General Purpose

The Behavioral Health Navigator responds to behavioral health related calls with law enforcement to provide crisis de-escalation, intervention, assessment, linkage to appropriate services, and assistance in identifying client and family needs, gaps in service, and opportunities for assistance.

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.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

• Works collaboratively with the police and law enforcement agencies to respond to individuals in crisis to prevent further criminal justice involvement, or hospitalization when possible and provide follow up to ensure service needs are met.
• Assesses client's behavioral health status, makes appropriate level of care decisions on scene, and provides evidence-based intervention strategies.
• Provides risk assessment and intervention as part of the interdisciplinary team.
• Refers to Mobile Crisis Clinicians for in-depth assessment and evaluations.
• Documents all patient contacts and other clinical information in the health record system.
• Work close with individuals to identify and address barriers that prevents them from getting ongoing resources and treatment and provide advocacy and care management for high acuity clients.
• Work with local law enforcement to help patient access community behavioral health resources.
• Provide community outreach and education.
• Serve as an information resource to co-workers, clients, and the general public.
• Participates in job-related training sessions and seminars.
• Attends required staff meetings.

Other Duties/Responsibilities:

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Duties (if any):

None

Job Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Ability:

• Ability to comprehend or learn, and maintain department practices, rules and regulations.
• Ability to operate telephone, computer, and other specialized communication equipment.
• Ability to work within a Windows operating system and related programs.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively verbally and in writing to a diverse population.
• Ability to handle and set boundaries with clients in a calm, professional, and patient manner.
• Ability to think and react quickly and effectively to tense or emergency situations.
• Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
• Ability to be a team player.
• Ability to recall details from numerous informational resources.
• Ability to prioritize decisions based upon multiple criteria, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to multitask under stressful situations.
• Ability to remain alert, attentive and be engaged at all times.
• Ability to drive for transportation needs or local travel.
• Ability to go into the community for service visits, in-home visits.

Education or Formal Training:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Services, Criminal Justice, or related field preferred; experience in related field can be substituted for degree.

Experience:

• 2 years of experience in community services; including law enforcement, fire department, or emergency medical services.

Working Conditions and Other Conditions of Employment

Working Environment:

This job operates in a fast-paced, professional office environment and routinely requires the use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers. The position may require travel to conferences, meetings, and branch locations on a regular or intermittent basis. Work may involve moderate exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises. In the health center environment, there is potential for contact with blood-borne pathogens and communicable diseases, as well as potential for contact with dissatisfied or abusive individuals. There could be interaction with persons who are mentally ill, disabled, elderly and emotionally upset.

Physical Activities:

These are representative of those which must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

This is a sedentary role but can involve standing or sitting for extended periods of time, bending at the waist, and using hands and fingers to handle and file papers or operate assigned equipment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus. Employee may also have to lift 10 to 25 lbs. unassisted.

Conditions of Employment:

• Annual TB federally required drug screening, and Influenza vaccination or compliance with policy and procedure.
• Required possession of a valid state driver's license.
• Successful candidate must submit to and pass, post-offer drug screen.

Position may require working evenings and weekends.