Healthcare Navigator for Veteran Homeless and Mental Health Services

Job Description

Job DescriptionDescription:

Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHALA) has been a pioneer in mental health service, advocacy, innovation, and training for nearly a century, working to ensure that people with mental health needs achieve meaningful, healthy lives in their communities.

MHALA is among the largest and most comprehensive nonprofit mental health agencies in Los Angeles County. The agency supports over 19,000 low-income and no-income individuals annually with integrated services. MHALA achieves impact in the areas of mental and physical healthcare, homelessness and housing, supported employment, and wellness and financial services, with special programs for Veterans and transition-age youth.

MHALA also provides training programs for individuals joining the behavioral health workforce and for the larger community around mental health issues.

MHALA works to ensure that its employees are just as cared for as its members. Communication, collaboration, transparency and a healthy work/life balance are core components of the agency culture. Employees are encouraged to engage in self-care and can enjoy a 35-hour workweek.

MHALA fosters diversity at all levels of the organization. The agency promotes a team-oriented culture that offers opportunities for growth. We are proud to offer a competitive salary and full benefits package, including an employee assistance program, and generous paid time off.

Veteran Healthcare Navigator

35 hours per week / $25.00 - $26.00 per hour

(The actual compensation will be determined based on experience and other factors permitted by law.)

Summary: Under the supervision of the Program Manager or Program Director, the Healthcare/Housing Navigator provides Veteran-centered services focused on healthcare access, housing stability, and coordination of supportive services for Veterans and their families enrolled in the SSVF program. This position collaborates closely with SSVF staff, HUD-VASH, the VA, and community partners to reduce barriers to care and housing.

The Healthcare Navigator role is structured to support the SSVF program’s mission of serving Veterans holistically. In addition to core healthcare navigation responsibilities, the Healthcare Navigator provides direct program support as needed, including assisting with case management and other administrative tasks that ensure continuity of services and holistic Veteran care.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: This is not an exhaustive task list, and other duties may be assigned as deemed appropriate or necessary by the supervisor or program director. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to any qualified person with a medical or psychiatric disability, providing it will not change the essential nature of the position, nor cause undue hardship to the Association’s operations. MHA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. The agency will consider individuals with a criminal history in accordance with both the Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers (FCO) and the California Fair Chance Act (FCA).

