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UPMC
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Hybrid

Behavioral Health Navigator I - Psych Care+

Behavioral HealthIncludes callIncludes weekendsFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital is hiring a full-time Behavioral Health Navigator I to support the PsychCare+ team!

Psych Care Plus is the admission and outpatient scheduling service for UPMC Behavioral Health Service Line for Western Psychiatric Hospital.

The incumbent will work rotating shifts, including days, evenings, and nights. Must work 1 weekend shift every other weekend as well as 2 major and 2 minor holidays per year. This is a hybrid position, with the first couple of months exclusively in-office.

*UNDERGRADUATE & GRADUATE (IF APPLICABLE) TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE INCLUDED WITH YOUR APPLICATION*

Responsibilities

Meet standards for documentation and completes all required paperwork, including psychiatric evaluation, commitment paperwork.

  • Demonstrate ability to utilize DSMV and to develop provisional diagnosis.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of mental health laws and reviews inpatient commitment for accuracy, competencies and proper time frames.
  • Knowledge of insurance programs, processes and able to obtain authorizations as needed.
  • Participate in interdisciplinary activities such as staff meetings and other committees as assigned.

Maintain competency requirements. Learn and utilize up-to-date technology in delivery of patient care for assessment and disposition/referral planning.

  • Efficiently take a sizable volume of calls and disposition callers to meet their needs rapidly
  • Follow outpatient scheduling or referral documentation guidelines
  • Responds rapidly to appointment or inpatient admission requests through email, phone, or voicemailReview and summarizes the patient information for admissions to a behavioral health unit and triaging patient for appropriate placement
  • Ability to verbally present the case to physicians and others
  • Demonstrate triage and assessment skills for medical necessity or appropriate outpatient clinic

Provides accurate, timely information to coworkers, physicians, outside agencies, with a professional and courteous manner

Demonstrates expertise in accessing social systems by providing resource-specific information to patients and families, initiating contact with appropriate resources and facilitating the patient/family's ability to accept referrals.

Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Counseling or Social Work with one-year of mental health direct care experience OR master's degree in Psychology, Counseling or Social Work. Other fields of study may be considered with coursework of at least 12 credits in human services and/or relevant mental health experience.

Ability to respond calmly and effectively, using good clinical judgment to both psychiatric and medical emergencies.

Ability to identify problems, implement resolution, reassesses situation/problem.

Excellent interpersonal relations with the ability to interact in a direct, professional, tactful, gracious manner with all professional/non-professional contacts; includes all areas of verbal/non-verbal communication within the contest of direct/non-direct contact; history of excellent interpersonal relations.

  • Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
  • Ability to work under stress, with an unpredictable patient flow, in a sometimes-crowded work environment.
  • A personal disposition that is warm, friendly, caring, kind and hospitable towards patients, colleagues.
  • Exhibit openness and willingness to learn.
  • Flexible schedule; rotating shifts.
  • History/record of all above services consistently delivered with a service excellent attitude.
  • Ability and willingness to work in a managed care environment.
  • Excellent ability and history of direct, gracious, courteous, kind face to-face, telephone and nonverbal skills.
  • May in the course of their job duties be in rooms where medications are stored.
  • No contact with medications is allowed.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances

  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
  • Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC)
  • Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal
  • Act 33 with renewal
  • Act 34 with renewal
  • Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Counseling, or Social Work with at least one year of direct mental health experience, or a Master's degree in a related field. Applicants are required to possess various clearances including CPR, CCMC, and state-mandated child abuse and criminal background checks.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Case ManagementCrisis InterventionInsurance AuthorizationPatient AssessmentInterdisciplinary CollaborationCommunication SkillsResource CoordinationConflict Resolution

Behavioral Health Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Pennsylvania is 97.6 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 61.7% of Pennsylvania clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Behavioral Health pay on WeekdayDoc is up 15.4% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Work-life snapshot

2.4/ 10
Listing-based score
  • Hybrid
  • Includes call
  • Includes weekends
  • Remote
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About UPMC

Hospitals and Health Care
Pittsburgh, PA
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

CPR certification
Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC)
Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting
Act 33
Act 34
Act 73 FBI Clearance