Care Navigator (Community-Based & Field Navigation) - New York

Job description

The Care Navigator supports Medicaid members and other eligible populations participating in New York Social Care Network (SCN), 1115 Waiver, In Lieu of Services (ILOS), Value-Added Benefit (VAB), and related programs. The role helps individuals identify and address health-related social needs by connecting them with appropriate services and resources. This position delivers person-centered, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed navigation through community-based, field, telephonic, and technology-enabled settings. The Care Navigator reports to the Care Navigation Program Manager and works in a New York-based hybrid role requiring regular local travel, with occasional travel within New York State. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable engaging individuals at a busy community event, building relationships with partner organizations, and providing ongoing navigation support by phone. They are passionate about improving health equity, connecting people to critical services, and serving as a visible, trusted presence within the communities they support. Hourly Range: $25-26/hour ***NOTE: This is two openings for any posted location in New York. Please only apply for ONE position.*** ### Responsibilities include, but are not limited to - Conduct standardized health-related social needs screenings in accordance with state and program requirements in community, partner organization, virtual, and telephonic settings - Complete eligibility assessments and supporting documentation for social care services and enhanced navigation programs - Provide in-person screening and navigation support at community events, health fairs, enrollment events, and outreach activities - Build and maintain relationships with community-based organizations, healthcare providers, and local partners to increase awareness of available social care services - Serve as an embedded Care Navigator within designated partner organizations, as assigned, providing on-site screening, referral coordination, and navigation services - Initiate, monitor, and close referrals within designated referral management platforms - Accurately document service activities, encounters, outcomes, and time spent in accordance with program billing and reporting requirement - Perform closed-loop referral follow-up activities to confirm successful service connections and identify unresolved barriers - Conduct outreach attempts and engagement activities in accordance with program timelines and documentation standards - Educate individuals, caregivers, and community stakeholders regarding available benefits, community resources, and social care services - Coordinate with healthcare providers, managed care organizations, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders to support continuity of care - Represent the organization professionally in community settings and act as an ambassador for care navigation programs and services - Escalate complex cases, urgent social needs, safety concerns, or barriers to supervisory or clinical staff as appropriate - Maintain compliance with HIPAA, confidentiality requirements, and all applicable federal, state, and program regulations - Meet productivity, quality, timeliness, documentation, and engagement standards established by the organization and program requirements - Participate in ongoing training, workflow development, community engagement initiatives, and quality improvement activities - Support reassessment, renewal, and recertification activities as required by program guidelines ### Required Skills and Experience - Minimum of 2 years’ experience in healthcare, social services, behavioral health, community outreach, case management, care coordination, human services, or a related field - Experience engaging individuals from diverse communities and backgrounds with empathy, professionalism, and cultural humility - Ability to build rapport quickly in both community-based and telephonic settings - Experience conducting direct client interactions in-person, telephonically, or through community outreach activities - Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills - Ability to present information effectively to individuals, families, community partners, and stakeholders - Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, locations, and deadlines simultaneously - Ability to maintain accurate and detailed documentation in compliance with regulatory and organizational requirements - Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and technology platforms used for documentation and referral management - Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and adapt to changing community and program needs - ***Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and ability to travel regularly throughout assigned service areas*** - Ability to routinely use laptops, smartphones, and other mobile technology while working remotely and in the field ### Preferred Skills and Experience - Training or certification in Trauma-Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, Crisis Intervention, and/or De-escalation Techniques - Experience working within New York Medicaid, Social Care Network (SCN), Managed Care, 1115 Waiver, or Health Equity initiatives - Experience providing care navigation, care management, community health worker services, outreach, health coaching, benefits navigation, or case management - Experience conducting community outreach, tabling events, health fairs, enrollment events, or grassroots engagement activities - Experience working with individuals experiencing food insecurity, housing instability, behavioral health conditions, substance use disorders, transportation barriers, justice involvement, or other social determinants of health - Bilingual proficiency preferred, particularly Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian, Bengali, Haitian Creole, Arabic, or other languages commonly spoken in New York communities - Established knowledge of community resources and service networks within New York State ### Physical Requirements - Repetitive motions that include the wrists, hands and/or fingers - Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting, remaining in a stationary position for prolonged periods - Visual perception to perform job including peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus