Hospital Discharge Specialist

At Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare
, Hope is Spoken Here. Our mission is to provide quality, community-based services that prevent and address mental health disorders, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders.

We put people first-ensuring every individual is treated with dignity and respect while providing flexible, affordable, and timely services.

Join us in making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve as a Hospital Discharge Specialist. The schedule for this position is Monday-Friday 8:30AM-5:00PM (no weekends, evening, or on call responsibilities)!

The position is eligible to work from home on a part-time basis!

The Hospital Discharge Specialist coordinates the discharge planning for individuals hospitalized in state facilities. Activities include attending treatment planning meetings and making referrals to community-based placements and services. The Hospital Discharge Specialist also participates in activities to ascertain, document and address the preferences of individuals in the discharge planning process that will promote elements of recovery, self-determination, empowerment and community integration.

This position offers a wonderful opportunity to learn about the array of mental health services offered in our community. This position requires frequent local travel.

The Hospital Discharge Specialist (HDS) regularly spends time at Catawba Hospital, meeting with individuals who are approaching readiness for discharge, collaborating with social workers and other members of the treatment team, and making and following up on referrals. The HDS must have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build positive working relationships with various types of community providers. The HDS keeps scheduled hours at BRBH to complete documentation of contacts and efforts being organized to plan for the discharge of patients, submit requisitions for and track the payments from specialized funding sources, and meet with BRBH staff to coordinate how services will be provided following discharge.

The HDS attends regular meetings regarding client funding and planning for clients ready to be discharged from the hospital, where the HDS reports on clinical status and funding. The HDS travels in the community to plan for discharge, which may include visiting facilities or transporting individuals into the community.

The anticipated base salary for this position is $43,120.62-$53,900.78. Actual compensation offered within this range will be determined based on the candidate's experience, education, qualifications (knowledge, skills, and abilities), geographic location, complexity of role, and other relevant business considerations. We kindly ask that candidates do not discuss compensation until after an offer of employment is extended.

• Education: Minimum of a high school diploma or GED. An Associate's or Bachelor's degree in a human services field preferred.
• Experience: Minimum one year experience with the provision of services to individuals with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and related disabilities.
• Certifications/Licenses: Qualified Mental Health Professional-Adult (QMHP-A) preferred.
• Background Check: Fingerprints, State and FBI criminal record reports, drug test, and central registry report will be required upon selection.
• Safe Driving Record: This position requires transporting clients or driving agency vehicles. Candidates must have a good driving record, which is defined as no more than two moving violations in the last three years and no criminal moving violations in the last five years.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will often sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, climb and reach above their head. Use of hands for placing and pulling objects. The employee frequently lifts and or carries up to 20 pounds and pushes or pulls up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision (computer & paperwork).

Specific hearing required by this job includes normal tones. Travel up to 10%. Travel to various sites in the community for the purpose of discharge planning and monitoring supports in a variety of settings;
Transportation of individuals to the community to ensure informed choice of providers and to assist with discharge. These functions may be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

• Team…