inRESPONSE System Navigator

Description

Buckelew Programs, a non-profit, behavioral healthcare organization, is hiring a bilingual System Navigator to join our team. In this role you, will work within the inRESPONSE Mental Health Support team to provide support and system navigation to individuals who have experienced a mental health or behavioral health crisis and/or their loved ones.  This is a field position and the pay rate listed includes a bilingual Spanish / English differential.  

inRESPONSE is a multi-disciplinary Mobile Crisis Team that operates within Santa Rosa city limits, providing a mental health first approach. The System Navigation team provides follow-up, wrap around support and resource connection with the aim of moving individuals and their supporters out of crisis. The System Navigator will act as an advocate and liaison between individuals and the connection to community supports and the continuum of care. This includes collaborating and working with mental health and health care systems, multidisciplinary partners, community providers, and family members or loved ones.

WHAT YOU WILL DO: 

Direct Service: Peer System Navigation, Advocacy and Support

• Provide system navigation and support to individuals who have experienced a mental health or behavioral health challenge.
• Act as a bridge between a mobile crisis intervention and access to follow up care and resources. 
• Work amongst a multi-disciplinary team, building relationships with community-based organizations, clinicians, health care staff, and other providers.
• Promote a recovery-oriented approach, utilizing harm reduction strategies to support individuals and their loved ones.
• Provide transportation in personal and agency vehicles as directed.   
• Monitor for safety and wellbeing; utilize emergency services and mandated reporting as required. 
• Investigate concerns and/or grievances as a designated representative of inRESPONSE clients and family members or identified support persons. 
• Facilitate connections to community-based supports, mental health care, physical health care, and other identified protective factors, including family and peer-based supports. 
• Care coordinate with other individuals, organizations, and systems providing support.
• Represent individuals and families within the behavioral health system to assure that services are delivered with cultural sensitivity and in the preferred language of the individual/family receiving support services.

Administrative

• Enter, track, and manage client and family services data in our electronic health records.
• Maintain written records of client and identified support persons’ requests for assistance, including describing problems, actions taken, and results. 
• Communicate effectively with the client, family or identified support persons, inRESPONSE team members. supervisors, managers, administrators, and other involved entities, about concerns or pertinent issues.
• Maintain client confidentiality; obtain all appropriate and agreed upon releases of information.
• Assist Program Manager in planning, implementing and monitoring of services to meet the needs of the client.
• Provide input to the Program Manager and other members of the inRESPONSE Team in the development of peer and family member policies.
• Attend team meetings for inRESPONSE, Buckelew, and other meetings as directed. 

Resource/Outreach/Engagement

• Act as a representative of inRESPONSE/Buckelew Programs at events, community committees, task forces and in all community settings.
• Perform community outreach and engage in public speaking to increase public awareness of the impact of mental illness on clients and families, and the importance of stigma reduction.
• Help organize and participate in community events to promote inRESPONSE and Buckelew Programs, provide resources, and decrease stigma.
• Develop and maintain community resources in order to provide clients and families with appropriate and up-to-date resources and support.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with community providers, law enforcement partners, and across the inRESPONSE multi-disciplinary team.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: BA/BS degree in Social Science discipline; OR Peer Support Specialist Certification; OR Patient Navigation Certification; OR Certification in Community Health, Advocacy, Drug and Alcohol or similar discipline preferred. A minimum of one-year experience working with adults with serious and persistent mental illness or children diagnosed with serious emotional disturbance as a Peer Support Specialist or Family Advocate, or significant involvement and work in the mental health family advocate movement. Strong understanding of mental health systems, community services and supports identified through experience.

Professional: Computer and office skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, Google Docs, email, fax, cloud-based programs, and electronic health records (EHR) are needed, accompanied by excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must be fluent in English and Spanish (written and verbal); bicultural preferred. Must understand and be sensitive and responsive to serving culturally diverse populations. Ability to work autonomously with focused direction, advocate for team approach, utilize strong organizational skills, project appropriate confidence, listen well, problem solve in on-the-spot situations, remain calm and reassuring in unexpected situations while maintaining confidentiality. Must have an interest in working with persons with mental and/or behavioral health disabilities. Able to identify areas needing improvement and to take initiative to suggest viable alternatives. Ability to work flexible hours required (generally normal business hours, with occasional flexibility needed for evening availability). Must be able to work within with all the rules, regulations, and policies that govern agency compliance. Applicants must have valid California drivers license with an insurable driving record, use of own vehicle (mileage will be reimbursed). Ability to meet contract requirements. A lived family or consumer experience with mental health and/or addiction desired.

BENEFITS: Medical, dental, vision and life and long-term disability insurance, Employee Assistance Program, flexible spending accounts for health, dependent and transit costs, retirement savings plan with company match, eligibility for loan forgiveness, continuing education credits available through our learning management system, paid meal breaks and generous paid time off.

DEI STATEMENT: Buckelew Programs values transparency, equity, accountability and inclusion. As a behavioral health organization, we firmly believe that feeling understood, accepted, and supported is essential to mental well-being and promoting recovery; we welcome all people regardless of identities and circumstances. As a thought leader in mental health, substance misuse, suicide prevention, housing equity and community building, we recognize the need to stay current and responsive to diverse communities by bringing different people together to be their authentic selves.

AA/EOE

Salary : $27 - $29