Healthcare Navigator

AMERICAN GI FORUM NATIONA • San Antonio, TX

9d

About The Position

The Healthcare Navigator connects Veterans to VA health care benefits or community health care services when Veterans are not eligible for VA care. The role provides case management and care coordination, health education, interdisciplinary collaboration and consultation, and administrative support. Healthcare Navigators work closely with each Veteran’s primary care provider and assigned interdisciplinary treatment team to help Veterans access and maintain health care services.

The position is the first point of contact for applicants and communicates with applicants, clients, staff, and outside agencies. It involves assessing Veterans’ needs and barriers to care, helping Veterans communicate care preferences and goals, coordinating referrals and community resources, monitoring progress, and maintaining comprehensive documentation. The Navigator also contributes to program procedures and evaluation, enters information into HMIS and other digital platforms, and provides subject matter expertise to staff and community providers.

The role primarily involves travel within the local city during the business day; some out-of-area travel by air or automobile may be expected at management’s discretion. Candidates must be willing to attend periodic training, be available to begin immediately, carry professional liability insurance, and have a valid driver’s license and vehicle general liability insurance. Employment is contingent on passing a drug test, background check, and motor vehicle record check.

Requirements

• Master’s in Social Work (MSW) or equivalent background in a health care or social services area of practice.
• Willingness to attend periodic training as required by the position.
• Availability to begin immediately.
• Professional liability insurance.
• Valid driver’s license and vehicle general liability insurance.
• Ability to pass a drug test, background check, and motor vehicle record check.
• Knowledge of social service resource systems and self-help intervention strategies.
• Ability to counsel populations experiencing mental health issues, substance abuse, or homelessness independently.
• Knowledge and skills in handling substance abuse and mental health issues.
• Ability to develop relationships using motivational interviewing techniques.
• Crisis intervention and conflict resolution skills, including motivational interviewing, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care.
• Knowledge of family budgeting and money management.
• Thoroughness and accuracy in data collection, data entry, and quality control in a web-based database.
• Patience, tolerance, tact, and diplomacy; clear and appropriately flexible boundaries; consistent energy and a positive demeanor.
• Strong oral and written communication and listening skills.
• Self-motivation, accountability, and organization.
• Familiarity with health care systems, particularly the Veterans Health Administration and VA.

Nice To Haves

• Documented experience working with Veterans, being a Veteran, or being a Veteran’s spouse is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the first point of contact for applicants and communicate effectively with clients, staff, and outside agencies.
• Assess Veterans in collaboration with the interdisciplinary treatment team, Veterans, family members, and significant others, identifying strengths, limitations, risks, supports, service needs, and barriers to care.
• Act as a liaison between the SSVF grantee, VA and community medical clinics, and other health care providers to coordinate care for Veterans with complex needs.
• Work closely with Veterans’ multidisciplinary teams, including medical, nursing, administrative, and case management personnel.
• Provide timely, appropriate, Veteran-centered, and equitable care in collaboration with the SSVF team.
• Help Veterans communicate their care preferences and personal health-related goals and support shared decision-making.
• Provide education and support to Veterans and families, identify credible resources, and participate in developing care plans, referrals, outreach, and community services.
• Review care plan goals, conduct regular non-clinical barrier assessments, and provide resources and referrals to address barriers.
• Periodically review the effectiveness of resources and modify them as needed.
• Monitor Veterans’ progress, maintain comprehensive documentation, and share relevant information with treatment team members.
• Communicate recommendations in understandable language and identify questions Veterans, families, and caregivers may have about treatment.
• Provide comprehensive case management and care coordination across episodes of care, proactively supporting Veterans to optimize treatment interventions and outcomes.
• Coordinate services with organizations and programs to ensure complementary services, continuity of care, and effective service delivery.
• Represent the SSVF program in contacts with other agencies and the public, and serve as a liaison to VA and community health care programs.
• Coordinate supportive services, including housing, financial benefits, and transportation, in collaboration with the Veteran’s SSVF housing Case Manager.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on community resources related to Veterans’ needs.
• Identify health education needs and provide appropriate education and materials suited to Veterans’ health literacy levels.
• Collaborate and consult with other disciplines, understand team roles, and work within professional boundaries.
• Follow ethical principles and requirements concerning confidentiality, informed consent, relevant laws, and agency policies, including critical incident reporting, HIPAA, and Duty to Warn.
• Assist in developing policies and procedures related to the specialty and program.
• Enter relevant data into HMIS and other digital platforms in a timely manner and maintain accurate, detailed case notes.
• Provide subject matter expertise to staff and community providers on the specialty area of practice.
• Develop evaluation components and outcome indicators and report evaluation results to VA and organizational leadership.
• Travel primarily within the local city during the business day and, when required at management’s discretion, travel out of the area by airline or automobile.

Benefits

• $500 company-provided monthly allowance for benefits including dental, health, and vision insurance.
• Employer-paid base $25,000 life insurance.
• Voluntary life and AD&D insurance for the employee, spouse, and children; employee paid.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance; employee paid.
• Supplemental insurance.
• Retirement program with 6% employer matching after one year of employment; 100% vested.
• 12 hours of PTO monthly after the completed probationary period.
• 5% salary increase after completing the probationary period.
• Cell phone stipend paid quarterly.
• 14 paid holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time