Substance Use Navigator

University of Pennsylvania•Philadelphia, PA

1d•Onsite

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 project expanding low barrier buprenorphine treatment access via a warmline. This individual will rapidly connect patients with opiate use disorder to a PMOD clinician, and community follow up care. 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. The target population are individuals with opioid use disorders and in need of buprenorphine access. Position contingent upon funding.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science and 1 to 2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
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, Exel).

Nice To Haves

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.
Documentation, collaboration with warmline team, and training.
Maintain and expand communication with clinical partners to raise awareness of the warmline.
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.
Flexible spending accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
Tuition assistance for employees, spouses, and dependent children.
Generous retirement plans (Basic, Matching, and Supplemental) with pre-tax or Roth options.
Substantial amount of time away from work (vacations, personal affairs, illness, injury, family time).
Long-Term Care Insurance.
Wellness and Work-life Resources.
Professional and Personal Development resources.
Access to a wide range of University resources, cultural and recreational activities.
Discounts and Special Services (arts, entertainment, transportation, mortgages, new cars, cellular phone service, movie tickets, theme parks).
Flexible Work Hours.
Penn Home Ownership Services (forgivable loan for eligible employees).
Adoption Assistance (reimbursement for qualified expenses).