Position: DSS Liaison

Category: Non-Exempt

Location: Duplin/Sampson Counties

Salary Range: $41,026 - $52,517

Closing Date: Until Filled

Position Number: 17-40-256

Position Description: The Department of Social Services (DSS) Liaison is responsible for implementation of System of Care (SOC) practices for the youth population in DSS custody. This position is responsible for ensuring collaboration between local community agencies, Department of Social Services (DSS), Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), and other governmental agencies that are organized to meet the needs of the youth population. This position requires an understanding of and experience working with DSS, youth, and families who are impacted by Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services. Based on high levels of collaboration, DSS Liaison focuses on system level solutions to increase timely access to needed services and identify service gaps and trends. Possess an awareness of and commitment to a consumer-centered strength-based approach to providing services. This position may be embedded in nearby DSS offices.

Responsibilities

The DSS Liaison responsibilities are (though not limited to):

• The point of contact for local DSS offices for youth who experience behavioral health issues, at-risk of placement disruptions, high acuity cases, etc.
• Provide leadership in collaboration with DSS, community providers, and state agencies. Promote youth and family involvement and leadership in team meetings.
• Ensure inter/intra agency collaboration to meet the needs of youth and their families. Serves as a collaborative partner in identifying system barriers and solutions, through work with community providers, stakeholders, families, and advocates. Provide guidance and direction of collaboration in SOC process.
• Training and Development –Ensures that required documentation of SOC activities is maintained and reported to state agencies in a timely manner.
• Referrals to community provider who can complete a clinical assessment, trauma-informed clinical assessment, treatment resources, etc.
• Connect with the community provider who will address the needs identified in the assessment.
• Document, track, and report all activities and utilization of services in a timely manner in Eastpointe’s electronic medical record systems.

Managed Care Treatment Planning Care Coordination

• Risk Management – Proactively ensures that individual identified as a Special Needs enrollee has treatment needs met, has a Behavioral Health Clinical Home and a Medical Home.
• Ensures that a Person-Centered Plan (PCP) is developed by a clinical behavioral health home or, if necessary, by the Care Coordinator to meet urgent needs and to access care for the individual.
• Convenes key providers and others to address needs of the individual. A minimum of monthly meetings to facilitate communication is required.
• Identifies gaps in services and intervenes to ensure that the individual receives appropriate care.
• Measures results of intervention and treatment, including reduction in high-risk events and inappropriate service utilization
• Ensures that services for the youth are coordinated across the Eastpointe MCO system and with other systems, including primary care.
• Ensures appropriate step down from 24-hour facilities and ensures the youth is actively engaged and stepdown treatment effective. Actively participates in the PRTF transition process with UM to ensure stepdown is offered to the youth/parents/guardians and assists with choice of provider and linking to the stepdown provider
• Collaborates with CCNC when a member has medical and behavioral health disorders/conditions
• Actively engages in treatment planning and monitoring of treatment of high risk/high-cost youth as defined in the MCO contracts
• Facilitates High Risk/Treatment Teams/Case Reviews meetings in collaboration with DSS, DJJ, School System, and other community stakeholders, as appropriate.

Education/Experience/Licensure: Graduate of an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in a human service field and has two (2) years of full-time, post-bachelor's degree accumulated Child Mental Health experience; or graduate of an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in a field other than human services and has four years of full-time, post-bachelor's degree accumulated Child Mental Health experience.

Excellent Benefit Package to Include:

• Employer paid Health, Life, Dental and Long Term Disability
• NC Local Govt Retirement System
• NC 401K with 4% employer match
• 13 paid holidays per year
• Monthly sick and vacation leave accrual