SSVF Carolinas Health Navigator - Durham

VOA Chesapeake and Carolinas•Durham, NC

11h•$47,500 - $47,500

About The Position

The Health Navigator provides day-to-day support and services to veteran households participating in the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, including households needing homelessness prevention, rapid re-housing, and transitional supportive services. The role connects clients with care, housing, high-quality evidence-based providers, and Veterans Administration Medical Center services, from intake and assessment through attainment or maintenance of permanent housing in their home community. It does not involve providing therapy or in-person clinical services, but may include short-term support in person, by phone, and by email. The position manages crises involving complex behavioral health needs, provides brief risk assessment, safety planning, and de-escalation, and coordinates with clients, families, VA services, housing agencies, and community partners. It manages an independent caseload, develops service plans, supports housing transitions and stability, and maintains complete and timely client documentation and statistical reporting. The position is based in the SSVF Carolinas program in Durham, North Carolina, and includes telework capacity and travel throughout the Carolinas region as needed, with travel listed as up to 50%.

Requirements

Master’s-level social worker or equivalent education, with experience in counseling psychology, nursing, rehabilitative counseling, or a related human-services field.
Ability to manage crises and provide brief risk assessment, safety planning, and de-escalation.
Ability to provide short-term support in person, by phone, and by email.
Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle for transporting oneself, consumers, and program supplies as necessary.
Valid driver’s license in the jurisdiction of residence and eligibility to drive under Agency MVR guidelines.
Vehicle liability coverage if driving a personal vehicle.
Acceptable criminal-background check, OIG Exclusion check, and negative drug screening.
Acquire and maintain CPR/First Aid Certification once employed.
Ability to travel to assigned locations and perform the physical duties described, including standing, stooping, bending, reaching, pulling, pushing, lifting, grasping, climbing, talking, seeing, hearing, light home-maintenance activities, operating office equipment, repetitive hand/arm movements, and sitting for extended periods.

Nice To Haves

Clinical license preferred but not required.
Experience working with homeless individuals and families, including veterans, is a plus.
Comfort working in environments with constantly evolving responsibilities.
Passion for connecting individuals with excellent care.

Responsibilities

Coordinate collaborative SSVF Program efforts; schedule visits to the VA, shelters, and other places where homeless and low-income veteran families are likely to congregate; and maintain communication and updates with the VA and key housing and community providers.
Manage client crises by providing brief risk assessment, safety planning, and de-escalation, with the goal of connecting clients to therapeutic services.
Independently manage a caseload of complex, multi-need clients.
Communicate professionally with clients throughout the process of accessing care by email, phone, and occasionally text.
Conduct housing and comprehensive supportive-services assessments and develop comprehensive Family Services Plans.
Coordinate services between the local VAMC and community partners for persons served and their families or supporters.
Work with persons served, family members, housing agencies, and professionals to revise service plans and develop placement, stabilization, and follow-up plans.
Provide or arrange support for veterans transitioning to or maintaining permanent housing.
Travel to housing sites to support persons served, monitor progress, and address health, behavioral, or life-skills issues.
Communicate with clients’ service teams, in accordance with confidentiality rules, to rapidly address service or support issues, particularly those involving living skills, employment, education, family, and socialization.
Ensure veterans and families receive services supporting rapid re-housing, assessed needs, healthy decision-making, financial independence, and relationships in the home community.
Participate in program and professional supervision; attend required staff and Program Management Team meetings and trainings; and contribute to collaborative team planning.
Complete other duties as needed and requested.
Maintain complete and timely client-file documentation and document and report statistical information.
Drive a personal vehicle for company business as required, and potentially transport clients or drive a van.