What are the responsibilities and job description for the SSVF Health Care Navigator position at Volunteers of America Southeast, Inc?
Program: Supportive Services for Veteran Families
Position: SSVF Health Care Navigator
Reports to: Veteran Services Program Manager
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Function:
SSVF Health Care Navigators are employed by SSVF Grantees to provide services that include connecting Veterans to VA health care benefits or community health care services where Veterans are not eligible for VA care. SSVF Health Care Navigators provide case management and care coordination, health education, interdisciplinary collaboration, coordination, and consultation, and administrative duties. SSVF Health Care Navigators work closely with the Veteran’s primary care provider and members of the Veteran’s assigned interdisciplinary treatment team.
The SSVF Health Care Navigator works closely with the Veteran’s assigned multidisciplinary team, including medical, nursing, and administrative specialists, and case management personnel. The SSVF Health Care Navigator works within this team to provide timely, appropriate, Veteran centered care equitably. The SSVF Health Care Navigator works collaboratively with the team and the Veteran to identify and address systems challenges for enhanced care coordination as needed.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's level social worker or equivalent education and experience is required. Licensed as a LCSW or LMSW is preferred. A minimum of two years’ experience working in the healthcare system is preferred and experience working with homeless individuals and families including veterans is preferred. Veteran or member of a veteran family is preferred.
Principal Activities:
- Conducts assessments of the Veteran in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Veteran, family members, and significant others. The purpose of the assessment is to understand the Veteran’s situation, potential barriers to care, the causes, and the impact of such barriers on the Veteran’s ability to access and maintain health care services.
- The SSVF Health Care Navigator works closely with Veterans to assist them in communicating their preferences in care and personal health-related goals to facilitate shared decision making of the Veteran’s care.
- The SSVF Health Care Navigator serves as a resource for education and support for Veterans and families and helps identify appropriate and credible resources and support tailored to the needs and desires of the Veteran.
- May participate in the development of the Veteran’s care plan; however, the Health Care Navigator’s emphasis is on community services, outreach, and referrals needed for the Veteran.
- Periodically evaluates the effectiveness of the resources and referrals provided and makes appropriate modifications to ensure the provision of high-quality care and interventions. The SSVF Health Care Navigator monitors Veteran’s progress, maintains comprehensive documentation, and provides information to treatment team members when appropriate.
- Reiterates provider recommendations using clear language to support the Veteran and family members or caregivers. The SSVF Health Care Navigator assists Veterans in identifying concerns or questions about their treatment or medications to develop open communication with the provider or treatment team.
- Acts as a health coach by proactively supporting the Veteran to optimize treatment interventions and outcomes.
- The SSVF Health Care Navigator modifies services to meet the needs of Veterans best and coordinates services with other organizations and programs to assure such services are complementary and comprehensive; directs activities to maximize effectiveness, efficiency, and continuity of care for Veterans; provides case management services to Veterans serves as the liaison to VA and community health care programs, and represents the program in contacts with other agencies and the public.
- The Health Care Navigator collaborates with other providers in the ongoing reassessment of the Veteran’s health care needs. The Health Care Navigator is responsible for educating the Veteran and caregiver of the available services and assisting them in establishing the appropriate referrals based on the Veteran’s preference.
- The incumbent will determine the needs, strengths, limitations, and preferences of each Veteran and will engage in problem-solving to identify and reduce barriers to care. The Health Care Navigator will educate the Veteran and family on the available options for acquiring knowledge and skills for managing health and wellness.
- The incumbent coordinates referrals to VA, community health clinics, and other programs needed to ensure access to health care. The incumbent follows the care plan to facilitate adherence, and collaborates with community providers to maximize the use of VA and community resources.
- The incumbent acts as an advocate for the client, integrating the Veteran’s cultural values into their care plan. The Health Care Navigator assists the Veteran in identifying methods to monitor progress toward meeting health goals and provides ongoing follow up.
- The incumbent assists in identifying the Veteran and family's health education needs and provides education services and materials that match the health literacy level of the Veteran.
- The Health Care Navigator provides ongoing education support as needed to the Veteran and family member.
- The incumbent assists in identifying VA and community resources to prevent disease and promote self-care. For specialized health education outside of the incumbent’s scope of practice, the Health Care Navigator will refer Veterans and families to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member for identified health education needs.
Language skills:
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret, common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write communications and memorandums that conform to prescribe style and format. Must have the ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups and/or boards of directors.
American with Disabilities Specifications:
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hand to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop; kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust or focus.
Work Environment:
Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
