Community Mental Health Navigator with HART

Description

JOB OPPORTUNITY
Partner for Mental Health Community Navigator
Deadline: May 22, 2026
Mental Health Professional
Charlottesville, Virginia

Position is full time working as a Partner for Mental Health (PMH) Navigator on Albemarle County’s HART team, a co-responder team that includes members from the Department of Social Services, Police and Fire and Rescue. Position involves going on calls to persons who have called 911 in a mental health or substance use crisis to check on their well-being, de-escalate situations, and make appropriate referrals to mental health agencies and other community resources.

DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION
PMH is a 501(c)3 affiliate of Mental Health America that has operated in the Charlottesville Albemarle area since 1947. Its focus has changed over the decades with changing mental health policies beginning with advocating for better conditions in state mental hospitals to its programs today geared toward helping individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorder live stably in our community.

PMH does not provide direct mental health services. PMH’s primary programming is Community Navigation, that is providing personal support, education and advocacy for clients and connecting them to vital community resources, including working to secure stable housing. PMH has partnered with the City of Charlottesville in its co-responder program, ANCHOR, for the past two years and with Albemarle County’s co-responder program, HART, for nearly three years.
PMH has two additional programs:

• The Albemarle District Court’s Therapeutic Docket. Two PMH Navigators work with the Therapeutic Docket providing support for clients are in the program.
• The Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail’s (ACRJ) Re-entry Program. The Re-entry program is geared to clients with diagnosed mental illness to help with their transition back to the community.

Job Duties

Essential Responsibilities
– Work as a PMH Navigator, assigned to a HART team. Note that although assigned primarily to the HART team, PMH Navigators do collaborate, as appropriate, with other PMH Navigators.
– Work full-time, five days per week. Office space is provided at the Albemarle County office building on Fifth Street Extended.
– Review and assist with follow-up to 911 calls, identify those related to mental health and/or substance use disorder crises, and go on follow-up visits to assess status, provide education, and make appropriate referrals.
– Occasionally, be part of HART and PMH outreach and presentations to the community.
– Meet at least monthly with the PMH Navigator team.

About the Ideal Candidate
– The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of mental illness and substance abuse and the adverse impacts it can have.
• They have a good understanding of the mental health and social supports available in the community.
• They have CIT and other training.
• They are skilled at diffusing tense situations, engaging people from a wide range of backgrounds.
• They enjoy working with colleagues with different skill sets and are open to exchanging ideas.
• They are flexible and insightful problem solvers.
• They are good communicators.

Skills Required

ABOUT THE POSITION

HART is a County program designed to provide a multidisciplinary approach to addressing the needs of persons having a mental health or substance use crisis and to mitigate the likelihood of legal entanglements. This work is providing multidisciplinary support for clients and their family members. There are two County HART teams, each with a PMH Navigator. One of the PMH Navigators is a Certified Peer Response Specialist. This position entails being PMH’s Mental Health professional on one of the County’s HART teams.

The candidate for this position should have a minimum of five years of experience in mental health-related environments with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work as a member of a multidisciplinary team. Being a Certified Mental Health Professional would be a plus.

The candidate should also have a good understanding of the mental health resources as well as social service and other supports available in the community.

Minimum Qualifications
• 5+ years of experience as a mental health professional
• Bachelor’s degree preferable
JOB DUTIES

Work Schedule

The position is full-time, in-person, in Albemarle County. It is generally 9:00-5:00 weekdays but, occasionally, a client will require responsiveness after the usual hours. HART team meets daily at the County Office Building at 5th Street Extended.

Additional Info

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Salary Range & Benefits
– This position is full-time (40 hours per week) with a benefits package that includes health insurance and personal time off. Salary range is commensurate with experience.

To Apply
Are you the one we’re looking for? Please email your resume and cover letter to director@partnerformentalhealth.org. In your cover letter, please speak directly about your experience and your interest in working with PMH and HART.