• Work closely with the Veteran’s assigned multidisciplinary team to provide timely, appropriate, veteran-centered care in an equitable manner.
• Conduct healthcare needs screenings to identify medical, behavioral health, and substance use treatment needs that impact housing stability.
• Develop individualized case plans for each veteran household. Identify the veteran’s goals and what action steps should be taken to achieve those goals.
• Update and maintain an accurate case file for each veteran, in accordance with the primary contractor’s guidelines and with the VA’s program guidebook.
• Enter, update, and maintain client information into a secure database. Assist and support program documentation standards of staff in accordance with MHALA, county contracted provider, and funding source standards and requirements, including 24-hour turnaround documentation to ensure all required data collection documents as applicable to your program (HMIS) are submitted on or before due date.
• Assist veterans with enrollment in VA healthcare and other public benefits (MediCAL/Medicaid, Medicare) and promote continuity of care and medication adherence through non-clinical care coordination.
• Act as a liaison between the SSVF grantee and the VA or community medical clinic and other healthcare providers, coordinating referrals and warm hand-offs to VA Medical Centers (VAMC), Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), and other community providers to ensure that care plans support the veteran’s Housing Stability Plan.
• Identify health-related barriers that impact housing stability and work collaboratively with program staff to resolve these barriers and ensure that healthcare needs do not impede housing placement or retention.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings and other aspects of the day-to-day operations and community life of the Agency. Work cooperatively with other staff to assure the smooth and seamless delivery of supportive services to the Agency and the veterans and the families it serves
• Independently or in collaboration with program staff, complete and maintain all records and documentation needed for program compliance and accountability in accordance with MHALA standards and funding source requirements.
• Use trauma-informed, strengths-based, harm reduction, and housing first approaches in all stakeholder interactions
• Adhere to ethical principles about confidentiality, informed consent, compliance with relevant laws and agency policies (i.e. critical incident reporting, HIPAA).
• Assist and support program documentation standards of staff in accordance with MHALA, county contracted provider, and funding source standards and requirements, and documents in required program, including 24-hour turnaround documentation to ensure all required data collection documents (as applicable to your program (HMIS) are submitted on or before due date.
• Completes and maintains all records and documentation needed for program compliance and accountability in accordance with MHALA standards and funding source requirements.
• Assist with case management and administrative support tasks as needed; which includes collecting documentation, delivering program checks, Veteran shopping needs, supporting housing placements and temporarily assisting with case management functions during periods of increased demand.
• Communicate openly with supervisors regarding workload and priorities. Seek supervision when role clarifications or support is needed
• Maintain flexibility in daily tasks to support Veteran outcomes
• Engage in duties as directed by program management.
• If there is a shortage of staff for housing members all staff members are expected to assist all activities that directly support the veteran’s ability to obtain and/or maintain permanent housing under SSVF guidelines.
• Interface with HUD-VASH, SSVF, and other government, community and private agencies to obtain permanent housing for veterans and their families that are suitable to their needs. Actively assist and coach participants in all steps of completing the application process. Provide active follow-up during the application process, and act as a housing counselor and advocate for participants when necessary making sure that participant(s) are aware and educated regarding their lease and their rights as a tenant.
• Act as a liaison between the SSVF grantee, VASH and the Landlord/or community providers, coordinating linkage and referral for a population of Veterans and their families who require assistance accessing and obtaining housing.
• Recruiting and engaging housing providers/landlords, assessing and addressing landlord and participant’s housing needs, cultivating relationships with community partners, and supporting veteran families.
• Will be the initial point of contact when making contact with new property owners and managers that have apartments for rent. Housing Navigator will inform new potential landlords regarding what SSVF services are and what the benefits would be of working with our program
• Will negotiate with property owners when there is difficulty with getting a participant(s) into housing.
• Will identify landlords that are willing to work with those participant(s) that may have high barriers to getting into housing
• Will be a point of contact for property owners / managers when they have problems or concerns regarding a veteran tenant and will be able to respond and navigate getting support to address the concern
• Screen landlords and assess units for appropriateness via pre-inspections or unit walk-throughs and completion of Habitability checklist
• Generate and maintain a database of property owners and available units as well as communicate with property owners and or landlords.
• Assist in introduction of participant(s) to landlords along with the staff that they will be working with so that landlords feel supported and trusting to rent to participant(s)

Other Position Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in human services, preferred
• Veterans encouraged to apply
• One year of providing psychiatric rehabilitation services to a disabled population, low income and/or unhoused population preferred.
• Knowledge of healthcare, social service resource systems and self-help intervention strategies.
• Knowledge of social service resource systems and self-help intervention strategies.
• Crisis intervention and conflict resolution skills including use of motivational interviewing, harm reduction approach, and trauma-informed care.
• Strong oral/written communication and listening skills.
• Must be team-oriented, self-directed, have good listening and communication skills, the ability to empathize and relate positively to a wide variety of people and dedicated to fulfilling the demands of the position.
• Experience working in diverse settings with people across all socio-economic spectrums.
• Proficient typing and computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word and Excel)
• Must be team-oriented, self-directed, have good listening and communication skills, the ability to empathize and relate positively to a wide variety of people and dedicated to fulfilling the demands of the position.
• Highly organized, detail oriented, and can effectively manage multiple assignments with accuracy and thoroughness.
• Flexible work schedule to include some evenings or weekends when necessary.
• Driving with current class C driver’s license, a vehicle for transportation, proof of valid automobile insurance, the ability to be insured by MHALA’s liability insurance are conditions of employment
• TB clearance and re-testing every year are conditions of continued employment
• COVID-19 vaccinations or booster shots are not currently required; however this may become a requirement in the future. Failure to abide by any agency policy, including those relating to a vaccine or booster shot may result in termination of employment
• Employment verification directly from three (3) past employers within the most recent 7-year period

Requirements: