The Center of Excellence is looking for a Service Coordinator to join the team! Part of UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital's Addiction Medicine Service Line, the Center of Excellence is an outpatient program that provides care coordination and peer support services to individuals with current or past substance use disorder. This position is part of the Center's hospital intervention program which aims to expand access to care to individuals with substance use disorder who present to our local medical emergency departments. We collaborate with internal and external partners to connect our clients with needed services and resources.

This position will work in UPMC Mercy Emergency Department working (4) 10hr shifts, Wednesday – Saturday with evening coverage.

Purpose:

Provides mental health service coordination, according to the level of need, to a population of individuals with a serious mental health diagnosis. The primary function of Service Coordination is to provide 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. This is done in accordance with the Agency's vision, mission, and values, and emerging mental health Recovery Principles. This position provides an essential recovery orientation.

Responsibilities:

• Provides assessment and care coordination services to adult emergency department patients with current or past substance use disorder and co-occurring diagnoses. Assesses, to the extent that the patient wishes to engage, substance use and mental health history, need for behavioral health services, social determinants of health, and need for access to resources in order to ensure client is able to maintain overall wellness (e.g., peer support, government benefits, transportation assistance, food banks, housing resources, etc.). Helps client identify strengths, supports, goals, and motivation to access services and resources. Provides information and referrals to clients, sometimes facilitating admission to inpatient/residential level of care from the emergency department. If the client consents, provides follow up call/s after client leaves the emergency department in order to ensure successful linkage and assess if new needs have arose since discharge.

• Provides professional coordination of behavioral health services according to the individual's level of need and works as a member of a treatment/service team, often taking the lead role to provide advocacy, and using considerable discretion and independent judgment in order to promote individuals' behavioral health recovery. Develops and maintains collaborative working relationships with emergency department providers where the position is stationed as well as with Center of Excellence/Addiction Medicine Services partners/colleagues through attending virtual team meetings.

• Develops relationships with the individual, and with the patient's consent, any support person they may have presented to the hospital with.

• Assesses individual strengths and needs in a collaborative method. Develops a plan based on strengths and needs. Promotes service planning efforts which result in developing, documenting, and implementing a comprehensive service plan driven by the individual utilizing all agreed upon strengths and needs. Thoroughly and completely documents all interactions with clients.

• Ensures individuals needs are met. Assists individual to identify, link, access and coordinate such resources. Provides linkages to both internal and external resources. Provides culturally competent services with consideration for the individual's racial, religious, gender, sexual orientation, age and ethnic background and identification. Investigates new resources and communicates to involved parties prospective resources as a liaison on behalf of the individual being served. Maintains an up-to-date catalog of available community resources, including location, eligibility requirements and program alternatives. Advocates for and with the individual being served to ensure responsiveness from natural, community, generic and specialized services/supports. Advocacy includes providing information, removing barriers, creating options and resolving problems.

• 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. Maintains an accurate and timely record of Service Coordination activity. Records individuals being served and collateral contacts. Updates forms as needed. Reviews charts for compliance with regulations. All Service Coordinators are required to participate in the On-Call Service per department guidelines.

Bachelor’s Degree in a Human Services field such as Social Work, Psychology or Counseling required.

Other fields of study may be considered with coursework of at least 12 credits in Human Services.

One-year related experience preferred.

Knowledge of substance use disorder and co-occurring diagnoses and experience working with individuals in various stages of recovery from substance use (e.g., active use to sustained remission) preferred.

Knowledge of / skill in motivational interviewing and trauma-informed care preferred.

Knowledge of and ability to function from a harm-reduction perspective preferred.

Strong interpersonal skills including ability to quickly build rapport with patients.

Ability to assess patient needs and social determinants of health.

Ability and willingness to proactively seek out referrals in the emergency department and communicate effectively and collaboratively with the emergency department treatment team (e.g., physicians, nurses, care managers, etc.),

Prior experience working in community settings preferred.

Safe driving record required.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

• Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC)

• Driver's License

• Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal

• Act 33 with renewal

• Act 34 with renewal

• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran