Navigation Support Coordinator- Court

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary:

The Behavioral Health and Justice Division (BHJD) is committed to working towards reducing justice involvement for Philadelphians with behavioral health challenges including people with persistent, serious mental illness (SMI). BHJD organizes its work according to the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM), identifying opportunities to intervene at various points of criminal justice involvement to divert individuals from further penetration of the system and connect them to supports as well as services.

Based on the SIM, BHJD develops and utilizes a variety of interventions to support Philadelphians. These interventions include comprehensive evaluations of individuals who are non-restorable, system navigation for individuals with mental illness, developing policies as well as programs for people with mental illness and legal oversight, addressing health disparities, advocating for Philadelphians with SMI, and tracking outcomes to inform best practices. The Court-Based Navigation Support Coordinator directly assists individuals with connecting them to services to facilitate their recovery and/or return to the community. In doing so, BHJD hopes to limit or end a person’s involvement with the criminal justice system. The primary focus for the person in this position is individuals who seek support at BHJD’s Resource Hub or through the criminal mental health courts of Pennsylvania’s First Judicial District.

The Court-Based Navigation Support Coordinator will also support all BHJD programs across the SIM by identifying and sharing resources for social determinants of health (SDOH). Like all BHJD Navigators and Coordinators, the Support Coordinator will specialize in work at one intercept point (i.e. pre-trial), while also working across intercepts in response to the needs of the population ofjustice-involved individuals with behavioral health needs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Coordinator will continue their role as a Navigator in addition to their coordinator duties. As a Navigator, they will help individuals with mental illness "navigate" Philadelphia’s many treatment or recovery programs, the legal system, and other SDOHs. 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 Navigation duties include:

• Providing a calm listening ear and constructive support to people with behavioral health challenges and legal oversight.
• Facilitating linkages to SDOHs including behavioral health services, housing, employment, and/or benefits.
• Assisting with referrals to obtain Medical Assistance.
• Assisting with referrals to obtain case management.
• Arranging appointments for behavioral health, medical, and other care and services.
• Working in person at various locations such as the Criminal Justice Center, Pretrial Services, and if need be the Philadelphia Department of Prisons.
• Other duties as assigned

Specific Coordinator duties include:

• Provide on-site support and supervision to Navigators in the Resource Hub
• Assist the Supervisor in creating policies and procedures for the Resource Portal/Hub, Pretrial Services, and Court Clinic Navigation programs
• Triage and Assign Resource Hub referrals to appropriate BHJD program
• Participate in developing and deploying training opportunities for the Navigation staff and justice partners
• Attend Common Pleas (CP) Mental Health Court (MHC) weekly and manage a caseload of active individuals in CP MHC who need connection to treatment. Provide proof of treatment letters to the court prior to scheduled status hearings.
• Other duties assigned.

Skills Required:

This position requires strong clinical skills, case management skills, self-discipline, 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.
• Cultural humility and experience with culturally diverse populations.
• Lived experience with behavioral health challenges or the legal system is welcomed.
• 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 with attorneys and BHJD coworkers.
• 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 symptoms of mental illness
• Understanding psychotropic medications
• Understanding as well as providing empathy to people facing unique challenges and experiencing high levels of stress
• Connecting with individuals who seek services and their supports
• Employing de-escalation techniques to support people with acute behaviors and emotions
• Initiating 302 petitions
• Documenting work on time in BHJD’s electronic health records system.

Education and Experience:

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

Essential Function:

• Candidates must have a working knowledge of Philadelphia’s Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice systems.
• Conduct screenings and assessments and provide treatment plans based on individual needs for program participants.
• When necessary, provide Navigation services to program participants in a detention facility.
• 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 (e.g., Medicaid, SSI) for individuals so they can access needed services and supports.
• Interface with criminal justice representatives as needed to support the goals of each BHJD/DBHIDS program.
• Enter and maintain clinical and program data.
• Maintain accurate, confidential records to document services provided using appropriate databases
• Remain current with resource and referral information.
• Provide on-site support to Navigators in the Resource Hub.
• Create a monthly schedule for Navigators in the Resource Hub and Court.
• Collaborate with the supervisor to create policies and procedures for programming.
• Collaborate with the supervisor to develop and deliver presentations and trainings for Navigation staff, justice partners, and external partners.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings and supervision.
• Other duties as assigned

Equal Opportunity Employment:

PMHCC, Inc. 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 applicants 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.