Clinical Specialist

Job Summary:

The Clinical Specialist is a support to Care Managers as they deliver comprehensive care management for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities using a person-centered planning process.  The Clinical Specialist serves as a regional resource and subject matter expert around behavioral health services, systems, and supports.  

The Clinical Specialist will help to ensure that Care Managers are positioned to promote overall wellness of members who have co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.  Accordingly, the Clinical Specialist will have working knowledge of regional behavioral health providers and resources, referral processes, and best practices in the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders.  

The Clinical Specialist will be expected to carry and support a reduced member caseload to ensure they understand the functional and operational aspects of providing comprehensive care management.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as an initial clinical resource to Care Managers and Supervisors on individual member concerns.  Identify members with more complex and/or high-risk behavioral health conditions for referral to the Clinical Department for formal consultation.  

• Support implementation of populational health initiatives at the regional level under the guidance of the Clinical Department.  This may include outreach to Care Managers of targeted risk groups and directing them toward tools and interventions to minimize risk and promote health outcomes for those members.  

• Coordinate efforts to maximize Care Management quality standards of care with regional Care Management Supervisor/Directors, Program Specialists, Quality Assurance, and Learning and Development team members.  Must attend regional staff meetings as required and to facilitate ongoing communication between the Care Management and Clinical Department teams.  

• Provide trends and areas of vulnerability to Clinical Department, RVPS, Directors, or other relevant associates; keep abreast of changes in regulations, requirements, and trends.  

• Recommend quality improvements in health promotion workflows and related needs; obtain feedback from CMs and CM supervisors on clinical tools and resources needed to enhance services.  

• Assist with periodic reporting of quality outcomes as needed.

• Actively complies and stays current with all standards of conduct as determined by – e.g., Corporate Compliance Regulations, OPWDD, DOH, the Justice Center, in addition to HIPAA.  

• Monitor health and safety services, reporting all allegations of abuse to; Child Protective Services (under age 18), Adult Protective Services (18 years or older) their supervisor, and comply with Part 624 regulations along with the Justice Center 625 regulations.  

• Is a responsible employee and active team player.   

• Participates in required training, meetings, committees, projects, conferences as directed.  

• Performs other duties, as assigned.

• Must possess a valid Driver’s License from New York, or a contiguous state (i.e., Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont) OR Must have the ability to take ample public transportation to attend meetings in person in the community and in the office as needed.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree with two years of relevant experience, or a License as a Registered Nurse with two years or relevant experience, which can include any employment experience and is not limited to case management/service coordination duties is required. 

• Master’s degree with one year of relevant experience is preferred. 

• Degrees in the field of Health and Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, or related fields are preferred.

• Work with people with disabilities, case management, or in the Mental Health or Substance Abuse field, or related experience preferred.  

• Absolute sense of integrity and personal commitment to serving people with I/DD and their families.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication organization and demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

• Ability to work autonomously.

• Demonstrate professionalism, respect, and ability to work in a team environment.