Partner for Mental Health Community Navigator

Description

About: Partner for Mental Health (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.  Although our mission is Educating, Advocating, and Connecting to Promote Mental Health for Everyone, our clients over the past decade have tended to be disadvantaged individuals with poorly managed serious mental illness or substance use disorder. PMH’s primary program 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.

Here PMH has two programs:

– The Albemarle District Court’s Therapeutic Docket. Two PMH Navigators work with the Therapeutic Docket providing support for clients are in the program. PMH has been a part of this since the Docket was launched six years ago.

– 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. We have one Community Navigator working with ACRJ.

More recently, PMH has moved “upstream” to address mental health needs before folks have adverse encounters with law enforcement. PMH is working with both Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville on their co-responder teams.

– HART (Human Services Alternative Response Team). We are part of the HART team that includes the Departments of Social Services, Police, and Fire and Rescue. This position is to be part of a second HART team.

– ANCHOR (Assisting Navigation, Crisis Help, and Outreach Resources). PMH will also partner with the City’s ANCHOR program, scheduled to launch July 1st. The ANCHOR team will consist of members from the Departments of Social Services, Police, and Fire & Rescue and two PMH staff. PMH staff will include a QMHP (Qualified Mental Health Professional) and a Certified Peer Support Specialist.

About the Job

This job entails being Partner for Mental Health’s Community Navigator for the County’s HART team. HART is designed as a multidisciplinary approach to persons having a mental health or substance use crisis and to mitigate the likelihood of legal entanglements.

The candidate 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. Although being a Certified Peer Support Specialist is preferred, other candidates will be considered. The candidate should also understand the resources available in the community.

Job Duties

Work as a Partner for Mental Health Navigator, assigned to Albemarle County’s HART, a co-responder team, that includes members of the Albemarle County Police Department, the Albemarle County Fire and Rescue, and Albemarle County’s Department of Social Services.

Work full-time, five days per week. Work will include weekday morning meetings to review 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.

Note, although the primary work assignment will be with the County’s HART team, the position is a Community Navigator with Partner for Mental Health. As such, work will also include meeting bi-monthly with the Partner for Mental Health Navigator team.

Note, also, although the primary work assignment is with the County’s HART team, all Community Navigators work as a team, stepping in to cover the work in other Partner for Mental Health programs as needed and to share information about clients, as appropriate, and about resources.

Skills Required

– They have a deep understanding of mental illness and substance abuse and the adverse impacts it can have.

– They are particularly interested in being part of a new program and the opportunities to help shape it.

– 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.

Work Schedule

Salaried position with a benefits package that includes health coverage, vacation, sick leave, and national holidays.

Additional Info

This position is full-time (40 hours per week)

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 Partner for Mental Health
and HART.

Visit website at https://partnerformentalhealth.org/