Position Summary:
The Rapid Response Team Specialist (RRT) is a member of the Rapid Response Team, which is a special project of the Targeted Case Management Unit (TCMU). This team provides short-term outreach services to adult individuals without case management services who have been identified as having been involuntarily committed 2 or more times in a 2-month period; or who have been seen frequently in Crisis Response Centers, inpatient units, or Mental Health Court; or who have had multiple contacts with the Mental Health Delegates or who have only Tenant Service Coordinator (TSC) support. The RRT Specialist will work under the direction of the Director of the TCM Unit to ensure that service needs are identified and documented quickly for individuals referred to the team and that service plans are formulated and communicated. Linkages to service providers and to entitlements will be made as rapidly as possible within the 10-15-day maximum timeframe that the individual remains on the RRT caseload. Research into individuals’ histories will be done as well as face-to-face interactions with individuals referred to the RRT. The primary job function will be to identify and procure the services and linkages needed to prevent future involuntary commitments and/or frequent uses of crisis response centers and inpatient units. The RRT Specialist will also provide outreach to the Homeless Cafes for the purpose of engagement and linkage. The Specialist may also be deployed to provide inquiry and engagement in person specific situations that come to the attention of the TCMU.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide rapid outreach and engagement to individuals who have been referred to the RRT.
- Assess present strengths and level of functioningto develop and document client-centered recovery-oriented service plans.
- Complete applications for and perform linkages to needed services, benefits, and entitlements.
- Investigate incidents involving abuse, neglect, exploitation, or rights violations of individuals served by the DBHIDS system.
- Maintain current information on available resources and adjunctive components of the DBHIDS as well as on the necessary processes and procedures for accessing same.
- Advocate on behalf of the individualto have access to the services and supports necessary for success.
- Maintain availability through pager, cellphone, and e-mail services as well as through on-call schedule and a flexible work schedule.
- Demonstrate willingness to accept other tasks and perform other related duties.
Skills Required:
- Excellent organizational skills
- Computer proficiency
- Ability to manage multiple priorities with limited supervision
- Good verbal, written and communication skills
- Flexibility to work with different staff, different work requests and multiple projects in a short time span.
- Knowledge of standard office procedures, practices, and conduct.
- Working knowledge and understanding of case management and managed care principles.
- Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively and communicate effectively with a wide variety of individuals and agencies representing varying perspectives within a multi-diverse system of care.
- Demonstrated qualities of integrity, stability, creativity, discriminatory judgment, and negotiation skills.
- Working understanding of Recovery principles, priority populations, cultural competency initiatives, and behavioral health principles and strategies.
- Knowledge of community-based resources in Philadelphia.
- Good oral and written communication skills.
Education and Experience:
- A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a recognized Behavioral Health field with a minimum of two years’ experience in the Mental Health and/or Drug and Alcohol field in the adult component of the social services system.
- Active participation as a member of a treatment team, preferably community-based treatment, with a minimum of two years’ experience in this capacity, and preferably in the Philadelphia BehavioralHealth System.
- Or a minimum of a high school diploma with a minimum of 5 years'experience in the Mental Health and/or Drug and Alcohol field in the adult component of the social services system. And have successfully completed the Office of Developmental Programs standards for a Pennsylvania Certified Investigator or another comparable certification for conducting investigations.
Have all appropriate levels of "security" clearance. Valid motor vehicle operator's license with proof of insurability prior to employment.
Equal Opportunity Employment:
PMHCC, Inc. is committed to equal opportunity. It is our policy to support equal employment for all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual preferences, age, national origin, disability, behavioral health status, military status or any other characteristic protected by law.
Americans with Disabilities Act:
Employees as well as applicants who are currently, or become disabled, must be able to perform the functions of the job with either reasonable accommodation or unaided. PMHCC, Inc. will examine reasonable accommodations on a case by case basis in accordance with the law.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in a recognized behavioral health field and at least two years of experience in adult mental health or drug and alcohol social services
- Alternative qualification: high school diploma and at least five years of experience in adult mental health or drug and alcohol social services
- At least two years of active participation on a treatment team, preferably in community-based treatment
- Successful completion of Pennsylvania Certified Investigator standards or comparable investigative certification, if using the high school diploma pathway
- All appropriate security clearances prior to employment
- Valid motor vehicle operator’s license and proof of insurability
- Knowledge of case management, managed care, recovery principles, behavioral health, cultural competency, and Philadelphia community resources
- Strong organizational, communication, negotiation, judgment, and prioritization skills
What We Do
PMHCC, a not-for-profit organization, began as The Philadelphia Mental Health Care Corporation in 1987 for the City of Philadelphia in order to implement a major grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Program for Chronic Mental Illness. One of nine national grants, the funding was to assist the Philadelphia Office of Mental Health realize its vision for a unified mental health system to provide affordable housing, effective case management, and a broad range of psychosocial and vocational programs for people with mental illness. The objective included consolidating funding in a managed behavioral healthcare model. Over the years PMHCC's activities and responsibilities have broadened so that PMHCC serves as a major human services systems management company in support of several City of Philadelphia departments, while maintaining its core commitment to public behavioral health programs. Today, PMHCC makes a major contribution to Philadelphia's citizens by serving as an umbrella organization for special programs and initiatives, and providing critical administrative services to mental health, substance abuse, intellectual disabilities, human services, special health and related city offices and health programs.
