Substance Use Navigation- ED- River Parish and St Charles Hospital
About The Position
The Substance Use Navigator (SUN) serves as a front-line resource in the Emergency Department, engaging patients with substance use disorders through compassionate, non-judgmental support. The role facilitates rapid linkage to treatment, harm reduction services, and community-based resources to improve patient outcomes and reduce repeat Emergency Department utilization. The SUN may use lived experience with substance use and recovery, when appropriate, to build trust, reduce stigma, and support patients in navigating treatment and recovery pathways. The position supports Emergency Department operations and may require variable shifts, including overnights, weekends, and holidays. The candidate must be willing to travel to the Luling and LaPlace hospitals. The role involves direct patient care in a healthcare setting, with routine exposure to blood, body fluids, and tissue and potential occupational exposure to communicable diseases, hazardous medications, or hazardous waste. The physical demands are classified as Light Work, including exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently. The position requires a high school diploma or GED and at least one year of experience in healthcare, behavioral health, social services, community outreach, or a related area. An associate degree or bachelor's degree in social services, behavioral health, public health, or a related field is preferred. Preferred qualifications include relevant lived experience, experience in emergency, crisis, behavioral health, addiction treatment, community outreach, peer support, or case management settings, familiarity with medication-assisted treatment referral pathways, and related peer support, community health worker, SBIRT, or crisis de-escalation training.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED.
- At least one year of experience in healthcare, behavioral health, social services, community outreach, or a related area.
- Commitment to patient-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive care.
- Ability to engage diverse patient populations in high-stress environments.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and motivational interviewing skills.
- Knowledge of substance use disorder, recovery principles, and harm reduction strategies.
- Ability to maintain working relationships with community treatment providers, recovery organizations, and social service agencies to support timely patient linkage.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in documentation.
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
- Proficiency with electronic health records, basic computer applications, and accurate documentation workflows.
- Ability to recognize safety concerns and escalate patient behavioral health, intoxication, withdrawal, or crisis situations according to department protocols.
- Emotional resilience and ability to manage challenging or emotionally charged situations.
- Willingness to travel to the Luling and LaPlace hospitals.
Nice To Haves
- Associate degree or college diploma in social services, behavioral health, public health, or a related field.
- Bachelor's degree in social services, behavioral health, public health, or a related field.
- Personal lived experience of substance use and sustained recovery, or experience supporting a loved one; ability to use lived experience appropriately in a professional clinical setting.
- Experience working in an Emergency Department, crisis, behavioral health, addiction treatment, community outreach, peer support, or case management setting.
- Familiarity with medication-assisted treatment or medications for opioid use disorder referral pathways.
- Experience working with people experiencing homelessness, behavioral health conditions, justice involvement, or other social needs.
- Certified Peer Support Specialist or Peer Recovery Specialist certification.
- Community Health Worker (CHW) certification.
- Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) training.
- Crisis prevention and de-escalation training.
Responsibilities
- Conduct bedside engagement with Emergency Department patients identified as having substance use concerns, using trauma-informed and person-centered approaches.
- Establish rapport and build trust with patients, including those in crisis or ambivalent about treatment.
- Perform screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) activities.
- Educate patients and families about substance use disorder, harm reduction strategies, and available treatment options.
- Facilitate real-time referrals and warm handoffs to treatment programs, medication-assisted treatment providers, peer support and recovery services, and community and social support resources.
- Coordinate with Emergency Department clinicians, social workers, case managers, and behavioral health teams to support care plans.
- Document patient interactions and referrals accurately in the electronic health record.
- Assist with follow-up outreach, including phone calls and care coordination, to support continuity of care after discharge.
- Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings, case reviews, and program improvement efforts.
- Maintain current knowledge of substance use treatment resources, community programs, and regulatory requirements.
- Support tracking of referral completion, warm handoff outcomes, follow-up contact attempts, treatment linkage, and repeat Emergency Department utilization metrics.
- Perform other duties as assigned and comply with applicable policies, standards, laws, regulations, and accreditation requirements.
- Report known or suspected unethical or questionable conduct and patient or employee safety, privacy, or other compliance concerns.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Education Level
High school or GED
