Case Manager -Detox

Detox Case Manager / Discharge Planner

Facility: Simply Serene Detox & Recovery Center
Location: Mesa, Arizona
Department: Clinical Services
Reports To: Clinical Director and/or Director of Operations
Employment Status: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Determined according to duties and applicable law

Position Summary

The Detox Case Manager coordinates discharge planning, continuing-care referrals, and supportive services for clients receiving medical detoxification services at Simply Serene Detox & Recovery Center.

Because detox treatment is short-term, discharge planning begins at admission. The Case Manager works closely with clients, families, clinical staff, medical providers, insurance representatives, and community partners to identify barriers to continued recovery and arrange an appropriate transition to the next level of care.

This position requires compassion, organization, urgency, strong communication, accurate documentation, and extensive knowledge of behavioral-health and community resources.

Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesAssessment and Service Planning

• Meet with clients promptly after admission to identify discharge-planning needs.
• Review housing, transportation, insurance, legal, employment, family, medical, behavioral-health, and recovery-support needs.
• Identify barriers that may interfere with treatment participation or a safe discharge.
• Help clients establish realistic continuing-care and recovery goals.
• Update service and discharge plans as client needs or circumstances change.
• Notify the appropriate clinical or medical professional of safety, medical, psychiatric, or withdrawal-related concerns.

Discharge and Continuing-Care Coordination

• Begin discharge planning at admission and maintain an active plan throughout the client’s stay.
• Coordinate referrals to appropriate services, including:
• Residential treatment
• Partial hospitalization programs
• Intensive outpatient programs
• Outpatient counseling
• Medication-assisted treatment
• Psychiatric and primary-care services
• Recovery housing and sober-living programs
• Peer and community recovery support
• Transportation services
• Housing and homelessness resources
• Legal, probation, and court-related resources
• Domestic-violence and other social-service programs
• Confirm admission requirements, appointment dates, transportation arrangements, and required documentation.
• Obtain client consent and appropriate releases of information before coordinating with outside parties.
• Provide clients with written discharge instructions, referral information, appointments, and recovery resources.
• Complete follow-up outreach when assigned and document the results.
• Help prevent unsafe, incomplete, or unplanned discharges whenever possible.

Client and Family Support

• Build professional, respectful, and supportive relationships with clients.
• Educate clients about available treatment options and community resources.
• Encourage clients to participate actively in discharge and continuing-care planning.
• Communicate with family members and approved support persons when properly authorized.
• Explain treatment and referral processes in clear, understandable language.
• Support client choice while presenting realistic and clinically appropriate options.
• Advocate for client needs while maintaining professional boundaries.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Participate in treatment-team meetings, case reviews, shift communication, and discharge-planning discussions.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurse practitioners, nursing staff, behavioral health technicians, therapists, admissions personnel, billing staff, and leadership.
• Provide timely updates regarding referrals, barriers, appointments, transportation, and discharge status.
• Communicate changes in the discharge plan to the appropriate team members.
• Escalate unresolved barriers or safety concerns to the Clinical Director or designated supervisor.

Insurance and Authorization Support

• Coordinate with admissions, utilization review, billing, and insurance representatives as required.
• Assist with gathering information needed for benefit verification, prior authorization, continued-stay review, and placement.
• Track insurance-related barriers affecting treatment or discharge.
• Help identify alternative resources when a requested service is not covered.
• Avoid making guarantees regarding insurance approval, coverage, payment, or acceptance into another program.

Documentation

• Complete accurate, timely, and objective documentation in the Ritten electronic medical record.
• Document client meetings, needs assessments, referrals, communications, barriers, appointments, and discharge arrangements.
• Maintain updated discharge-planning information throughout the client’s stay.
• Complete required discharge summaries and continuing-care documentation within established timelines.
• Document unsuccessful referral attempts and alternative resources offered.
• Follow facility requirements for corrections, late entries, addenda, and electronic signatures.
• Avoid unsupported conclusions, stigmatizing language, and copied or duplicated documentation.

