Care Navigator Level 1: Community Based (69808)

About the Role

Provide outpatient care navigation services to adults, children, and families at NorthCare. The position ensures a continuum of health and behavioral healthcare while increasing client and family involvement as partners in their own health. This role meets productivity guidelines outlined by the outpatient management team.

Responsibilities

• Provide integrated services that are welcoming, engaging, and accessible, addressing physical healthcare, behavioral healthcare, and social needs. Services are recovery-focused, strength-based, culturally competent, patient-centered, trauma-informed, and co-occurring capable.
• Promote a warm and engaging organizational culture aligned with NorthCare values, trauma-informed care, and health and wellness.
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to support health behavior change in individuals with behavioral health challenges.
• Interact and collaborate professionally with clients, their families, support systems, and community partners to assist in achieving treatment goals.
• Conduct assessments to gather information about clients’ symptoms, behavior, functioning, history, needs, goals, and preferences. Develop a care management plan integrating physical and behavioral healthcare needs.
• Assist clients with obtaining and maintaining eligibility for health and disability benefits, affordable housing, reliable transportation, education or vocational programs, employment, and community resources. Build natural support systems and follow up to ensure services are received.
• Provide preventive interventions, linkage, and advocacy for services related to smoking cessation, nutrition, exercise, weight management, stress management, and chronic disease management.
• Coordinate care within and outside the agency across various treatment settings. Prepare clients for primary care appointments and enhance self-management and goal planning.
• Provide crisis management services, including face-to-face or telephone assessments of lethality, support systems, and arranging appropriate interventions, such as hospitalization. Consult with management or therapists to develop safety plans when necessary.
• Transport clients to community locations and provide in-home services.
• Monitor and track outcome measures for client caseload.
• Maintain clinical records in a timely manner, adhering to agency policy, funding source requirements, and accreditation standards.
• Complete all required forms and maintain documentation consistent with requirements.
• Maintain professional competency through readings, workshops, and training. Comply with certification requirements.
• Demonstrate knowledge of NorthCare’s electronic record system, CCBHC requirements, ODMHSAS Services manual, contract requirements, benchmarks, National Outcome Measures (NOMS), and Medicaid rules and regulations.
• Respond promptly to phone calls, text messages, and emails. Maintain consistent work attendance and communicate with supervisors regarding late arrivals or absences.
• Adhere to dress code expectations.
• Complete all NorthCare-required courses and training, and comply with agency policies and procedures, including confidentiality requirements, documentation deadlines, and productivity expectations.
• Perform any reasonable work requested that falls within the qualifications but is not specifically described in the job description.

Requirements

• Meet the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) criteria for Behavioral Health Case Management II (CM II):
  • High school diploma or GED and a minimum of 36 months of direct consumer care in the mental health and/or substance use field, or
  • Completion of 60 college credit hours and a minimum of 12 months of direct consumer care in the mental health and/or substance use field, or
  • A bachelor’s or master’s degree in any field and a minimum of 6 months of direct consumer care in the mental health and/or substance use field, or
  • A bachelor’s or master’s degree in a behavioral health-related field, or
  • A current license as a registered nurse in Oklahoma with documented experience in behavioral healthcare.
• Obtain ODMHSAS Case Management certification within 60 days of hire if not currently certified, and complete annual continuing education requirements to maintain certification.
• Preferred: Minimum of one (1) year of experience in a mental health-related field or experience working in a healthcare setting.
• This is a community-based position requiring services to be provided in non-NorthCare office settings for 20+ hours of a 40-hour workweek or over 50% of the designated workweek. Community settings include clients’ homes, local venues, or agencies, and may involve telehealth or outdoor confidential spaces.
• Expected to use critical thinking skills for appropriate staffing of situations due to limited onsite supervision.
• Must travel to and from appointments and have "business purposes" added to auto insurance. Eligible for a phone and hotspot stipend.
• Considered essential workers and may be required to work holidays, weekends, or during closures.
• High degree of flexibility and efficiency required.
• Proficiency in MS Word and intermediate general computer skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively in English with clients.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to move about facilities freely.
• Casual professional dress adhering to dress code requirements.
• Access to reliable transportation and verification of a valid Oklahoma driver’s license during employment.
• Verification of current automobile liability insurance, including uninsured motorist coverage.
• Possess and maintain CPR, First Aid, and Therapeutic Options certifications, or obtain within 30 days of employment.
• Complete Co-Occurring Training and Trauma-Informed Training within 60 days of employment.
• TB test within 12 months prior to employment or obtain within 30 days of employment.
• Adhere to all applicable laws, professional standards, and ethical codes.