Position Details

Pathway to Care Navigator

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The Gulf Coast Center- Job Description

Title: Pathway to Care Navigator- Crisis Services 

Location: Office in Texas City, TX. Serves Galveston County

FLSA Status: Exempt 

Working Status: Full Time with Benefits

Summary:

The Pathway to Care Navigator assists with the day-to-day operations of the Gulf Coast Center's Zero Suicide Pathways to Care Initiative within crisis services.  The Pathway to Care is a specialized case management track in Gulf Coast Center Mental Health Services for adult and child clients identified with suicidal risk including individuals experiencing suicidal thinking/impulses, overwhelming depression, or other mental health crisis related to safety. The Pathway to Care Navigator provides intensive case management, crisis relapse prevention and suicide-specific interventions including safety planning interventions, Counseling on Access to Lethal Means, Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention until the client's crisis is resolved.

The Pathway to Care Navigator will maintain a caseload of individuals served.  The Pathway to Care Navigator will create and maintain a safe, calm, and secure environment with supportive care, trauma-informed practices, and recovery-focused, consumer-driven services.  Pathway to Care Navigator will be trained in and provide evidence-based therapy, as well as psychoeducation within their scope of training and expertise. Data collection and reporting is required, and strong organizational skills is a necessity. The Pathway to Care Navigator receives direct supervision from Director of Crisis Services.

Gulf Coast Center is committed to fostering an open, inclusive, and supportive environment that welcomes and embraces diversity in all forms. Gulf Coast Center defines diversity broadly including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, abilities (mental/physical), gender, gender identity, immigrant status, language, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, veteran status, and age. Gulf Coast Center embraces trauma sensitive and informed practices, provides suicide safer care, and fosters a safe and compassionate environment that promotes racial and health equity.

Required Education:   

  • Requires a bachelors degree or equivalent in the behavioral sciences field of study from an accredited college or university and/or specialized LPHA certification.

Preferred Education:

  •  Preferred Masters degree or equivalent in the behavioral sciences field of study from an accredited college or university and/or specialized LPHA certification.

Required Experience:

  • Experience in mental health services and knowledge about community resources and social services is preferred.
  • Training in suicide prevention and crisis intervention (upon hire).
  • Ability to work in a rapid pace environment in an organized and professional manner.
  • Ability to self-monitor production and quality with minimal assistance.
  • Proficient in the use of electronic data systems including electronic health records and business software such as Microsoft Word and Excel.
  • Ability to develop productive relationships with individuals and family members that focus on individual specific outcomes.
  • Ability to recognize barriers and coordination issues between service systems, and to advocate effectively for individuals served.
  • Organization and typing skills are a must.
  • The ability to work as a team member in a diverse environment interfacing with both internal and external customers.

Preferred Experience:

  • One year full-time experience providing human services is preferred.

Preferred License:

  • LMSW or LPC-Associate licensure


Ability:

  • Detailed knowledge of mental disorders and DSM criteria
  • Working knowledge of evidenced based therapy models
  • Basic knowledge of Trauma Informed Care model
  • Self-motivated with good time management skills
  • Effective interpersonal skills
  • Ability to establish cooperative relationships with individuals and their families
  • Mature problem solving and self-directed approach to daily work
  • Ability to accept responsibility and exercise independent judgment in making decisions
  • Ability to express self clearly and effectively, orally and in writing.
  • Requires ability to work within a team approach.
  • Requires proficiency with computer skills, programs, and email.

Working conditions:

  • Work will be performed in the Office, Field and/or remote setting(s).
  • May require varied work hours depending on need of clients.
  • Local travel will be required to meet with individuals and their families in the community. 
  • Occasional out of town travel may be needed to assist in service linkages. 
  • Out of region travel may be required to attend trainings.
  • Flexibility is needed in the work schedule to accommodate the needs of individuals and/or their families. 
  • Staff may periodically transport individuals in personal and/or Gulf Coast Center vehicles.
  • Requires flexibility to work in both Galveston and Brazoria counties. 
  • Requires current Texas Driver's License, reliable transportation safe and current with all state requirements, and liability insurance.

