Position Announcement: Disaster Case Manager (St. Charles/ St. John Parish)

Department: Parish and Community Ministries

Reports to: Spirit of Hope Director

Summary:

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans (CCANO) will provide assistance to hurricane IDA survivors in the most affected parishes covered by the agency. The Disaster Case Manager is an integral part of the disaster recovery efforts and will be responsible for providing holistic case management to support survivors move from crisis to safety by providing services, identifying resources, navigation systems of care, developing disaster recovery and housing plans for people affected by the disaster. . The Case Manager ensures that clients receive quality and timely services and that program objectives are met. They help to develop individualized disaster recovery plans and identify client driven goals as well as provide clients with appropriate assistance to access services in order to achieve those goals.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

This position requires strong organizational, relational, and communication skills plus the ability to manage multiple projects at the same time. The Case Manager will be working in a fast paced environment and must be able to provide excellent customer service under these circumstances. Case manager must expect to be able to work in rural areas with high levels of poverty and must be comfortable conducting home visits and working in the field for over 80% of their time. Case manager must be willing to travel to different locations to serve clients in need. Proficiency in Excel and Word is essential and good working data tracking software or willing to rapidly learn multiple data tracking systems as required by agency and funders.. Applicant should have demonstrated the ability to relate well to people of diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds and have a commitment to CCANO's mission. Reliable transportation is essential. Experience in disaster case management highly valuable and preferred along with good track record of case management success. Knowledge of the resources in the affected community and experience navigating resources is highly preferred.

Minimum Qualifications:

A bachelor's degree in social work or a related social service field or minimum of three years of work experience in the social service field preferred. Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills are a must for the position. A bilingual applicant is a plus.

Essential Functions:

• Ability to learn and follow FEMA sequence of delivery.
• Conduct client intake and assessment; development of individual client recovery plans with client 's input
• Provide services which include intake, home visit(s), development of disaster recovery plans and/or goal setting plans, access to benefits and other services, and ongoing monitoring to ensure that clients are making progress toward identified goal(s);
• Open and maintain individual case files and ensure timely compliance with documentation standards. Maintains detailed, up-to-date accurate, and well-written documentation in client files and tracking system.

• Develop, maintain, and timely update case management systems, reporting databases, and files.

• Monitor and document client progress according to standards
• Obtain necessary client consent to contact organizations in order to address needs and maintain confidentiality regarding client information - disclosing client information only with consent

• Actively participate in specified required training identified by and/or necessary for providing services under specific funding sources.
• Assist clients with applications for benefits as well as develop and review disaster recovery plans on a regular basis to ensure client's access to all necessary services
• Participate in scheduled case consultation/team meetings to review case plans, identify and resolve client care and service delivery issues
• Conduct outreach and community assessments to learn the layout of the community, identify the most vulnerable clients.
• Identify resources available, coordinate the resources to ensure client access and advocate on behalf of the client.

• Professionally and respectfully screen and assess clients in need of assistance.
• Provide clients with clear and consistent guidelines stating the scope of responsibility of the disaster case manager.
• Close cases as appropriate as case plan is implemented; completing case closure documents.
• Document all funds expended through the programs.
• Input data into CCANO databases and others as necessary and complete all required daily numerical/narrative logs.
• Provided regular progress reports and communicates problems to supervisor.
• Work as a cooperative team member with the other Case Managers and the Management team.
• Teach the client how to access resources so that they may do so independently in the future.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Case Manager Supervisor

Reports to: Spirit of Hope Director

Expectations:

Case managers should be dynamic and eager to serve. Among their responsibilities are client engagement, retention and client satisfaction. Empowerment is the key. Case managers are expected to go above and beyond their responsibilities in identifying resources and advocating for the client.

A critical role of the case managers is that of an educator-- case managers are expected to educate their clients (without being condescending) about the clients' recovery plan and resources that the client might not know that will help them recover. Case managers should teach the client how to access them so that in the future the client is able to access them on their own. Case managers are expected to conduct outreach and community assessments to learn the layout of the community, identifying the most vulnerable populations. They are to learn of local community resources that are unique to their area. They are expected to develop relationships with community leaders and natural allies such as churches of different denominations, businesses that might help clients or provide employment opportunities, local governments, etc. Case managers are expected to present cases to their supervisor and the long-term recovery committees.

Case status should be frequently reevaluated to decide if the client has reached his or her objectives, if any additional resources have become available, and/or if the case should be closed.

Recommendation: If at all possible, cases should be discussed weekly at a round table with other case managers and supervisor.