School Based Bh-Patient Navigator

I. POSITION FUNCTION SUMMARY

Under the general direction of the School-Based Health Director and Health Programs Manager, the School-Based Behavioral Health-Patient Navigator (BH-PN) is responsible for assessing students' needs, developing, implementing, and reviewing service plans, and collaborating with other community resources to meet and achieve students' service needs.

The School-Based Behavioral Health Patient Navigator will work closely with various departments within Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center (HICHC) to facilitate students’ access to behavioral health and medical care. Additionally, they will identify social determinants of health (SDOH) needs in the school population and establish student specific solutions through partnerships with community organizations or other agencies.

II. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This position may have various work assignments within HICHC. This description is intended to be generic in nature, and as such it does not detail all duties and responsibilities of the particular job assignment. Various duties, responsibilities and accountabilities may be assigned to an incumbent in this position depending on the specific job assignment, and may include but not be limited to the following:

• Participates as directed in the screening of new service requests within the school-based health center by employing agency-approved procedures to ensure that all students/patients are adequately and appropriately served according to their individual needs and in accordance with existing HICHC policies and procedures.
• Works directly with students/patients to reduce barriers and address social determinants of health (SDOH) issues to improve access to healthcare and enhance the quality of students' lives.
• Educates students/patients on social determinants of health and assists in navigating various systems.
• Promotes awareness of how social determinants of health affect student/patient outcomes.
• Accepts newly assigned cases with completed diagnostic intake by a licensed provider and conducts case management assessments on all students entering the caseload.
• Develops appropriate treatment/service plans with students to implement services effectively and establish alliances with them; increasing access and engagement with mental health, substance use, and medical treatment.
• Provides ongoing supportive and/or case management functions to help students/patients achieve their goals and objectives, documents all service contacts in accordance with agency and regulatory standards.
• Participates in the development and implementation of specialized support services, such as Education and Wellness groups; focusing on health education and social-emotional well-being.
• Collaborates with school staff to integrate health education and social-emotional wellness programming into the school environment.
• Participates in interagency planning and service coordination activities to improve service continuity and effectiveness for students/patients, including referrals to interagency programs if meeting the requirements of a Qualified Mental Health Professional.
• Meets regularly with immediate supervisor to enhance professional growth, review and process the provision of case management services, and address administrative issues.

Requirements of Position

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.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant human services field plus at least one year of experience required; OR any equivalent combination of experience, training, and/or education.
• Previous experience working in a team environment, clinical experience with diverse clinical populations, and knowledge of the Hawaiʻi Island community preferred.

Licenses and Certifications

Competencies

• Social Skills: Interacts professionally with colleagues and students, models teamwork, and maintains a positive attitude.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully, and utilizes management appropriately.
• Leadership: Inspires and motivates others to perform well, accepts feedback, and promotes a positive organizational culture that embraces diversity.

Skills and Specifications

• Sympathetic and compassionate to students' issues.
• Good communication skills.
• Ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Prioritization and task balancing skills in a high-paced environment.
• Ability to work independently.
• Emotionally stable, sensitive, mature, with the ability to effectively deal with various people.
• Ability to evaluate problems and identify unique approaches to treatment.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extensive periods of time.
• Manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination to provide nursing care and operating equipment.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to stoop, squat, or bend frequently.
• Corrected vision and hearing within normal range to observe and communicate with patients and
• professional staff.
• Exposure to patient elements including communicable disease and bloodborne pathogens.
• Exposure to toxic substances, ionizing radiation, medicinal preparations, and other common hazards of a healthcare clinic.

Personal characteristics

Confidential and Sensitive Information

IV. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS/WORKING CONDITIONS

General Remarks: The work environments described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential tasks and functions.

Environment: Noise le­vel in the work environment is low to moderate. There are no known environmental hazards on the premises. Work environment is often stressful and may be subject to frequent interruptions. Work is in the office. Occasional travelling off site may be required. Incumbent may be exposed to patient’s conditions and some unpleasant sights, smells and contagious diseases including virus, disease and infection from patients and specimens in working environment. All employees are offered the opportunity to receive the Hepatitis B vaccination series.

Equipment Use: Frequent use of telephone system and office equipment including but not limited to computer, printer, facsimile machine, copier and general office supplies. This position may involve tasks with exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues, requiring normal medical safety precautions and practices.

Work Hours: Eight to ten-hour workdays. This position is exempt under the provisions of the Fair labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is not subject to the policies and procedures pertaining to overtime hours and premium pay. The foregoing position description is not all-inclusive of the duties that may be assigned to the employee. In order to ensure maximum flexibility and efficiency and to encourage cross training, employees will be assigned additional duties as deemed necessary or desirable by WHCHC.

Mental Demands: Duties require attention to detail, alertness, problem solving, tolerance to stress and exercising sound judgement. Duties require high tolerance and adequate coping skills for dealing with loss, grief and bereavement. Good stress reduction and management skills are essential.

V. REMARKS

The foregoing position description is not all-inclusive of the duties that may be assigned to the employee. To ensure maximum flexibility and efficiency and to encourage cross training, employees will be assigned additional duties as deemed necessary or desirable by HICHC.