San Mateo County Health is seeking an experienced and well-qualified individual for the position of Care Management Specialist II.
There is currently one regular vacancy within the Public Health, Policy and Planning Division. The position is stationed in South San Francisco but will travel/drive throughout the County to engage and provide case management and care coordination for County clients with complex needs.
The Position
The Care Management Specialist will, under general supervision, perform a wide variety of case/care management services including outreach, engagement, assessment, evaluation, referral and direct supportive services for high-risk clients with multiple challenges including those experiencing co-morbidities including complex medical conditions, serious mental illness (SMI), Substance Use Disorder (SUD), justice involved, and/or individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Develop, coordinate and manage individual care plans of assigned clients; and perform other related work as required.
Care Management Specialists (II) are responsible for, but not limited to, the following duties:
- Conduct outreach to eligible clients using various modalities and apply appropriate techniques to engage client into care.
- Evaluate client condition using a variety of assessment and screening tools, established clinical guidelines, interviews with clients and/or other professionals, and determine the appropriate referral(s), level of care, and recommended case/care management plan.
- Interview clients and their families to obtain medical, behavioral health, socio-economic, and other case history and administer appropriate assessment instruments to assist in the development and/or implementation of a person centered care plan.
- Assess, evaluate and document social determinants of health appropriately.
- Ensure appropriate coordination of care to ensure clients continued engagement, recovery and success.
- Gather appropriate enrollment documentation for clients including consents to treatment and releases of information and ensure that the client’s chart is current.
- Maintain case files on clients including assessment summaries, progress notes, court and/or social service documents, treatment authorizations, referrals and related correspondence with clients.
- Gather appropriate consents from clients to use in gathering information from outside agencies/sources.
- Establish relationships with a continuum of providers and other partners in the community for the referral and care of client’s health, behavioral health, social, and related needs.
- Regularly meet with clients to provide information and support regarding their care and recommended services and treatments available and document services provided in the electronic health record.
- Evaluate client needs during each interaction and update care plan as needed.
- Work with members of care team including community agencies as required to assist clients in implementing their care plan goals in the various domains and in coping with challenges.
- Consult with other professionals when clinical expertise is needed in development of care plans.
- Attend case conferences, Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings and related meetings to coordinate client care and activities with other divisions of the department, other County departments and community groups and providers.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
Ideal candidate will possess:
- Significant experience providing case management and care coordination services for individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness and/or those experiencing significant medical co-morbidities.
- Extensive experience performing client evaluations to determine the appropriate referral(s).
- Demonstrated experience conducting fieldwork to engage clients in the streets, in homeless encampments, shelters, under freeways and other venues.
- Experience working with clients with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.
- Demonstrated ability to administer appropriate assessment instruments to assist in the development of the client's case history and for use in developing treatment recommendations.
- Extensive knowledge and experience Identifying, establishing and utilizing a variety of community resources.
- Demonstrated ability to prepare reports, case summaries, and correspondence as required, maintaining case histories and work records, including required statistics.
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with partner and contract providers.
- Demonstrated skill and understanding of privacy regulations including HIPAA regulations.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
About the Bridges to Wellness Program
To improve the quality of life for vulnerable populations by providing exceptional, person-centered and recovery-oriented services.
The Bridges to Wellness program, within the Public Health, Policy & Planning Division of San Mateo County Health, provides case/care management for vulnerable county residents. The program supports persons with complex needs including those managing chronic medical conditions, substance use disorder, mental health challenges and homelessness. The program provides evidence-based services consistent with person-centered and recovery-oriented practice and values where recovery is defined as “A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential
The program provides care management to individuals referred by the Health Plan for Enhanced Care Management as well as those referred by County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services. The BTW team includes 14 case managers who, while generalists, bring a wide variety of expertise to the program and the populations we serve. The program provides an intermediate level of care management with caseload of 30 individuals.
NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.
Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:
- Care Management Specialist II: Two years of experience in care management or case management including assessing and evaluating clients using standard instruments and/or guidelines, and working with clients in a social service or health service program serving those with complex needs.
Knowledge of:
- Strategies for working effectively with at least one of the following populations: individuals with complex medical conditions, serious mental illness (SMI), Substance Use Disorder (SUD), and individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
- Principles, philosophy, practices, materials, trends and literature related to mental health disorders, substance use disorders, homelessness and those with comorbidities.
- Appropriate methods and use of assessment tools to evaluate and assess high-risk clients and treatment needed.
- Basic care coordination, and case management processes.
- Where applicable, various treatment or care models including medication assisted treatments, and the use of medications to treat disorders, CBT approaches, relapse prevention and harm reduction, motivational interviewing, health education and recovery oriented approaches.
- Prevention methods and treatment procedures related to substance use disorders, mental and emotional health, homelessness and chronic disease.
- Techniques and dynamics of individual supportive counseling including effective listening and reflection skills.
- Techniques and dynamics of assessment and engagement.
- Standardized clinical assessment instruments, practices and procedures.
- Departmental policies including informing clients of consent to services, notice of privacy practices, and the right to file a grievance procedure.
- Social and psychological needs, problems, behavior patterns and treatment.
- A wide variety of community and governmental services and resources and how to refer to relevant resources.
- Methods and techniques of interviewing, problem solving and motivational interviewing.
- Care coordination, care management and or case management processes.
- Mandated reporting requirements.
- Federal and State confidentiality and privacy regulations including 42 CFR part 2, HIPAA, as well as other privacy regulations.
Skill/Ability to:
- Assess client’s immediate needs and ensure client’s receipt of needed services.
- Interview clients and other professionals to gather information, secure pertinent social and personal data and meet documentation requirements.
- Evaluate information received and make appropriate treatment recommendations and/or referrals.
- Perform effectively in stressful, emotional, and confrontational situations, providing crisis intervention as needed.
- Recognize factors causing reaction or changes in clients’ condition or behavior.
- Obtain, maintain, and present accurate client data and high quality clinical and social determinants of health case documentation.
- Apply tools and strategies that foster a person-centered and recovery-oriented approach to care.
- Communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
- Collaborate with community agencies and a variety of social services and rehabilitative resources to plan and coordinate services to clients.
- Identify, establish, and utilize a variety of community resources to support clients with complex needs.
- Display effective use of interviewing, counseling, and problem-solving skills.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with partners and contract providers to coordinate care including the criminal justice system, behavioral health, homelessness services and medical providers to help individuals access needed services to support wellness and recovery.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and their families, professionals and para-professionals and support staff in the department, outside agencies and the public.
- Work effectively with individuals with multiple challenges including complex medical conditions, mental health challenges, alcohol and other drug use disorders, and homelessness.
Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score.
The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted in addition to the standard County employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required application materials. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Monday, June 30, 2025 by 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: Week of July 7, 2025
Panel Interviews: Week of July 21, 2025
About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.
The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.
Talent Acquisition Contact: Ximena Burns (061625) (Care Management Specialist-II G254)
