Mental Health Patient Navigator

Mission Driven, Community Focused About | Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (cdrewu.edu)

Charles R. Drew University is located in the Watts-Willowbrook area of south Los Angeles and was founded in 1966 in the wake of the Watts uprising. CDU was founded to address inadequate medical care in the region and to provide equitable medical education opportunities for under-represented students.

CDU is strongly invested in the local and regional community. The university leads multiple partnerships and programs to provide equitable healthcare resources in a variety of south Los Angeles neighborhoods.

Job Summary :

The Mental Health Patient Navigator is responsible for delivering client-centered care interventions for newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals, patients new to care, or patients returning to care. The Mental Health Patient Navigator will assist individuals living with HIV with accessing maintaining and adhering to HIV primary health care, mental health care, and support services; facilitate clients' understanding and reduction of risk behaviors; and provide referrals and linkages to emergency support services. This position will work closely with Ryan White Part C Mental Health team, social worker, and medical care coordinator team at the OASIS Clinic.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

• Schedule mental health appointments as needed for patients with Mental health team individual sessions and group therapy as well as with the Psychiatric nurse practitioner.
• Contact patients by telephone to provide appointment reminders.
• Provide referrals and linkages to emergency support services such as housing and / or food and follow-up with referrals.
• Conduct new patient orientations.
• Conduct intakes and comprehensive assessments of clients' available resources and needs
• Maintain patient files and ensuring files are complaint with annual reviews
• Address any client concerns with appropriate in-house departments.
• Update on an ongoing basis the documentation of HIV / AIDS primary health care information, treatment adherence, prevention, risk reduction interventions, and support services.
• Provide HIV education and risk reduction counseling that respond to the clients' HIV risk reduction needs and increase preventive action.
• Provide partner services counseling and emergency financial assistance services.
• Provide and document ongoing monitoring and follow-up.
• Conduct periodic re-assessments of the client's status and needs to ensure that they are engaged in care and supported.
• Provide case management of specialty referrals and linkages to and from community-based partners and other needed services related to a given program.
• Develop collaborations with and coordinate referrals to and / or from HIV testing sites, substance abuse, mental health, and social services organizations.
• Order transportation for clients, as needed, to ensure clients attend medical appointments
• Closely coordinate fieldwork with outreach workers.
• Collect and update detailed information at each visit.
• Coordinate case conferences with relevant care providers and resources.
• Report all mental health and care management activities and outcomes to management monthly.
• Assist with annual reporting.

Other Duties and Responsibilities :

Performs other duties as assigned or requested.

EDUCATION :

Regionally accredited Bachelor's degree required and / or equivalent of combine education and experience in the related field.

EXPERIENCE :

Minimum 1-2 year experience working in the HIV prevention field, preferably in a non-profit setting or an HIV / AIDS related human services field, such as social work, psychology, nursing, counseling or health education.

KNOWLEDGE / ABILITIES / SKILLS :

PC proficient.

Microsoft Office proficient.

Knowledge of EMR programs, ORCHID preferred.

Ability to maintain a cooperative and courteous demeanor.

Familiarity with patient registration, basic clinic flow, and patient tracking mechanisms.

Knowledge of the impact of HIV / AIDS in ethnic minority communities.

Ability to work and communicate well with others, particularly in a clinical setting.

Demonstrate sensitivity towards people living with HIV / AIDS and other marginalized individuals.

Skills and ability developing individual service plans, prioritizing work flow and resolve problems.

Ability to manage and coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously.

Ability to maintain confidentiality / HIPPA.

Bilingual (Spanish / English) proficiency in verbal and written communication required.

COMPLEXITY :

The ability to perform highly detailed work with sustained attention and care while providing / obtaining information on numerous inquiries is paramount to success in this position.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS :

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Occasional stooping. Frequent standing. Constant walking, sitting, climbing, reaching high / low levels, finger movement, feeling, speaking clearly, hearing conversationally, and seeing far and near.

WORK ENVIRONMENT :

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Occasionally required to work in confined space.

MENTAL DEMANDS :

The mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Frequent variety of unrelated tasks. Constant calculating, interrupted work, a variety of interrelated tasks, and use of sustained concentration, reasoning, judgment, resourcefulness, analytical ability, and ingenuity.

Special Requirements :

Ability to work effectively with a diverse community.

Ability to work effectively with LGBTQ+, people living with HIV, people living with mental health issues, and / or people experiencing homelessness.

Ability to be credentialed to work in Los Angeles County's Department of Health Services facilities.

As a health professions institution of higher education, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science seeks to protect the health and safety of the University community. As a condition of enrollment and employment, students, faculty, and staff must comply with the current CDU COVID-19 requirements as described on the CDU COVID-19 webpage. Please visit the CDU Return to Campus website https : / / www.cdrewu.edu / covid-policy / or email the Campus Nursing Office at nurseofficer@cdrewu.edu

Compensation :

$26.44 hourly

Position Status :

Full Time

Conditional Statement : The employment status of this position is classified as "Conditional". Conditional employment means that the job exists contingent upon funding limitations of restricted funds or, the duration of a specific program, project, grant or contract. The duration of grant for this position is through March 30, 2026.

EEO Statement : Charles R. Drew University is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity. Applicants will be considered without regard to gender, race, age, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability or covered veteran status.

Fair Chance Statement : Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local "Fair Chance" laws.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.

For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.