Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary:

Forensic Behavioral Health Navigators help individuals with mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders “navigate" the criminal justice and behavioral health systems - including the maze of treatment programs, courts, law enforcement, probation and parole, and community support services so that they can live successful lives in the community. Navigators reduce barriers that keep individuals with behavioral health challenges from getting timely treatment in the Least Restrictive Alternative setting by identifying behavioral health needs and connecting individuals to appropriate resources and away from jails and state hospitals. The linkage is intended to divert individuals from further penetration in the criminal justice system; provide alternatives to arrest and institutionalization in state facilities; and support reentry from jail and from state hospital facilities.

The Behavioral Health Navigator - State Hospital Specialist will provide ongoing support for individuals reentering the community from Norristown State Hospital, Wernersville State Hospital and/or the Philadelphia Department of Prisons. This position will require coordination, collaboration, and necessary follow up for individuals in the forensic and behavioral health systems. The Behavioral Health Navigator - State Hospital Specialist will work in tandem with the larger system to assist in connecting people to the most appropriate community services by assisting with release planning, continuity of care, and decreasing recidivism to the criminal justice system.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as a liaison between Norristown State Hospital (NSH), Wernersville State Hospital (WeSH) and the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP) to ensure that individuals are prepared for release to the community.
• Coordinate care upon release from either NSH, WeSH or PDP with community providers to ensure proper implementation of placement/treatment of consumers with complex needs through assisting with applications and completing administrative documentation, including completing COMPASS applications to activate maximum benefits (e.g., Medicaid, SSI) as needed.
• Work closely with the BHJD’s Clinical Team, Associate Director of Reentry Initiatives and Re-Enhy Peer Specialist to coordinate individuals transitioning from NSH, WeSH/PDP to community placements. This includes participating in Norristown and Wernersville State Hospital Community Support Planning (CSP).
• Communicate with the courts, Norristown State Hospital staff, Wernersville State Hospital staff, Philadelphia Prison System staff, forensic residential facilities, and other relevant criminal justice and behavioral health partners and facilitate movement through all levels of placement.
• Provide advocacy, technical support, and resource information to families of persons in recovery who receive services in the DBHIDS system while at CSP meetings, at court, in community meetings and as directed.
• Facilitate flow through the forensic system and community integration in support of current efforts in de- institutionalization through inter- and intra-agency communication; support implementation of placements/treatment of consumers with complex needs.
• Completing administrative documentation necessary to secure housing and treatment placement.
• Enter and maintain clinical and program data.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings and supervision.
• Other temporary duties, as needed.

Skills Required:

• Ability to manage and track information of individuals reentering the community from NSH, WeSH or PDP to ensure smooth transitions into housing and treatment placements.
• Strong clinical and case management skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of and ability to navigate the behavioral health and criminal justice systems in Philadelphia.
• Demonstrated understanding of and ability to navigate the state hospital discharge system in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• Knowledge of mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and co-occurring challenges.
• Knowledge of how behavioral health issues intersect with the criminal justice system in the City of Philadelphia.
• Cross-cultural skills and experience with culturally diverse populations. Recovery experience preferred.
• Knowledge of benefits, how to activate benefits, and how to leverage benefits to access treatment and resources.
• Demonstrated excellence in written and oral communication skills. Knowledge of multiple languages a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Ability to work cooperatively and communicate effectively with a wide variety of individuals and agencies representing varying perspectives and interests.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelors level degree in social work, psychology, or related field in humanities. Strong preference for individuals with at least two years of experience working with behavioral health and/or justice-involved populations and coordinating care between systems.

OR

• High school diploma with at least 5 years of experience working with behavioral health and/or justice-involved populations and experience in coordinating care between systems.

Essential Functions:

• Understanding of, and experience working with, individuals with serious mental health and substance abuse issues and criminal justice involvement.
• Ability to effectively use computers, databases, and related common office software packages such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Equal Opportunity Employment:

PMHCC, Inc. is committed to equal opportunity. It is our policy to support equal employment for all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual preferences, age, national origin, disability, behavioral health status, military status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Americans with Disabilities Act:

Employees as well as applicants who are currently, or become disabled, must be able to perform the functions of the job with either reasonable accommodation or unaided. PMHCC, Inc. will examine reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the law.

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