General Definition and Scope of Job
Under the supervision of the Manager of Substance Use, Treatment, and Recovery Services, a Recovery Support Navigator will provide care management and system navigation supports to patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and will assist patients in achieving sustained recovery. The primary responsibility of RSN’s is to support patients in exploring treatment options, clarifying goals and strategies, provides education and resources and assists in accessing treatment or community resources The Recovery Support Navigator will maintain ongoing patient support regardless of relapse and will serve as a motivator, ally, role model, problem-solver, and advocate for patients. The Recovery Support navigator should possess a thorough understanding of the steps to successful recovery, be able to provide tailored health messages, and be able to connect patients to community resources and treatment options. This position requires good organizational skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Core Responsibilities
• Engages patients in an outpatient setting and explains the role and services of recovery support navigator.
• Provides appropriate recovery information, referrals, and linkages to help individual improve recovery and reduce risk behaviors, including but not limited to healthcare support services, social work, financial assistance, child-care, housing, food, financial entitlements, clothing, transportation, food pantries, and appropriate community resources
• Provides ongoing support and follow up as necessary to support recovery and healthy lifestyle; support and understand different paths to recovery.
• Helps patients navigate the healthcare system and social service system; accompanies patients to appointments, community organizations, recovery-oriented events, and meetings as needed.
• Initiates and sustains trusting relationships with individuals and families.
• Helps the patient locate recovery support groups.
• Establishes and maintains open communication with community-based organizations, other appropriate Manet departments, providers and services, and other potential resources.
• Uses non-judgmental language that conveys caring and utilizes motivational enhancement techniques and motivational interviewing that helps encourage patients to identify and prioritize their personal needs.
• Gains and shares information about specific health topics most relevant to the population being served.
• Provides outreach services in the community including but not limited to attending community events, community meetings, and providing direct community support engagement with members of the prevention and outreach team
• Documents encounters
• Performs clerical duties such as answering phones and checking voicemail for clinic, scheduling appointments, and providing reminder/follow-up calls as needed.
• Conforms to health system standards of performance and conduct, including those pertaining to patient rights and privacy.
• Utilizes organization standards as the basis for decision making.
• Performs other duties assigned or as necessary.
Minimum Skills, Experience and Educational Requirements
• Highschool diploma or equivalent; Associates or Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, e-mail, and the internet; requires the ability to research community resources independently.
• Knowledge of community, social, and health resources, particularly substance use-related resources
• Understanding of recovery and principles of recovery
• Empathic understanding of patients and ability to perform multicultural needs assessments and develop concrete service plans.
• Computer competency, inclusive of the ability to access and enter data.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, inclusive of organizational skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills to facilitate interactions with various members of the health care team, patients, and their families.
• Bilingual or multi-lingual skills (beyond that of English) appropriate to the patient population served are preferred.
• Demonstrated flexibility with client’s priorities, evolving needs, and goals.
• Sensitivity to ethnic, cultural, gender, and sexual orientation diversity, values, beliefs, and behaviors
Required Certifications and Licenses
None.
Working Conditions
• Works in well-lighted environment with comfortable surroundings.
• Stressful at times due to competing demands, including attention to multiple patients and staff.
Required Availability
May be required to work a rotating schedule as the department requires. This includes evenings, holidays and weekends.