Covenant Health

Case Manager, Psychiatric Services

Full Time, 80 Hours Per Pay Period, Day Shift

Peninsula Overview: 

Peninsula Behavioral Health, a division of Parkwest Medical Center and part of Covenant Health, is a leading provider of mental health services in East Tennessee. With decades of experience, Peninsula offers compassionate, evidence-based care for children, adolescents, and adults through inpatient and outpatient programs across multiple counties. From psychiatric treatment and therapy to specialized senior care, Peninsula is committed to helping individuals overcome mental health challenges and live healthy, productive lives. 

To learn more about Peninsula Behavioral Health and our units, visit Peninsula Behavioral Health Opportunities.  

Position Summary:

The Inpatient Case Manager communicates and acts as liaison with courts, referral sources, and other individuals and agencies as necessary during patient’s hospitalization and post discharge. The Case Manager conducts screenings for referral service, and participates in referral development and education in the community. He/she contacts and assures medical, emotional health, recovery and other appointments as needed and indicated by patient need. The Case Manager role includes facilitation of treatment plan interventions and aftercare planning with patients. Case Management requires independent decision making skills necessary for the care of the patient in terms of environmental assessment skills and reporting abilities. The Case Manager coordinates information to and from the referral sources and families to the treating team.

• Coordination of timeliness issues related to discharge planning with the treating psychiatrist and treatment team to assure proper linkage with support systems whenever possible. Includes assurance that the time of discharge coincides with a time that the patient will be in contact with a family member or other support system.
• Crisis assessment of home and living environment which can include determining level of risk upon patient’s return based on interviews and obtaining social support assistance. (Includes discussions about removing weapons when indicated)
• Coordination with team to assure duty to warn occurs when indicated
• Provides linkage for treatment team by acquiring information from and distributing information to the patient’s support system. Without this necessary step, treating the patient would be limited to only what information can be obtained or determined from the patient who may lead to false impressions or misleading information related to legal issues, child custody issues and marital conflicts, etc.
• Works with licensed staff to provide crisis intervention with the family system as indicated. Despite the family not being the identified patient, often the family situation must be diffused concurrently as the patient is receiving crisis stabilization. The Case Manager role is instrumental in identification of the family in crisis and in connecting the family to the clinical staff for therapy purposes. It requires skill to convince the family to also receive care in this manner.
• Performs initial pre-admission screenings under supervision of licensed clinical staff.
• Communicates in writing, by phone, and in person to courts, DCS and/or DHS, schools, and other professionals and agencies. This communication includes initial contact upon admission, report progress during hospitalization, notification of discharge, and post-discharge follow up. Ensures that pertinent information gathered by outside resources is included in treatment team discussion of the patient.
• Completes treatment plans and case management progress reports on assigned patients as dictated by program requirements.
• Maintains record, as appropriate, on each assigned patient.
• Documents as necessary in patient’s medical record.
• Maintains updated patient releases.
• Assists in management, supervision, and interaction with patients when directed or as appropriate.
• Works collaboratively with Therapist to discuss aftercare needs with family/guardian and to assure commitment for aftercare compliance.
• Schedules aftercare appointments for patient and/or family and communicates these plans to Therapist to assure that family/guardian is involved in this aspect of the treatment planning.
• Participates in parent/family conferences as directed by Therapist in order to discuss aftercare plans.
• Sets appropriate limits and follows unit guidelines in interactions with patients.
• Appropriately encourages patients in following their treatment plans.
• Participates in educational inservices and presentations.
• May facilitate or participate in hospital programs or groups for the patients.
• Confers with hospital utilization reviewers regarding patient activity and discharge planning as updates are needed and performs reviews as requested by supervisors.
• Confers with business office representatives regarding benefit information and facilitates resolution or problem list on assigned patients.
• Coordinates with multidisciplinary team to determine discharge planning needs with a plan on record within 24 hours.
• Maintains appropriate and timely communications during patient’s course of treatment and following discharge with appropriate agencies and individuals.
• Contact with aftercare and outpatient service providers to obtain needed treatment information and to facilitate discharge plans in a proactive, timely manner.
• Schedules and facilitates patient groups or individual sessions for purpose of discharge planning.
• May con
• Schedules and when necessary, escorts patient to outside agencies as part of preparation for discharge.
• Maintains communication with patients, families, and other agencies or individuals involved in aftercare following patient’s discharge if directed by Program Therapist.
• Follow up after discharge of patient as directed for outcome information.
• Participates in follow up and outcome studies as requested.
• Attends hospital meetings as directed.
• Participates in continuing education and quality improvement activities.
• Provides documentation of all discharge planning activities and all patient-related activities performed by the Case Manger on the date such activities occur.
• Local travel required.
• Other related assignments as directed.

Minimum Education:       

BSW or BA/BS in closely related discipline. (NOTE: Non-related degree may be considered with five (5) years relevant experience.) Experience may not be substituted for a degree.

Minimum Experience:      

Requires a minimum of one (1) year’s experience in direct patient care in the mental health field.  Knowledge of chemical dependency, child and adolescent development, chronic mental illness, and DSM IV diagnosis needed. Knowledge of psychiatric inpatient treatment is beneficial. Crisis stabilization skills are required.

Licensure Requirement:   

CPR, First Aid, and OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standards. Employee must have a valid Tennessee driver’s license Class D and state mandated minimum insurance coverage.  Driving record must meet Covenant Health minimum standards at the date of hire and throughout employment tenure.