Substance Use Navigator (SUN)F

University of Pennsylvania • Philadelphia, PA

89d • $52,500 - $53,000

About The Position

This full time position is for a Substance Use Navigator (SUN) who will be a core member of a collaborative care team. The team includes Penn Medicine on Demand clinicians (PMOD), the PI and CO PI, program manager, and CRS Director. The Substance use navigator will be part of a partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and Office of Public Safety project expanding SUN navigation services in various settings. This individual will rapidly connect patients. This person will develop relationships with community groups/agencies in partnership with others in the agency. The substance use navigator will be responsible for updating and expanding resources within Penn and with community practices (communities of recovery, educational, vocational, social, cultural, spiritual resources, mutual self-help groups, professional services, etc.). This will involve a collaborative effort including the recovering person, agency staff and other relevant stakeholders. The SUN will be responsible for managing their own caseload of patients by providing patients with recovery education and by providing a model for both people in recovery and staff by demonstrating that recovery is possible. The SUN will maintain contact either in-person, by phone or e-mail with the recovering person once they are connected with care and throughout the intervention to ensure ongoing success and to provide re-engagement support in partnership with others in the agency if needed. This individual will assist the recovering person to identify their personal interests, goals, strengths and weaknesses regarding recovery and link them to needed resources. The SUN will help patients identify barriers to accessing care to assist in recovery-related activities and develop strategies to overcome those barriers.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science and 2 to 3 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• A degree in behavioral health, nursing, or related field is preferred.
• Must have 2 or more years of prior behavioral health experience and knowledge of behavioral health resources.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively in a team setting.
• Ability to work with patients by telephone and in-person.
• Ability to supervise others.
• Ability to quickly assimilate new information in a fast paced work environment with enthusiasm.
• Well organized and demonstrates skill in prioritizing competing job duties.
• Ability to utilize computer software (Word, Outlook, Excel).
• Special interest in those who have previous experience working in community-based substance use organization or in under-resourced settings.

Responsibilities

• Assess patient needs and navigate to appropriate resources.
• Support patients in the continuum of care.
• Follow patients throughout the care continuum, facilitate and expedite appointments for follow-up and acute care, consults and support services including behavioral health clinicians, social workers, physicians, community agencies, etc.
• Serve as an essential link between patients and all other care providers and clinical and research staff.
• Maintain and expand communication with clinical partners to raise awareness of the resource.
• Outreach to Penn departments and community partners to update and expand resources.
• Establish and maintain relationships with Philadelphia’s buprenorphine resources and targeted organizations and utilize those relationships to maintain a working knowledge of surrounding resources including visiting referral facilities.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits.
• Tuition assistance for employees, spouses, and dependent children.
• Generous retirement plans including Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans.
• Substantial time away from work for personal needs.
• Long-term care insurance for faculty and staff.
• Wellness and work-life resources.
• Professional and personal development resources.
• Access to University resources and cultural activities.
• Discounts and special services for faculty and staff.
• Flexible work options.
• Home ownership services including a forgivable loan for eligible employees.
• Adoption assistance for qualified expenses.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees