Behavioral Health Navigator I - UPMC Western Maryland (Casual)

UPMC•Cumberland, MD

2d•Onsite

About The Position

UPMC Western Behavioral Health is hiring a casual Behavioral Health Navigator I to support UPMC Western Maryland. The role assesses and navigates patients and families in collaboration with attending psychiatrists and other staff in the Western Maryland Emergency Department and Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit. The navigator develops initial treatment plans to support disposition planning and assists with bed placement and disposition planning. The role also identifies patient acuity and facilitates effective communication about patient care, operations, and disposition. The position involves varied shifts, including days, evenings, nights, and weekends. Master's-level candidates and candidates with Maryland licensure (LGPC, LCPC, LMSW, or LCSW-C) are strongly preferred. Applicants must include undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate transcripts with their application. The role requires CPR certification. The employee may be in rooms where medications are stored, but contact with medications is not allowed.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Counseling, or Social Work plus one year of direct mental health care experience, or a master's degree in Psychology, Counseling, or Social Work.
Applicants from other fields of study may be considered with at least 12 credits of coursework in human services and/or relevant mental health experience.
Ability to respond calmly and effectively to psychiatric and medical emergencies using good clinical judgment.
Ability to identify problems, implement resolutions, and reassess situations or problems.
Excellent interpersonal and verbal, nonverbal, face-to-face, and telephone communication skills; ability to interact directly and professionally with professional and non-professional contacts.
Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
Ability to work under stress amid unpredictable patient flow and a sometimes-crowded work environment.
Warm, friendly, caring, kind, and hospitable disposition toward patients and colleagues.
Openness and willingness to learn.
Flexible schedule and ability to work rotating shifts.
Ability and willingness to work in a managed care environment.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.
Undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate transcripts must be included with the application.
No contact with medications is allowed.

Nice To Haves

Master's-level candidates are strongly preferred.
Maryland licensure is strongly preferred, including LGPC, LCPC, LMSW, or LCSW-C.

Responsibilities

Meet documentation standards and complete required paperwork, including psychiatric evaluations and commitment paperwork.
Use DSM-5 and develop provisional diagnoses.
Apply knowledge of mental health laws and review inpatient commitments for accuracy, competency, and proper time frames.
Understand insurance programs and processes and obtain authorizations as needed.
Participate in interdisciplinary activities, including staff meetings and assigned committees.
Maintain competency requirements.
Learn and use current technology to support patient assessment, disposition, and referral planning.
Handle a sizable volume of calls efficiently and direct callers to appropriate services or resources.
Follow outpatient scheduling and referral documentation guidelines.
Respond promptly to appointment or inpatient admission requests received by email, phone, or voicemail.
Review and summarize patient information for behavioral health unit admissions and triage patients for appropriate placement.
Verbally present cases to physicians and others.
Use triage and assessment skills to determine medical necessity or identify an appropriate outpatient clinic.
Provide coworkers, physicians, and outside agencies with accurate, timely information in a professional and courteous manner.
Access social systems by providing resource-specific information to patients and families, initiating contact with appropriate resources, and facilitating acceptance of referrals.
Respond calmly and effectively to psychiatric and medical emergencies using sound clinical judgment.
Identify problems, implement resolutions, and reassess situations or problems.
Collaborate within a multidisciplinary team and work effectively under stress with unpredictable patient flow in a sometimes-crowded environment.
Work a flexible schedule with rotating shifts.
Work in a managed care environment and deliver service with a consistently courteous, professional, and caring manner.