Care Navigator in Mental and Behavioral Health

Care Navigator in Mental and Behavioral Health 

JOB SUMMARY

This role partners with Mental and Behavioral Health providers and Medical Social Workers to provide support and coordination of mental health services and social determinant of health needs to families.   Works closely with families to link them to their next level of care, whether it is directly to another behavioral health facility, or to community and social resources for ongoing mental health treatment as necessary.  This role will work closely with mental and behavioral health providers, medical social workers and medical providers to ensure follow-up and coordination of recommended treatment(s).
 

JOB FUNCTIONS

Essential Functions

• Maintains an ongoing client caseload. Supports patients ongoing with a minimum of weekly contact.
• Assumes responsibility for short term follow-up of patients and families seen in MBH outpatient clinics, outpatient specialty care clinics, MBH Walk-in Clinics, EDTC, and inpatient with mental and behavioral health needs. Works with all team members to provide care coordination.
• Provides education for patients and families around mental health needs, crisis response, school support plans, treatment options, and trauma in childhood and guides families to community-based resources and materials on these topics to promote and support ongoing success and treatment.
• Maintains communication via phone with families. Reviews safety plans, homework, provides crisis phone numbers, answers questions, and bridges communication when their ongoing MBH provider is unavailable.
• Assists providers and families in knowing available mental health higher level of care (HLOC) programs that would best support the patient and their needs. Completes referrals once the appropriate programs are determined. Assumes an ongoing support role for the family while the patient completes HLOC services; completes check-ins with the family and external agencies, participates in HLOC plan of care meetings, and supports the patient in returning to their outpatient MBH therapist upon discharge.
• Utilizes Epic to obtain information and document case notes from ongoing phone contacts, external agency contact/referrals placed, and meetings attended while supporting the family.
• Maintains professional relationships with community providers to remain up to date on availability of resources.
• Participates in high acuity staffing with internal providers to assist with determining next steps surrounding community supports and higher level of care agencies to connect patients with the most appropriate level of service needed. Completes safety check-ins with high-risk patients.
• Meets with families in clinic who are unable to work with the team via phone in times of high acuity, significant safety concerns, and SDoH concerns.

Guiding Behaviors

Exhibits guiding behaviors that reflect Children's values and support our mission and vision

Required for All Jobs

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be requested in the performance of this job.

Employment is at-will.  This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise.
 

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Bachelor's Degree in social work, psychology, public health, healthcare administration or human services is required

Work Experience

• 2+ years of experience in a related field with an emphasis on mental health, community resources and customer service is required
• Experience working in community programs with families of diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic background is preferred 
• Epic experience is preferred
• Knowledge and experience in mental health is preferred
• Customer service experience is preferred
   

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Exhibits guiding behaviors that reflect Children’s values and support our mission and vision.
• Ability to navigate, coordinate multiple services, prioritize and multi-task to meet the needs of patients, parents, and clinic staff.
• Ability to work professionally with medical professionals to ensure successful follow up and coordination of medical management.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills necessary to gather and share information with providers, patients, families, and team members in a courteous, professional and confidential manner. Ability to maintain positive communication skills during stressful situations.
• Committed to work toward improving one’s own cultural competence, i.e. valuing diversity, recognizing personal limitations in one’s own skills and expertise, and having the desire to learn. Accepting of individual differences.
• Ability to work effectively independently and in a team setting in a fast-paced environment.
• Prior experience working in a Windows environment. Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Demonstrated skills in creative problem-solving, and have knowledge of the assets and challenges of the mental health and traumatized population they are serving.
• Has and maintains current knowledge of available community resources.
• Ability to maintain positive communication skills during stressful situations.
• Knowledge of mental health insurance preferred.