Care Navigator - Waukesha Women's Heath and Recovery Program

Job Summary: The WCS Care Navigator position is located at the Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and provides person\-centered navigation and support to women receiving services who may have substance use, behavioral health, and other identified needs. The Care Navigator works collaboratively with everyone to identify needs, strengths, goals, and barriers; connect them with appropriate treatment, healthcare, behavioral health, recovery, housing, benefits, and other community resources; and support successful engagement with those services. The position serves as a consistent point of contact to help individuals understand available options, navigate complex systems, coordinate services, and address barriers that may interfere with accessing care. Services may be provided at DHHS and throughout the community, requiring independent judgment, strong communication and organizational skills, and close collaboration with WCS, DHHS, treatment providers, and other community partners. The Care Navigator is responsible for completing all required WCS and DHHS documentation accurately and within established timelines. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Maintain a flexible schedule to meet the needs of individuals receiving services, including some community\-based and evening work as needed. Provide individualized, person\-centered care navigation services based upon each person's identified needs, strengths, preferences, and goals. Engage individuals in identifying their priorities and determining the services and resources they believe will best support their health, well\-being, stability, and recovery. Assist individuals in understanding available services and options so they can make informed decisions about their care and supports. Connect individuals with appropriate community resources and services, which may include substance use treatment, behavioral health services, medical care, recovery supports, housing, transportation, benefits, employment resources, food assistance, and other identified needs. Assist individuals with navigating treatment and service systems, including understanding referral processes, eligibility requirements, appointments, and next steps. Support individuals with accessing and engaging in services by helping identify and address barriers that may prevent successful connection to care. Provide follow\-up after referrals to determine whether the individual was successfully connected to the service and identify additional support that may be needed. Assist with scheduling and coordinating appointments when appropriate and support individuals in developing the skills necessary to independently navigate services whenever possible. Accompany individuals to appointments or community resources when appropriate and consistent with program expectations. Support individuals in identifying and strengthening natural supports, family supports, and community connections of their choosing. Advocate with and alongside individuals when barriers to services are identified while promoting self\-advocacy, independence, voice, and choice. Maintain current knowledge of community resources available throughout Waukesha County and surrounding communities. Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with treatment providers, healthcare providers, recovery organizations, housing providers, community agencies, and other resources serving individuals in the program. Coordinate services with WCS staff, the DHHS clinical team, and other providers involved in the individual's care as appropriate and in accordance with confidentiality requirements. Participate in DHHS treatment team meetings, case consultations, supervision, and other meetings as requested. Communicate relevant information regarding service engagement, identified barriers, and care coordination needs to appropriate members of the team while respecting confidentiality and individual choice. Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all services and contacts in required WCS and Waukesha County systems, including information related to services provided, referrals, follow\-up, travel, and outcomes. Complete required program spreadsheets, activity reports, and other documentation accurately and within established timelines. Participate in community outreach activities, health fairs, community events, and other opportunities to increase awareness of available services and program resources as requested. Complete all required WCS and DHHS training within established timelines. Attend and participate in WCS team meetings, in\-service training, conferences, and other required meetings. Travel throughout Waukesha County and surrounding communities as necessary to provide navigation services, attend meetings, and conduct community outreach. Maintain professional boundaries and provide services in a respectful, culturally responsive, trauma\-informed, and person\-centered manner. Perform other duties as assigned by the Program Manager. Required Qualifications : High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor's degree in human services, social work, psychology, criminal justice, behavioral health, or a related field preferred. Experience working in human services, behavioral health, substance use services, care coordination, case management, community outreach, or a related field preferred. Knowledge of community resources and service systems, particularly those related to behavioral health, substance use treatment, healthcare, housing, benefits, and other basic needs. Ability to establish positive and professional relationships with individuals receiving services while maintaining appropriate boundaries. Ability to work effectively with individuals who may be experiencing multiple barriers to accessing or remaining engaged in services. Strong organizational and follow\-through skills, including the ability to coordinate multiple referrals, appointments, services, and documentation requirements. Ability to work both independently in the community and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team. Must have a valid driver's license, reliable automobile, and automobile insurance sufficient to meet agency requirements. Must pass a driving record background check to be eligible to drive in the community during work hours. Must meet all WCS and DHHS employment requirements, including required references, criminal background checks, drug testing, and driver's license requirements. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Communication – Ability to provide information effectively with a diverse population \- the persons we serve, the Peer Navigator, agency leadership, supervisor, colleagues, the DHHS Clinical Team and leadership, and program partners in writing and oral communications. Technological Aptitude – Ability to use general technological skills throughout daily job i.e., Email, Internet, company specified systems, (ex. Microsoft 365, Windows, Word, Excel). Managing Priorities/Deadlines – Ability to maintain schedules, meet deadlines and manage multiple projects. Problem\-Solving Skills – Ability to think critically and be solution\-oriented in a fast\-paced environment and adapt to program changes and challenges. Must be able to demonstrate good judgement when faced with peers in crisis. Adaptability – Ability to manage change, deal with situations as they arise and work independently or as part of a team. Teamwork – Ability to work as a team with WCS, the WCS Peer Navigator, and the DHHS Clinical Team and participate productively and respectfully while also managing independent contributing duties and responsibilities. Motivation – Possess a commitment to the assigned job and assigned peers, mission, and core values of the organization while also supporting a respectful and harmonious work setting. Professionalism – Ability to conduct oneself with a high level of professional conduct, integrity, ethics and boundaries. Multicultural Sensitivity – The role involves working in the community and interacting directly with diverse populations, including peers served in the program, partners, and service providers. As such, the employee must demonstrate professionalism, respect, integrity, cultural sensitivity, and strong interpersonal skills while representing the organization in a variety of settings. Program Specific Knowledge, Skills and Abilities – Psychoeducation, behavior tailoring, relapse prevention planning, development of recovery action plan, recovery and/or resilience training, social support building, teaching coping skills, assistance with engaging in health/telehealth services, post\-overdose outreach services to peers and their families with linkages to treatment, recovery support, harm reduction resources, psychosocial resources, communicable disease screening, and education. Agency Specific Knowledge, Skills and Abilities – Understanding of the agency Employment Handbook, Employee Code of Conduct, UKG (payroll system), Power DMS (required agency policies and procedures), Avatar database, SharePoint with employee resources and agency announcements and news, as well as other forms, Empathy Interviews, and admin departments. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The position is not a remote position. The majority of work is performed at the DHHS Office, with some outreach required. Community\-based work is required when requested by DHHS, the Peer Navigator, or the WCS Program Manager, including home visits and other community\-based locations; must be able to go up and downstairs, stand, sit, and be able to get in and out and drive their own vehicle. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Majority of work is conducted in an office environment, with office work performed at an assigned DHHS office, sitting at a desk and using the computer, as well as limited travel required for time spent in the community engaging with peers and completing required documentation for billable activities; 40 hours per week; typical work schedule is flexible depending on DHHS requirements, to include evening groups, but generally 8am\-4:40pm which may include some evenings and weekend work for crisis (mostly phone, limited face\-to\-face contact) with all contact documented. Employee follows DHHS rules on lunch breaks. All hours worked outside normal business hours must be pre\-approved by the Peer Support Program Manager. Wisconsin Community Services, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.