Lead Behavioral Health Navigator, Mental Health Unit, 40-Hours, Days, Flexibility to department need

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Heywood Healthcare values our employees! We offer competitive wages, great benefits and generous earned time off. Come work where you will matter! 

Hours: 40-Hours, Days, Flexibility to department needs to include weekend and holiday rotation

Job Summary: 

The Lead Behavioral Health Navigator is responsible for providing clinical oversight and operational support
to staff conducting behavioral health crisis evaluations in the Emergency Departments and on the inpatient
units (as needed). This role ensures timely assessments, appropriate level-of-care determinations, and safe,
effective discharge planning. The Lead Behavioral Health Navigator serves as a supportive and collaborative
leader, ensuring high-quality care for patients and a positive, responsive environment for staff. This position
reports directly to the department manager.

Essential Functions 

• Provide clinical and real-time support to staff completing crisis evaluations in the Emergency Department and on the inpatient units.
• Review and collaborate with the dept manager to approve clinical assessments and discharge dispositions.
• Coordinate with Admissions Lead to navigate patients deemed to require inpatient psychiatric bed searches for admission.
• Maintain familiarity of the insurance verification and prior authorization processes. This task will be primarily assumed by the admissions lead staff.
• Ensure completion of safety plans and appropriate discharge planning for patients returning to the
  community.
• Facilitate collateral contacts with families, providers, and community support.
• Collaborates with the Emergency Department, inpatient staff and community partners to ensure continuity of care.
• Monitor workflow and support efficient patient throughput.
• Promote a culture of teamwork, accountability, and patient-centered care.
• Collaborate with the department manager to ensure effective documentation is completed on all patients.
• Collaborate with the department manager to ensure that clinician staffing is adequate to meet crisis assessments for behavioral health organizational needs.
• Partners with the department manager and the admissions lead to maintain clear, timely communication regarding all patient interactions, supporting coordinated care and efficient service delivery.
• Other duties as assigned.

Statement of Other Duties 

This document describes the major duties and responsibilities for this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. It should be understood, therefore, that employees may be asked to perform job-related duties beyond those explicitly described.

Functional Demands

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Frequently reaches (extending hands and arms in any direction), and handles (seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or working with hands).

Job Requirements

Minimum Education

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related field required.

Minimum Licenses/Certifications

• LICSW or LMHC independent clinical licensure preferred or eligible for licensure within 1 year of hire.

Minimum Work Experience

• 3–5 years of behavioral health crisis experience, preferably in an emergency department or acute
  psychiatric care setting.
• Prior leadership or supervisory experience preferred.
• Knowledge of psychiatric assessment, levels of care, and crisis intervention.
• Experience with insurance authorization processes preferred.
• Familiarity with Point Click Care platform preferred.

Required Skills

• Strong clinical judgment and decision-making.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lead and support staff in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities.