Behavioral Health Navigator II

Sentara Health; United States; On-site; USD 68,000 - 102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision plan

Paid Time Off

Parental leave

Educational assistance

Student loan repayment

401k/403B with employer match

Job summary

Sentara Health in Suffolk, VA is seeking an onsite Behavioral Health Navigator II to provide patient-centered care coordination for individuals with mental health and/or substance use needs. The role supports moderate to complex patient populations, especially during transitions from ED or medical floors across the health system.

The navigator coordinates referrals, manages a caseload, collaborates with ED/inpatient/outpatient teams, and addresses social determinants of health to connect

Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work, counseling, psychology, addiction studies, or RN BSN option.
• 5 years healthcare experience in acute care, long-term care, home health, hospice, or community programs.
• BLS certification within 90 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate behavioral health referrals and linkage services.
• Independently manage a caseload with follow-up, education, and engagement.
• Collaborate with ED, inpatient, and outpatient teams to support care transitions.
• Identify social determinants of health and connect patients to resources.
• Mentor BHN I team members.
• Conduct initial assessments to determine behavioral health needs and treatment options.
• Connect patients with mental health providers and resources.
• Coordinate and schedule follow-up appointments for continuity of care.
• Address barriers to treatment such as transportation or insurance.
• Provide ongoing education and emotional support to patients and families.
• Collaborate with social workers, case managers, and healthcare professionals to facilitate care.
• Advocate for patients' mental health needs within the healthcare system and community.

Skills

Care coordination

Patient-centered care

Team collaboration

Social determinants

Caseload management

Mentoring

Emergency handoffs

Education

Master's in Social Work

BSN RN option

Tools

EMR system

Care coordination software

BLS certification

Job description

City/State Suffolk, VA Work Shift First (Days) Overview: Sentara Health is looking to hire an onsite Behavioral Health Navigator II in our Sentara Louise Obici Hospital in Suffolk. The behavioral health navigator level 2 provides independent, patient-centered care coordination to individuals with mental health and/or substance use needs. This role builds on foundational experience and supports moderate to complex patient populations, especially those transitioning from emergency or medical floor settings throughout the health system.

Other Requirements Through compassionate guidance and a patient-centered approach, the Behavioral Health Navigator plays a crucial role in improving access to mental health services, enhancing patient outcomes, and ensuring a seamless transition to appropriate care.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate behavioral health referrals and community linkage services
• Independently manage a caseload of patients requiring follow-up, education, and engagement
• Collaborate with ED, inpatient, and outpatient teams to support care transitions
• Identify social determinants of health and connect patients to appropriate resources
• Mentor and support BHN I team members
• Conducts initial assessments to determine patients’ behavioral health needs and identifying appropriate treatment options.
• Connects patients with mental health providers, community resources, and support services.
• Coordinates and schedules follow-up appointments to ensure continuity of care.
• Addresses potential barriers to treatment, such as financial constraints, lack of transportation, or insurance challenges, and working to resolve these obstacles.
• Provides ongoing education and emotional support to patients and their families, helping them understand their treatment plans and available resources.
• Collaborates closely with medical staff, social workers, case managers, and other healthcare professionals to facilitate comprehensive care.
• Advocates for patients' mental health needs within the healthcare system and the community.

Education

• Master's Degree in one of the following areas: Social Work, Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, Addiction Studies, Nursing or a closely related field. (Required)
• OR
• Bachelors of Science in Nursing for RN Candidates (Required)

Certification

• For RN Candidates (required)
• BLS within 90 days of hired (required)

Experience

• 5 years of healthcare experience delivered in one of the following settings: Acute care, long-term care, home health, hospice, skilled nursing facility, or community-based program services (required)

Keywords: Talroo- Health, Behavioral Health, Acute Care, Long Term Care, Home Health, Hospice, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Community Program Services

We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, and benefits. The base pay range for full-time employment is $68,494.40 - $102,024.00 annually. Additional compensation may be available for this role, such as shift differentials, on-call pay, shift premiums, extra-shift incentives, or bonus opportunities. Compensation within the range may vary based on qualifications, experience, location, market conditions, and business needs. Note: If an annual salary is posted, it is based on a full‑time colleague working 2,080 hours annually. Sentara offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance; 401(k)/403(b) with employer match; paid time off (vacation, sick time, and holidays); paid parental and military leave; educational assistance or student loan repayment; and voluntary benefits.

Benefits

Caring For Your Family and Your Career

• Medical, Dental, Vision plans
• Adoption, Fertility and Surrogacy Reimbursement up to $10,000
• Paid Time Off and Sick Leave
• Paid Parental & Family Caregiver Leave
• Emergency Backup Care
• Long-Term, Short-Term Disability, and Critical Illness plans
• Life Insurance
• 401k/403B with Employer Match
• Tuition Assistance – $5,250/year and discounted educational opportunities through Guild Education
• Student Debt Pay Down – $10,000
• Pet Insurance
• Legal Resources Plan
• Colleagues have the opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus if established system and employee eligibility criteria is met.

Sentara Obici Hospital, a 175-bed state-of-the-art facility, is located on Godwin Boulevard in Suffolk, VA. Our full-service hospital continues a legacy of providing residents of Western Tidewater with high-quality, patient-centered care. As a recognized accredited Primary Stroke Center, and Magnet hospital for nursing excellence, the hospital specializes in orthopedic and spine, heart and vascular, advanced imaging, gynecological and comprehensive breast services, behavioral health, maternity, weight loss surgery, and a heartburn treatment center.

Sentara Health is an equal opportunity employer and prides itself on the diversity and inclusiveness of its close to an almost 30,000-member workforce. Diversity, inclusion, and belonging is a guiding principle of the organization to ensure its workforce reflects the communities it serves.

In support of our mission “to improve health every day,” this is a tobacco‑free environment.

For positions that are available as remote work, Sentara Health employs associates in the following states: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Sentara Health is a Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina based not-for-profit integrated healthcare provider that has been in business for over 131 years. Offering hundreds of sites of care including 12 hospitals, PACE, home health, hospice, medical groups, imaging services, therapy, outpatient surgery centers, and an 858,000 member health plan.

The people of the communities that we serve have nominated Sentara “Employer of Choice” for over ten years. U.S. News and World Report has recognized Sentara as having the Best Hospitals for 15+ years.

Sentara offers professional development and a continued employment philosophy!