Pathways to Success Program Manager

Position Title: Pathways to Success Program Manager

Department: Behavior Health Services

Reports to: Program Director

Directly Supervises: Pathways to Success Behavior Health Care Leads, Intake Coordinators

Position Objective and Summary:

Under the direction of the of the Program Director, the Pathways to Success Program Manager provides administrative and clinical supervision to Behavioral Health Care Coordination Lead team and program intake specialists, as part of the Health Choice Pathways to Success program. This position supports Care Coordinators in their day-to-day processes and job responsibilities, provides training to assigned staff members and assists in care coordination services to children and families with behavioral health needs

Pathways to Success is a State of Illinois initiative to provide comprehensive care coordination that will enhance access to critical behavioral, medical and social services for children with complex behavioral health challenges. The program utilizes the evidence-informed Care Coordination and Support model. This is a structured approach to care coordination that adheres to required procedures for child and family engagement, individual care planning, identifying and utilizing strengths and natural supports while monitoring progress and fidelity to the required processes. Care Coordinators assist the families in navigating the complex systems of care until they can navigate them on their own.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Monitoring Service Delivery

• Supervises and administers daily activities performed by a unit of assigned staff members to ensure program participants receive safe and clinically appropriate services.
• Ensures timely and accurate completion of forms, case recording and reports provided by the staff; reviews and provides reports as required.
• Reviews, modifies and approves all written assessments, treatment and development plans and reports for program participants assigned to team to ensure appropriateness, accuracy and timeliness.
• Provides regular individual supervision to assigned staff members to ensure program and client needs are being met in accordance with UCAN’s Supervision policy.
• Monitors completion and appropriate content of service notes on a regular basis.
• Ensures that all data entry is complete, accurate and updated as required by program standards.

Identifying and Addressing Client Needs

• Effectively applies clinical knowledge to evaluate client situations and needs.
• Identifies at-risk clients and behaviors before serious acting-out occurs.
• Successfully engages and develops rapport with a wide range of clients.
• Structures services in accordance with program expectations.
• Maintains consistency and safety throughout service provision.
• Guides staff members to make decisions based on clinically appropriate, best practice, and ethical considerations.
• Provides case consultation.

Developing and Leading Employees

• Orients and trains new employees according to program and department guidelines to ensure all new employees are ready and able to perform as necessary.
• Sets and evaluates clear and collaborative individual performance goals for employees.
• Encourages employee development by supporting training, assigning challenging work, and delegating tasks when appropriate.
• Provides critical feedback to employees around areas of development for increased performance.
• Completes meaningful Annual Performance Reviews for all employees and submits on time.

Program Administration and Planning

• Coordinates departmental programs as assigned,
• Participates in department planning; develops and recommends unit policy and procedure changes and operational plans; implements unit projects or plans.
• Develops and maintains educational material for the program and acts as a consultant or seminar leader in areas of specialized knowledge and skills in clinical theory and practice.
• Plans for future changes and develops programs to meet those needs.
• Explains UCAN procedures to employees in order to assist them in the utilizing all available resources for clients.
• Accurately completes all reports and documentation required by contracting and regulatory bodies.
• Ensures all billing documentation is completed and submitted as required.
• Ensures that Crisis Management protocols for the department are followed.
• Manages team expenses by following Finance Dept. procedures.
• Manages employee job performance by following HR procedures and documentation requirements for: hiring; job scheduling and assignment; disciplinary actions; recommendations for salaries, raises, promotions, demotions and terminations.

Quality and Accountability

• Follows all applicable regulatory standards, including but not limited to: COA standards, Pathways to Success {policy and procedure, and Medicaid procedures.
• Gives input on program evaluation and methods for quality improvement measures regarding file quality, client outcomes, staff development, supervision, client services and other issues related to program quality.
• Leads team in accountability, quality and compliance through example and modeling behavior.
• Complies with UCAN Continuous Quality Improvement initiatives and corrective plans.
• Recommends policy, practice and procedural changes to better serve clients and to comply with regulations.
• Clearly documents actions taken (clinical, supervisory, and administrative) in a timely manner and in a format consistent with requirements.
• Prepares and distributes reports and correspondence in a timely manner.

Team Building and Agency Networking

• Develops and maintains professional relationships with social service and government agencies and private organizations to enhance service delivery and department image.
• Works effectively with others in a multi-disciplinary setting and actively listens to others
• Builds strong interpersonal relationships with team and among the team members
• Delegates in an effective manner while considering individual skills and workloads
• Accepts feedback and ideas from supervisor, team and is constructive when giving feedback
• Discusses alternative problem solving and is open to new ideas and ways of doing things
• Shares specialized knowledge and resources with team and other UCAN departments
• Coordinates services with multiple UCAN programs to ensure appropriate services for clients and teamwork between programs
• Plans for client transitions to other UCAN programs to provide seamless transition for clients and a cooperative team process.

Professionalism and Work Conduct

• Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards, and displays a positive image of UCAN and Pathways to Success program.
• Acts in a professional manner at all times and maintains appropriate boundaries with clients.
• Demonstrates accountability for results and keeps commitments to others.
• Reports to work, meetings, training, and job related activities prepared and as scheduled.
• Demonstrates openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and coworkers.
• Understands and supports UCAN’s standard of cultural proficiency and strives to meet it.
• Responds to clients and their families, UCAN staff, service providers and other stakeholders in a timely manner and ensures follow up to adequately address their need.
• Maintains personal professional development and appropriate knowledge of client needs and problems for which services are sought through attendance in conferences, seminars and individual study. Remains current on service work theory and practice.
• Participates in department and agency committees, as assigned.
• Performs other related tasks as required or assigned.

Education /Job Experience/Certification:

• MA/MS required degree in social work, counseling, rehabilitation counseling, vocational counseling, psychology, pastoral counseling, family therapy, education or related human service field; or in any other field with two years of supervised clinical experience in a mental health setting required.
• Clinical Licensure is required (LSW, LPC, LMFT, etc.) 

Special Knowledge and Qualifications:

• 2 years of clinical administrative capacity.
• Willingness to work cooperatively with others in pursuit of organizational goals and objectives.
• Clinical or a working with individuals and families living with mental health needs and/or substance use.
• Familiarity with care coordination and case management best practice philosophies.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Personal vehicle, valid Illinois driver’s license, and insurable driving record is required.
• Able to work in a multidisciplinary setting.
• Is open and respectful of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and is willing and competent to work with a diverse client population.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and a part of a high functioning team.
• Demonstrates sensitivity to special populations and ability to interface with the community.