Nurse Case Manager - Assertive Community Treatment

At Ecker Center for Behavioral Health, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment in which our employee team reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. At Ecker, we firmly believe in the significance and positive impact of our work, demonstrating dedication and a compassionate approach, where treatment is carefully planned and customized for each client based on their individual needs and strengths. Our collective ethos extends to caring for the well-being of each of our team members. Together, our staff is fostering a warm and inclusive organizational culture that embraces individual perspectives, encouraging active participation, and open feedback to facilitate ongoing improvement.

As a trusted behavioral health organization committed to providing care in the community since 1955, we offer an array of comprehensive services for youth, adolescents, and adults. Our Mobile Crisis Response team is an itinerant intervention brigade responding to the location of the individual seeking to, achieve crisis symptom reduction & stabilization, establish support for the individual's caregivers when applicable, and mitigate the crisis event.

Job Scope: The Nurse Case Manager is a vital member of the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team, providing comprehensive healthcare coordination and direct case management for individuals with complex medical and behavioral health needs. This role includes administering and monitoring medications, conducting nursing assessments, supporting treatment planning, facilitating client education, and coordinating healthcare services. The Nurse Case Manager also assists with admissions, accompanies clients to appointments, tracks outcomes, ensures program compliance, and provides guidance to staff to promote client stabilization in the community.

Primary Responsibilities

• Assigned as Registered Nurse as an integrated team member on the ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) team
• Provide consultation and care coordination with outside medical providers and internal psychiatrist, APN, and RN staff. Coordinate and attend appointments for individuals receiving ACT services
• Provide education and guidance to coworkers related to the healthcare needs of individuals served by the assigned team.
• Coordinate and facilitate medication refills, medication injections, medical and insurance authorizations, and other case management healthcare needs. Receive, review, and file lab reports and alert all physicians involved in care of results and any abnormal findings that need to be addressed.
• Administer IM injections, monitor client compliance with medications, changes in medications, assess for efficacy/safety/side effects, complete medication reconciliation, pack medications for members, and recommend medication monitoring schedule.
• Provide skill development and training for social skills and activities of daily living and independent activities of daily living to participants.
• Identify the services or programs that will best meet the client’s needs and incorporate them into the client’s treatment plan.
• Meet regularly with Team members to integrate care provision and share clinical responsibilities so that adequate coverage is available to clients at all times
• Meet with ACT Supervisor for supervision and team meetings on a regular basis. Follow daily clinical directives and assignments of the ACT Supervisor in the implementation of ITP goals. RN's competency assessment will be completed by the Psychiatry and Nursing Manager.
• Dedicate a minimum of 50% of work time to direct service for clients, with 75% of services conducted in the community.
• Maintain ongoing involvement with the client to promote stabilization in their community by advocating for the client, assisting the client in developing natural community supports, and providing intervention and support in times of crisis.
• Work a flexible weekly schedule when indicated by client need and approved by supervisor. Ensure supervisor and/or agency staff is aware of off-site responsibilities and time frames. Participate in on-call ACT emergency phone rotation.
• Provide accurate, quality documentation within a maximum of 48 hours of service. This includes progress notes and all other relevant information for the client’s medical record.
• Understand, support, and convey agency philosophy, mission, and vision to other staff.
• Maintain required immunizations and minimum required auto insurance.

Performance Requirements

• Prepares and administers medication as ordered by Ecker Center prescribers when applicable
• Complete vital signs assessment on clients prior to each psychiatry appointment. Vital sign assessment will include height, weight, BMI calculation, blood pressure and heart rate.
• Perform clinical withdrawal scale and urine drug screens on all clients participating in MAR program and at the prescriber’s request.
• Provide nursing input and advocate for clients as a member of the client’s care team.
• Provide nursing support for non-medical staff including but not limited to reviewing provider orders and MORs.
• Practices within the legal and ethical guidelines established by the Illinois Nurse Practice Act.
• Ability to value diversity, accept differences, apply cultural knowledge, and adapt to different cultural contexts
• Accurately document and bill clients on daily basis

Education and Experience

• Registered Nurse (RN) with current Illinois License
• ADN or BSN preferred
• Preferred 1 year nursing experience working with individuals with serious and persistent behavioral health needs
• Preferred exposure to working in non-traditional treatment environments (home/community)
• The ability to work cooperatively with adults with severe mental health and co-occurring substance use needs
• Willingness to work regularly scheduled hours, holidays and overtime in emergency situations
• Ability to administer CPR
• Valid Illinois Driver’s License, auto insurance and automobile and willingness to transport clients on a routine basis

Schedule

• Tuesday – Friday, 8:30am – 6:30pm, 40 hours/week

Ecker Center for Behavioral Health offers a hearty benefit package that is highly competitive to the market and offers all full-time employees the following:

• 403(b) plan with organizational contributions of 2% to 7%, based on length of service
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition reimbursement plus many other training opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program – face to face counseling sessions, resources for work/life, life coaching, financial, medical advocacy, and more
• Extended sick and disability leave
• Eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

To further promote an active and healthy work/ life balance, Ecker Center also offers a generous amount of paid time off.

• 2 – 4 weeks of vacation, based on length of service
• 9 Holidays
• 8 Personal days
• 8 Sick days

Ecker Center for Behavioral health is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone has an opportunity to succeed.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $87,360.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• Behavioral health: 1 year (Preferred)

Language:

• Spanish (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• RN License (Preferred)

Work Location: In person