Maternal Child Nursing Care Navigator

Overview

To assess, identify, and coordinate care needs of patients and families with substance‑exposed pregnancies and facilitate comprehensive care with internal and external services and/or organizations while maintaining maximum benefits from medical and welfare services and optimal communication with all involved care‑team members.

Responsibilities

• Performs assessments to obtain information on home environment, family relationships, health history, addiction treatment, and patient’s personality traits.
• Evaluates data gathered for medical‑plan treatment, available social‑service programs, and casework or group‑work knowledge, creating pertinent therapy programs to provide maximum benefits.
• Assists patients and/or families through various conferences to understand, accept, and follow medical recommendations and instructions.
• Acts as patient advocate and participates in conferences on behalf of patients with other hospital personnel and community agencies.
• Provides advisory services on social problems and arranges for discharge or postoperative care at home or in recovery organizations.
• Coordinates discharge planning and follow‑up to assure continuity of care.
• Provides counseling services to alleviate anxieties and/or fears concerning child care, personal care, addiction services, medically assisted treatment programs, or an uncertain future, assisting the patient in returning to community life.
• Offers advice on financial assistance to patients or families during illness and treatment.
• Performs or assists in studies, research projects, and data collection concerned with problems occurring in the field of medical social work.
• Prepares statistical and follow‑up reports for use in planning further programs and evaluating department performance.
• Participates in planning and implementing education and social programs with community organizations, hospitals, and home‑health agencies.
• Serves as consultant and resource person for other medical team members on the social and personal aspects of patient care.
• Performs other related duties within the scope of the job classification as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Social Work, or a related field (required).
• Minimum of two (2) years of casework experience preferred in one or more of the following settings: healthcare organizations, child‑welfare agencies, psychiatric clinics, family counseling services.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of case management principles and community resources.
• Ability to assess individual and family needs and develop appropriate service plans.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and counseling skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information professionally.
• Strong organizational, documentation, and problem‑solving abilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively with patients, families, healthcare providers, and community agencies.