Service Coordinator I (Various Client Focus Areas)

UPMC Western Behavioral Health is hiring multiple Service Coordinators in the Pittsburgh area!

Do you have the desire to advocate for those within our community facing various mental health struggles with the aim to assist in reaching their goals and transforming their lives?  Are you an individual with an educational background in behavioral health or a human service field looking­­­­­ to dive into a rewarding career helping others while gaining valuable experience in a growing field? If so, we warmly invite you to apply to our multiple openings for full-time Service Coordinators within UPMC’s Western Psychiatric Hospital.  

The Service Coordinator is a specialist in connecting the person served with community resources. We offer a hybrid work model. Your work is in the field working directly with the people we serve. You have the option to complete the administrative tasks at your home or in our office with the laptop and cell phone that we provide. There is minimal need to go to our office. We offer office space for those that prefer that setting. We offer flexible scheduling after six months of employment. This includes the option of (4) ten-hour shifts if that meets your needs.

The Service Coordinator will be assigned to work with individuals with a mental health diagnosis. The Service Coordinator will complete an assessment, service plan, and follow the interventions from the service plan. All actions must be documented in electronic medical records in real time or within 24 hours.

 The ideal candidate will have prior experience in behavioral health or human service capacity, in addition to having a valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle to meet with consumers throughout the community. The starting rate for this position is $19.82, prior to crediting for any applicable experience beyond the minimum qualifications. Mileage and parking reimbursement is provided. The schedule for this position is 8:30a-5p with the occasional evening depending upon consumer availability. This position is off for UPMC holidays. This position is eligible for the Behavioral Health fellowship program that provides an opportunity to reduce educational loans by up up to $25,000 towards bachelor’s degree student loan repayment or up to $45,000 towards master’s degree student loan repayment.

At UPMC, we offer a Total Rewards package that is comprised of compensation, benefits, performance, and recognition, plus work-life needs and opportunities, development, and career opportunities. With offerings like medical coverage, a comprehensive retirement program paid time off, and paid parental leave, UPMC provides a Total Rewards package that few employers can match. In fact, a recent study conducted by Aon Consulting values our package a substantial 20% higher than other health care employers in the markets we serve.  

Responsibilities: 

• 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.
• All Service Coordinators are required to participate in the On-Call Service per department guidelines.
• Assesses individual and family strengths and needs in a collaborative method through individual and/or collateral interviews and reviews of social and clinical information provided by other entities. The development of an assessment is based on an understanding and trusting relationship, that needs and strengths vary over time and are evaluated in every contact (face to face and phone).
• 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.
• BLENDED LEVEL OF SERVICE COORDINATION Ensures the frequency of contact with the individual being served (or the parents if the individual is a child or adolescent) is based on the individual’s needs, but at the very least once a month. Provide a full range of Service Coordination services to a designated caseload maximum of 30 individuals for adults and 25 for children.
• Convenes and facilitates interdisciplinary service planning meetings or other related team meetings to ensure appropriateness and responsiveness of services in relation to individual and/or family needs.
• Develops relationships with the individual, his/her family and other important people in his/her life. This engagement will be persistent and will result in an enduring relationship. The persistence is evident in frequent outreach and genuine concern over a lengthy period of time.
• Ensures individuals being served needs are met through the utilization of natural supports (family, friends), community and generic services and specialized services (MH/MR, supported employment, OVR, D&A). Assists individuals and families to identify, link, access, and coordinate such resources.
• Evaluate all services received by individuals who are served by the Service Coordination program. Reviews cases, meets with individuals’ families, members of the treatment team, agency directors, advocates, attorneys, school personnel and attends staffing in or out of the office.
• Fosters an agency culture of cooperation by focusing on problem resolution and activities that support the agency mission, communicating information to the staff, participating with other staff on selected special projects, cooperating with agency personnel to facilitate program operations.
• In close collaboration with the consumer, family members, and other service providers, 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.
• Investigates new resources and communicates with Directors of 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.
• 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. Prepares for formal audits
• Provides culturally competent services with consideration for the individual’s racial, religious, sex, sexual orientation, age, and ethnic background and identification.
• Provides professional coordination of mental 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, and using considerable discretion and independent judgment in order to promote individuals’ mental health recovery.
• SINGLE POINT OF ACCOUNTABILITY (SPA). Be the go-to resource for the person served and his/her family and the system of care. Assure that there are effective ‘safety net resources for the persons served.
• Clearly communicate to the person what they can expect from the system and what the system will expect of them. Assure there is periodic assessment & cross-system planning to meet the needs while utilizing their strengths. Prepare for, convene/facilitate service planning meetings and provide follow-up after meetings. Assure there is cross-system coordination of services and that services are being provided. Develop relationships that endure with persistent outreach even when there is a reluctance to receive services. Assist the person served in developing and using natural supports. o Be a persistent advocate for those served and give feedback on systemic problems.
• Provide a consistently positive outlook that encourages recovery and full inclusion in the community.
• Utilizes at least 55% of available time in service to individuals being served.