What are the responsibilities and job description for the Patient Navigator, Behavioral Health Non-Clinical position at University of California - Los Angeles Health?
The Behavioral Patient Navigator serves as a non-clinical member of the interdisciplinary care team supporting psychiatric and behavioral health patients throughout their healthcare journey. The role provides behavioral triage support, therapeutic communication, motivational interviewing, patient engagement, care coordination, behavioral and psychiatric resource navigation, and linkage to appropriate services. The Patient Navigator assists patients with overcoming barriers related to treatment adherence, appointments, medication routines, behavioral health follow-up, and engagement with their established plan of care while promoting individualized, patient-centered care and recovery.
The Behavioral Patient Navigator works closely with licensed behavioral health providers, psychiatrists, social workers, case managers, community partners, Nursing, and Utilization Management to facilitate timely access to care, support care transitions, and promote continuity of care. This is a non-clinical role and does not provide clinical assessments, diagnoses, therapy, or medical advice.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct outreach and maintain regular contact with behavioral health and psychiatric patients.
- Provide non-clinical behavioral health triage and escalate urgent or high-risk concerns to licensed clinicians.
- Use therapeutic communication and motivational interviewing techniques to support patient engagement, treatment adherence, and behavioral goals.
- Assist patients with navigating appointments, referrals, behavioral health services, and community resources.
- Coordinate with internal care teams, behavioral health and primary care providers, and community organizations.
- Track referrals, follow up on missed appointments, and assist with transitions of care.
- Connect patients with appropriate behavioral health, social service, and community-based resources.
- Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Behavioral Science, and Behavioral Science.
- 3 years or more in Behavioral health, patient navigation, case management support, care coordination, community health, and/or related healthcare setting.
- Demonstrated experience engaging patients with behavioral health psychosocial or complex healthcare needs.
- 3 years or more of working knowledge of Motivational Interviewing principals and patient-centered communication technique.
- 3 years or more of the ability to use supportive and therapeutic communication technique within the established scope of a non-licensed position.
- 2 years or more of the ability to recognize changes in patient behavior, treatment engagement, psychosocial circumstance that requires escalation to an RN, Social Worker, Behavioral Health Clinician, Physician or other license professional.
- Ability to multi-task, work with frequent interruptions, and meet deadlines. Must be detailed, oriented, attentive, organized, and able to follow directions.
- Ability to operate a wide variety of office equipment, including computers, printers, copy machines, facsimile receiver/transmitter, scanners and mailing equipment.
- Ability to communicate thoughts and information clearly and succinctly in writing as well as verbally.
- Highly organized, reliable, consistently seeking learning opportunities and new challenges, High EQ, communication skills, problem solving ability, and teamwork, humble yet confident, peers feel comfortable requesting your assistance.
- Experience in Managed care Organization, Medical Group operations, Health Plan administration and workflows.
- Ability to manage multiple patient related tasks.
- Proficient computer skills including working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Visio, Power P and Word.
- Experience in Medicare Advantage or value-based care models
University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy.
Salary : $65,800 - $130,800