5. Updates the service plan as strengths and needs change, with the consumer, to meet the changing needs and utilize the new strengths.
8. Professional Development
   1. Attends training programs as provided through the State, County and Agency to assure that the incumbent is up to date on new approaches, best practices and recovery-oriented services.

Qualifications

1. Education/Credentials/Licensure:
   1. Requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Pastoral Counseling, Counseling Psychology, Rehabilitation Counseling, Sociology, Education with a certificate in Special Education or Nursing with a Registered Nurse License.  Degrees beyond the range listed above require the approval of the Sr. Director of Community Based Service Line and may require additional experience from what is described below. 
   2. Requires Service Coordination Certificate.
      1. All staff hired before September 2010 will complete the Service Coordination Certificate Course before July 2013.
      2. All staff hired after May 2013 will complete additional certification or training requirements as outlined in the current County contract or State Regulation.
   3. Requires valid state driver’s license and auto insurance.
      1. Must have means of reliable transportation.
      2. Requires extensive travel.
2. Experience:
   1. Requires one (1) to two (2) years of human service experience and working knowledge of human services, paperwork, and PA state regulations for Targeted Case Management.
3. Clearances Required by Applicable Regulations:
   1. State Police
   2. FBI
   3. Child Abuse Clearances
   4. Mandated Reporter-Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse training certificate and/or statement

Working Conditions

1. Physical Demands: 
   1. This position requires operating a keypad device 25% of the day and electronic/office equipment 25% of the day. Travel is required on a daily basis and works in weather conditions about 75% of the day. Travel includes attending appointments in client homes, schools, behavioral health providers, hospitals, and other locations in which services are provided and advocacy is requested. Fingers, thumbs, hands, wrists, elbows, legs and feet are all routinely used throughout the day. The lower and upper torso is used 75% of the day. Employees must meet minimum requirements for hearing, speech, and vision. Walking is required 10% of the day. Standing occurs 10% of the day. Sitting happens 70% of the day. Reaching above the shoulder as well as bending and twisting are performed 10% of the day. This function routinely lifts 15 pounds, 4 times per day. The maximum lift is 50 pounds, 1 time per day. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
2. Mental Demands:
   1. Continually handles distractions that interfere.
   2. Frequently perform multiple tasks, make quick decisions, and concentrate.
   3. Occasionally handles a diversity of problems.
3. Environmental Factors: 
   1. Office setting for staff meeting, supervision and completion of paperwork, in-home community-based service delivery.
   2. Work is performed primarily in client homes, where conditions may include tobacco smoke, domestic animals, household pests, mold and other allergens, and other conditions common to domestic environments.
4. Working Hours:
   1. Requires a minimum 40-hour work week. Scheduled work hours are based upon the needs of the consumers and families and often require nontraditional hours, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends. It is expected that the SC schedule home visits at times convenient for consumers and families.
   2. 24/7 on-call when scheduled. Provides twenty-four (24) hour availability for Service Coordination individuals and/or families through phone and face-to-face contacts.  This requires independent thinking and good judgment.  SC is on site for all in-patient MH commitments.  Ensures that all alternatives to hospitalization have been considered.  Coordinates intervention when hospitalization is required.