Community Partnerships

• Develop and maintain professional relationships with treatment providers, hospitals, outpatient programs, recovery residences, community agencies, probation departments, and other referral partners.
• Maintain an accurate directory of community resources and admission requirements.
• Communicate professionally with outside organizations while protecting client confidentiality.
• Represent Simply Serene professionally during referral coordination, outreach activities, and community meetings.
• Help identify service gaps and recommend additional community partnerships.

Compliance and Confidentiality

• Protect client information in accordance with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, Arizona requirements, and facility policies.
• Verify that valid authorization exists before releasing or requesting protected information.
• Respect client rights, dignity, cultural differences, and personal preferences.
• Follow mandatory-reporting, incident-reporting, and emergency-escalation procedures.
• Report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, privacy violations, safety concerns, or unethical conduct.
• Complete all required orientation, compliance, safety, and continuing-education training.

Scope and Professional Boundaries

The Detox Case Manager must work within the limits of their education, training, credentials, and assigned role. Unless independently licensed and specifically authorized, the Case Manager may not:

• Diagnose mental-health or substance-use disorders
• Provide psychotherapy or clinical counseling
• Independently determine medical necessity or level of care
• Provide medical advice
• Change medication or medical orders
• Promise admission into another program
• Guarantee insurance coverage or authorization
• Release protected information without proper authorization

Clinical, psychiatric, medical, or withdrawal-related concerns must be referred immediately to the appropriate licensed professional.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• At least one year of experience in behavioral health, substance-use treatment, healthcare case management, social services, discharge planning, or a related setting.
• Knowledge of substance-use treatment levels of care and community resources.
• Strong written, verbal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple referrals and time-sensitive discharge needs.
• Ability to communicate professionally with clients, families, insurers, and community partners.
• Proficiency with electronic medical records, email, and standard office software.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Ability to pass required background checks and meet applicable Arizona behavioral-health personnel requirements.
• Current CPR and First Aid certification, or ability to obtain certification within the required timeframe.
• Valid Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card, if required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, behavioral health, psychology, human services, criminal justice, or a related field.
• Experience in medical detoxification, residential treatment, hospital discharge planning, or substance-use treatment.
• Familiarity with ASAM levels of care and Arizona behavioral-health resources.
• Experience working with AHCCCS and commercial insurance plans.
• Experience with Ritten or a comparable electronic medical record system.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and motivational interviewing.
• Bilingual communication skills.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Compassionate, person-centered communication
• Crisis awareness and appropriate escalation
• Discharge planning and referral coordination
• Community-resource navigation
• Accurate and timely documentation
• Time management and prioritization
• Professional telephone and email communication
• Teamwork across clinical and operational departments
• Cultural awareness and respect for diverse populations
• Ability to remain calm in a fast-paced treatment environment

Schedule Requirements

Simply Serene operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Case Manager’s primary schedule will be established by leadership but may include occasional evenings, weekends, holidays, or schedule adjustments based on admissions, discharges, client needs, and facility operations.

Reliable attendance, punctuality, and timely completion of discharge-related responsibilities are essential.

Physical and Environmental Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, and use office equipment throughout the workday.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and electronically.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to work in an environment where clients may experience withdrawal, emotional distress, behavioral instability, or psychiatric symptoms.
• Ability to respond promptly to emergencies and follow staff instructions.

Performance Expectations

Performance may be evaluated based on:

• Timeliness of initial case-management contact
• Completion and quality of discharge plans
• Accuracy and timeliness of documentation
• Successful coordination of continuing-care referrals
• Communication with clients, staff, families, and referral partners
• Reduction of avoidable gaps in care
• Compliance with confidentiality and facility requirements
• Client satisfaction and professionalism
• Participation in team meetings and assigned training

Employee Acknowledgment

This job description summarizes the primary duties of the Detox Case Manager but does not include every possible responsibility. Duties may be modified based on client needs, facility operations, regulatory requirements, and organizational priorities.

Simply Serene Detox & Recovery Center is an equal-opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants without unlawful discrimination.

Pay: $23.00 - $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• Paid time off

Work Location: In person