Job Summary:
The care manager is a key member of a Collaborative Care team, including the patient’s primary obstetric provider, a psychiatric consultant, and other mental health providers in the prenatal care clinic. The team delivers mental health services during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum for patients in the Compass Plus program. The care manager provides mental health support within the prenatal care clinic and coordinates referrals to external services as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Collaborate with the patient’s primary obstetric provider and other mental health providers to support mental health care.

Screen and assess patients for mental health and substance use disorders.

Educate patients about common mental health and substance use disorders and treatment options.

Monitor patients for changes in symptoms, treatment side effects, or complications, in person or by phone.

Support medication management prescribed by obstetric care clinicians, focusing on adherence, side effects, and treatment effectiveness.

Provide psychoeducation on medication risks and benefits during pregnancy/postpartum.

Deliver brief interventions using evidence-based techniques like Behavioral Activation, Problem Solving Treatment, or Motivational Interviewing.

Facilitate referrals to evidence-based psychotherapy treatments (e.g., ERP, DBT) as needed.

Participate in weekly caseload consultations and communicate treatment recommendations to the obstetric care team, especially for patients new to treatment or not progressing as expected. Communicate resulting treatment recommendations to the patient and their OB care team.

Encourage patient engagement and follow-up in care.

Track patient follow-up and outcomes using a registry; document encounters and use the system to re-engage patients.

Document patient progress and treatment recommendations in the registry for sharing with the care team.

Facilitate treatment plan changes for patients who are not improving as expected in consultation with the obstetric care team psychiatrist and psychologist. These may include changes in medications or psychotherapy treatments or appropriate referrals for additional services.

Facilitate referrals to services outside the prenatal clinic (e.g., social services, specialty care, substance abuse treatment).

Develop relapse prevention plans for patients in remission.

Requirements:

Familiarity with the impact of implicit/systemic bias on patient care.

Commitment to providing culturally competent, non-judgmental treatment to a diverse patient population.

Experience in perinatal mental health.

Experience in screening, assessment, and treatment planning for mental health and substance use disorders.

Working knowledge of differential diagnosis and evidence-based psychosocial treatments for common mental health disorders.

Familiarity with brief intervention techniques (e.g., Motivational Interviewing, Behavioral Activation).

Basic knowledge of psychopharmacology for mental health disorders, within the provider's scope of practice.

Experience collaborating effectively in a team setting.

Ability to maintain professional relationships with patients and the care team.

Ability to navigate mandated reporting guidelines while prioritizing informed consent, patient advocacy, and minimizing harm.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Comfort with the pace of prenatal care.

Ability to engage patients in a therapeutic relationship, virtually or in person.

Appropriate training and clinical licensure if providing psychotherapy (e.g., Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Social Worker, Certified Counselor, Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Registered Nurse).

Preferred:

Experience working with diverse and historically underserved populations.

Experience in a prenatal setting.

Bilingual in Spanish and English.

Care New England Health System (CNE) and its member institutions, Butler Hospital, Women & Infants Hospital, Kent Hospital, VNA of Care New England, Integra, The Providence Center, and Care New England Medical Group, and our Wellness Center, are trusted organizations fueling the latest advances in medical research, attracting top specialty-trained doctors, and honing renowned services and innovative programs to engage in the important discussions people need to have about their health.

Americans with Disability Act Statement: External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled must be able to perform the essential job-specific functions either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation, to be determined by the organization on a case-by-case basis.

EEOC Statement: Care New England is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Ethics Statement: Employee conducts himself/herself consistent with the ethical standards of the organization including, but not limited to hospital policy, mission, vision, and values.