POSITION: Healthcare Navigator

PROGRAM/LOCATION: Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) 3180 Newberry Drive, San Jose, CA 95118

SUPERVISOR: Program Manager

Job Type: Non-Exempt

Job Status: Full Time

Compensation: $28.35/Hour

AGENCY SUMMARY:

Established in 1980, with 40+ years of experience, we are the premier Silicon Valley provider of homelessness services. We believe that everyone has the potential to get housed and stay housed. We relentlessly focus on eliminating barriers to housing and creating stability for everyone we serve.

HomeFirst Services serves more than 6,000 adults, veterans, families, and young adults each year at multiple locations from Gilroy to Menlo Park – all of Santa Clara County as well as southern San Mateo County.

Services include:

• Homelessness prevention
• Emergency and cold-weather shelters
• Comprehensive Veterans’ services
• Rapid Re-Housing programs
• Bridge Housing Communities
• Emergency Interim Housing
• Affordable permanent housing
• Permanent Supportive Housing
• Street-based outreach

Benefits of joining the HomeFirst Team:

• Professional growth opportunities within the organization
• 100% medical coverage for employees with an opportunity to add dependents for a shared cost
• 401k match up to 4%
• 12 observed holidays
• PTO accrual begins with 120 hours annually and increases with tenure
• 4 hours of Civic Engagement PTO provided annually
• Access to our Emergency Assistance Program (EAP) services
• Pet insurance options available

HomeFirst Services is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. Additionally, HomeFirst Services participates in the E-Verify program, as required by law.

HomeFirst Services is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please let your recruiter know.

Role Summary

The goal of the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program is to end and prevent Veteran homelessness in Santa Clara County. Participants receive individualized case management and targeted financial assistance in accordance with Progressive Engagement, Harm Reduction, and Housing First models of service.

The SSVF Health Care Navigator (HCN) supports this goal by providing connection to healthcare resources for Veterans accessing the program’s Emergency Housing Assistance (EHA). The Healthcare Navigator will assess Veteran’s medical needs at point of intake and throughout enrollment, assist Veterans in securing a healthcare provider, schedule necessary medical and mental health appointments, and resolve barriers to healthcare access.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• MSW preferred
• Minimum 2 years in social services or health care field

Skills, Abilities, and Knowledge

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to cultivate and maintain positive working relationships with partner agencies
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
• Sensitivity to Veteran issues, the needs of the homeless and those with criminal backgrounds
• Attention to detail
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Desire to work with people of diverse social backgrounds and professional rank
• Demonstrates initiative, flexibility, and the capacity to respond efficiently to program/Veteran needs
• Ability to work independently
• US Military Veteran is desired but not required

Other

• Valid CA driver license and auto insurance
• Reliable personal vehicle
• Ability to lift up to 30 lbs. on occasion
• Ability to visit clients in the community, which may require walking upstairs

Qualities

The Healthcare Navigator is passionate about serving others and sees themself in a helping profession long term. They are pro-active and responsive to the needs of our participants, meeting them “where they’re at” and bridging the gap between the individual and our services.

They manage their time well and demonstrate strong organizational abilities. With the support of program leadership, the Healthcare Navigator participates in our culture of learning and increases their knowledge of evidence-based practices over the course of their employment. Together, we model the values and principles of HomeFirst within the agency and the broader community.

HomeFirst is a diverse company in a diverse field, and the Healthcare Navigator seeks to work with people from a variety of social and economic backgrounds. They are a highly collaborative member of our participant services team and enjoy a team-oriented work environment.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Direct Client Contact/Case Management (70%)

• Conduct interviews with Veterans and their families and reviews background data on current medical history to assess need for health care services and contribute to the Veterans’ care plan.
• Regularly review care plan goals with Veteran.
• Provide care coordination and interdisciplinary collaboration in the interests of securing and maintaining Veterans’ access to health care. Interdisciplinary team may include medical/primary care provider, nursing, and administrative specialists, and case management personnel.
• Coordinate Veterans’ access to health care including health care applications, securing a primary care provider, prescriptions, and necessary medical and mental health appointments.
• Identify and regularly review client barriers to accessing care and provide resources and referrals to support adherence.
• Provide timely, appropriate, Veteran centered care equitably.
• Develop and present non-clinical health education to Veteran families.
• Provide services in the field including Emergency Housing Assistance hotel locations, hospitals, community clinics, and others.
• Work collaboratively with the team and the Veteran to identify and address systems challenges for enhanced care coordination as needed.
• Curate strong understanding of community services and referrals available to Veterans.
• Conduct outreach to secure additional community resources for Veterans as needed.
• Accountable to achieving the program’s desired outcomes with the program team.
• Periodically evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions provided and make appropriate modifications to ensure the provision of high-quality care and interventions

Service Documentation and Evaluation (20%)

• Document via HMIS all Health Care Navigator activity within 3 business days and maintain all other case file paperwork and documentation
• Communicate regularly with other staff and service providers via email, incident reports and briefings
• Effectively utilize case conferencing and supervision to support Health Care Navigator work

General (10%)

• Attend all meetings and required trainings as relevant to this position
• Assist with other duties assigned

HomeFirst Services takes pride in its safety values, wellness of our team, and respect for everyone we serve. Due to this commitment, HomeFirst Services is mandating that all employees be vaccinated or render a religious or medical exemption effective September 13, 2021.