Forensic BH Navigator- Private Counsel Navigator

Position Summary:

The Forensic Behavioral Health Navigator supports individuals to help them remain successfully in the community, helps individuals connect to service to assist from further penetration in the criminal justice system, provides connections to services serve as alternatives to arrect and incarceration, and supports community reentry from incarceration. This position will provide dedicated support to court-appointed counsel representing individuals in local custody.

The forensic behavioral health navigator will serve all programs offered by the Behavioral Health and Justice Division of the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS) which are at the intersection of the behavioral health and criminal justice. Navigators will specialize in work at the one intercept point (i.e., police, pre-trial, jail reentry, probation and parole), and will work across intercepts in response to the needs of the population of justice involved individuals with behavioral health needs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Forensic navigators help individuals with mental illness "navigate" the maze of treatment programs, the court system, and community support services for successful lives in the community. Navigators reduce barriers that keep individuals with mental illness from getting timely treatment by identifying behavioral health needs and diverting individuals to appropriate resources and away from jail.

Specific duties include:

• Support court appointed counsel for individuals in local custody
• Provide significant value by assisting counsel in navigating the behavioral health system on behalf of their clients
• Offers insight into reducing unnecessarily long lengths of stay for clients
• Provides a calm listening ear and constructive support.
• Facilitating linkages to community treatment and outside support systems
• Assists with referrals to obtain Medical Assistance
• Assists with referrals to obtain case management
• Arrange appointments for behavioral health, medical, and other care and services
• Works in person at various locations such as FJD, CJC, Pretrial services and Reentry trailer
• Other duties and locations can be assigned based on community needs.

Skills Required:

This position requires strong clinical skills, case management skills, and an ability to navigate systems of care, the criminal justice system, and community resources

• Strong clinical and case management skills
• Demonstrated understanding of and ability to navigate the behavioral health and criminal justice systems in Philadelphia
• Knowledge of mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and co-occurring challenges
• Knowledge of how behavioral health issues intersect with the criminal justice system in the City of Philadelphia
• Cross-cultural skills and experience with culturally diverse populations. Recovery experience preferred
• Knowledge of benefits, how to activate benefits, and how to leverage benefits to access treatment and resources
• Demonstrated excellence in written and oral communication skills, Knowledge of multiple languages a plus
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to work cooperatively and communicate effectively with a wide variety of individuals and agencies representing varying perspectives and interests.

Additional skills include:

• Recognizing signs and systems of mental illness
• Understanding medications
• Understanding special populations
• Connecting with families and consumers
• Employing de-escalation techniques to improve and manager behavior
• Initiating 302 petitions

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology or a related clinical field with at least 2 years of experience working with individuals with serious mental illness

Candidates must have a working knowledge of the Philadelphia Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice systems

Essential Functions:

• Provide high level of timely and effective communication with internal and external partners to ensure program goals and objectives are met.
• Conduct screenings and assessments and provide treatment plans based on individual needs for program participants
• complete behavioral health treatment/ service history research for participants, where appropriate
• Facilitate linkages to appropriate treatment providers and other social services based on the needs of the participant
• Network with area community providers and provide resource coordination
• Activate maximum benefits for individuals so they care access needed services and support
• Interface with criminal justice representatives as needed to support the goals of each BHJD program
• Enter and maintain clinical and program data
• Maintain accurate, confidential records to document services provided using appropriate databases
• Attend and patriciate in staff meetings and supervision

Equal Opportunity Employment:

PMHCC is committed to equal opportunity. It is our policy to support equal employment for all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual preferences, age, national origin, disability, behavioral health status, military status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Americans with Disabilities Act:

Employees as well as applications who are currently, or become disabled, must be able to perform the functions of the job with either reasonable accommodation or unaided. PMHCC, Inc will examine reasonable accommodations on a case by case basis in accordance with the law.