Job Duties: 

  • Completes intensive training in the Zero Suicide frameworks including the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). screener and the Pathway to Care.
  • Clients that are eligible for the Pathway to Care services include LOC 0 through LOC-5 adults and children that score at risk on the CSSRS suicide screeners, recently utilized crisis services, and that were discharged from an inpatient psychiatric hospital.  After any of these events, the clients are offered the Pathway to Care.
  • Pathway to care clients will be assisted with a Suicide Care Management Plan detailing the pathway to care services and education on the pathway to care.
  • Pathway to care clients will be assisted with Safety Planning Intervention and Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) including a CALM checklist.
  • Assign Pathway to Care customers to a special Pathway to Care program enrollment for LOC-0 through LOC-5 clients who are identified as at risk for suicide and in need of the Pathway to Care.  
  • The Pathway to Care Navigators will ensure that the clients on the pathway to care provide emergency contacts sufficient to find the client in the event of a missed appointment.
  • Pathway to Care Navigators will provide LOC-0 through LOC-5 clients with a diagnostic (if fully licensed LPC) and complete the ANSA or CANS assessment in order to enroll the LOC-0 through LOC-5 crisis clients into LOC-5 for crisis relapse prevention as the client allows.
  • Pathway to Care Navigators will notify the patient's prescriber, the clinic manager and other staff involved in the patients care that the client is on the Pathway to Care.
  • The Pathway to Care Navigator provides intensive case management and crisis relapse prevention services within 24 hours of the initial crisis service and then every three days for high risk and every 7 days for moderate risk.  These services always include a new C-SSRS screener to determine the client's level of risk.  The case management and crisis relapse prevention services remain intensive with no less than weekly services until the client is assessed as no longer needing Pathway to Care services.
  • Pathway to care clients are to be scheduled with the psychiatrist within 7 days of their enrollment in pathway to care services.
  • All Pathway to Care clients will be offered Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) interventions.  Clients are offered CBT for Suicide Prevention as clinically indicated. 
  • Pathway to Care Navigators will assist with follow up within 24 hours with any pathway to care clients that miss an appointment.  The client's emergency contacts should be engaged if there is difficulty locating the client for follow up.  The Pathway to Care Navigator should initiate an in person home visit if contacting emergency contacts is not successful in getting in touch with the client following a missed appointment.
  • As directed by the Program manager the Pathway to Care Navigator will offer DBT therapy for the clients that don't stabilize or seem stuck in the pathway with no improvement with the other interventions.  
  • Clients on the Pathway also receive extra support in removing barriers that may hinder their engagement in treatment, such as transportation, housing, and food.
  • Pathway to Care Navigator follows the Pathway to Care discharge process and treats discharge from the Pathway as an opportunity to celebrate the client's success.  Pathway to Care discharge criteria include 2 consecutive CSSRS reflecting low risk, 2 or less crisis calls in the last 60 days and no hospitalization in the last 90 days.  The Pathway to Care Navigator will communicate with the client's clinic treatment team when a client is discharging from the pathway to care to ensure continuity of care.
  • The Gulf Coast Center Zero Suicide Team meets twice monthly to review the clients enrolled in the Pathway to Care, any barriers that have been identified, and success stories. The team also reviews data on the Pathway to Care including suicide screeners, suicide specific interventions, and outcomes. 
  • Completes diagnostic services (if fully licensed) as needed.
  • Conducts service delivery in accordance with standards as defined by state and local authority. 
  • Conducts the Adult Needs & Strengths Assessment (ANSA) as clinically indicated for individuals as required & assigned. 
  • Responsible for ensuring completion of the initial & annual ANSA recertification in accordance with the Praed Foundation & HHSC performance contract requirements.   A lapse/expiration of certification will result in termination of employment.  Exception:  If certification lapse/expiration is reported to supervisor within 24 hours of expiration date, employee will be granted opportunity to recertify by close of following business day.  Any lapse/expiration greater than 24 hours will result in termination of employment.   
  • Required to participate in semi-annual quality assurance training activity conducted by identified ANSA/CANS Super User. 
  • Identifies, arranges, advocates and collaborates with other agencies to assure an effective planned referral, discharge or transfer of services. 
  • Serve as member of the interdisciplinary treatment team providing individual/group therapy and crisis intervention services as needed and authorized by valid ANSA and Recovery Plan. 
  • All documentation is complete, accurate and clear as required by GCC Consumer Records Procedure within 2 business days..
  • Utilize Smartcare Reports and other report methodologies assigned to consistently monitor and complete required documentation as indicated by program standards. 
  • Meets or exceeds the established performance requirement for entire caseload each month.  Meets all productivity measures determined by leadership staff.
  • Effectively communicate with assigned team, collaborative agency members and leadership staff regarding service delivery, continuity of care and employment/administrative issues. 
  • Serve as primary staff for disaster recovery deployment, with the expectation that crisis services staff will keep up their training for Psychological First Aid. Staff will also be part of a rotation for disaster assistance at Disaster Recovery Centers, emergency shelters and other sites.
  • Will be responsible and accountable for the adherence to and promotion of the agency compliance policy and will require communication with various departments to foster, develop and continue our community partnerships as it relates to the position.
  • Strict adherence to the professional, ethical, and legal requirements set forth in GCC's Business Code of Conduct as well as the Corporate Compliance Plan.


Qualified individuals must be able to perform these functions with or without reasonable accommodations as based on ADA requirements.