Behavioral Health Navigator

Job Title: Behavioral Health Navigator

Hawai'i Island Community Health Center is seeking a highly motivated and compassionate Behavioral Health Navigator to join our team.

Job Summary

The Behavioral Health Navigator will work under the general direction of the Behavioral Health Director and Behavioral Health-Patient Navigator Lead to assess patients' needs, develop, implement, and review service plans, and work with other community resources to meet/achieve patient service needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Participate in the screening of new service requests within the clinic by means of agency-approved procedures to ensure all individuals are adequately and appropriately served according to their individual needs and in accordance with existing HICHC policies and procedures.
• Work directly with patients to reduce barriers and social determinants of health (SDOH) issues to improve healthcare access and patient quality of life.
• Educate patients on social determinants of health and assist with navigating various systems.
• Promote awareness of how social determinants of health affect patient health outcomes.
• Accept newly assigned cases in which the diagnostic intake has been completed by a licensed provider and complete case management assessment on all patients entering caseload.
• Develop appropriate treatment/service plans with patients as the means for implementing appropriate services and developing effective alliances with patients.
• Provide ongoing supportive and/or case management functions in accordance with the problems, needs, and strategies identified within the service plan to help patients achieve stated goals and objectives.
• Document all service contacts on a timely basis, including face-to-face interviews, collateral and networking contacts, correspondence, and maintain case records in accordance with agency and regulatory standards and requirements.
• Participate in interagency planning and service coordination activities as directed to improve and enhance service continuity and effectiveness for patients, including but not limited to referrals to interagency programs if staff meets requirements of Qualified Mental Health Professional.
• Participate in regular interdisciplinary staff meetings held at position location.
• Meet regularly with the immediate supervisor as a means of enhancing professional growth, reviewing and processing the provision of case management services, and dealing with appropriate administrative issues.
• Maintain close communication with consulting supervisors for input regarding medication compliance, side effects of medication, and medication changes and alert these members of the staff of any changes in client adjustment which might suggest decompensation and a need for more aggressive intervention.
• Maintain service logs and turn them in on a weekly basis so that staff and patient service information can be reviewed by supervisors and management personnel and can be reported to local and state funding sources to determine if performance contract levels of service have been achieved and/or maintained.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor which are consistent with the position and in compliance with HICHC policies and procedures.

Tobacco Treatment Services

• Plan, organize, coordinate, administer, and carry out specialized tobacco treatment programs.
• Provide comprehensive counseling services, including coordination of tobacco treatment cases in areas of counseling, education, provision of patches, gum, medication (as clinically indicated by a provider), etc.
• Assist with coordinating and integrating tobacco cessation programming into all HICHC programs and services (clinical, HIV, homeless, behavioral health, etc.).
• Actively follow up and make revisions to healthcare plans.
• Document all client visits in progress notes in a timely fashion. Maintain proper charting, billing for reimbursable services, and professional and ethical standards of providers.
• Submit billing information in a timely fashion as applicable if and/or when tobacco cessation providers become covered by 3rd-party payers.
• Participate in the development and implementation of specialized recovery support services, such as Education and Treatment groups.
• Represent Hawai'i Island Community Health Center at various functions and meetings related to tobacco initiatives.
• Prepare educational material on preventive services, public information, etc. on tobacco cessation.

Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

Must possess a combination of mental health work experience or relevant education and training which indicate the possession of knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform essential job duties.

Bachelor's degree in a relevant human services field plus at least one year of experience required; OR any equivalent combination of experience, training, and/or education.

Licenses and Certifications

Eligible for future licensure in Social Work, Counseling, or other related field preferred.

Competencies

Social Skills - The individual interacts in a professional manner with colleagues and patients, models teamwork and a positive attitude.

Problem-solving skills - The individual identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully, and utilizes management appropriately.

Leadership - The individual inspires and motivates others to perform well and accepts feedback from others.

Quality management - The individual demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness in tasks.

Judgment - The individual exhibits sound, accurate, and ethical judgment.

Planning/Organizing - The individual prioritizes and plans out work activities, uses time efficiently, anticipates provider and patient needs, and develops realistic action plans.

Safety and security - The individual observes safety and security procedures and uses equipment and materials properly.

Interpersonal skills - The individual remains open to others' ideas and shows respect.

Oral communication - The individual speaks clearly, assertively, and persuasively and demonstrates one-on-one and group presentation skills.

Written communication - The individual edits work for spelling and grammar, presents data effectively, and can read and interpret written information.

Technology - The individual is adept at utilizing Microsoft Office and can learn new skills in adjacent electronic health record systems.

Promotes an organizational culture that embraces diversity as a core value.

Personal Characteristics

Personal characteristics to include: a team player, high integrity, communication and customer relations skills, regular work attendance, courteous and friendly, able to work well with diverse groups of people, and gain and maintain respect of others.

Confidential and Sensitive Information

Because the employee has access to personal and professional data regarding individual employees and their families, personal data regarding individual patients and the families, and/or sensitive company financial data, an essential job result is the maintenance of a high level of confidentiality of the information processed by the employee. Violation of this confidence may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

IV. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS/WORKING CONDITIONS

General Remarks: The work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential tasks and functions.

Environment: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. There are no known environmental hazards on the premises. Work environment is often stressful. Work is mostly inside, and normal office worker safety precautions and practices are required. Incumbent will be exposed to patients' conditions and some-unpleasant sights, smells, and contagious diseases including virus, disease, and infection from patients and specimens in working environment. All employees are offered the opportunity to receive the Hepatitis B vaccination series.

Equipment Use: Frequent use of telephone system and office equipment including but not limited to computer, printer, facsimile machine, copier, and general office supplies. OSHA: This position performs tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues; normal medical safety precautions and practices are required.

Work Hours: Eight to ten-hour workdays.

Mental Demands: Duties require attention to detail, alertness, problem-solving, tolerance to stress, and exercising sound judgment. Duties require high tolerance and adequate coping skills for dealing with loss, grief, and bereavement. Good stress reduction and management skills are essential.

V. REMARKS

The foregoing position description is not all-inclusive of the duties that may be assigned to the employee. To ensure maximum flexibility and efficiency and to encourage cross-training, employees will be assigned additional duties as deemed necessary or desirable by HICHC.

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