Community Health Worker

Summary:

The Community Health Worker (CHW) provides navigational case management and home/community-based services to members of the community.

A Community Health Worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the CHW to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. A CHW also builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach community education informal counseling social support and advocacy.(APHA CHW Section)

Responsibilities:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Under general supervision the CHW is responsible for performing the following essential job functions:

Recruits patients by conducting outreach activities in the community.

Builds trust with patients and community members in order to provide support empowerment education and case management services.

Advises patients and others regarding health care and other community services available to them; assists patients in utilizing services; makes follow-up contacts when required.

Conducts periodic assessments of health behaviors such as patients physical activity dietary habits cigarette smoking habits; social factors such as housing and employment status; and social and economic resources.

Educates clients with chronic illness about evidence-based standards of care and self-management of their chronic illness.

Educates patients about the health care system appropriate sites of care and self-navigation all in an effort to help the patient build skills to become self-sufficient and manage their health independently.

Documents work with patients through appropriate record keeping that follows the clinics policies and procedures; assists with gathering data relevant to program evaluation as appropriate.

Operates effectively in a multi-disciplinary clinical setting which may include participating regularly in clinic program meetings and attending patient medical visits upon request.

Participates in team meetings and assists as needed in any activities related to the clinic or the Lifespan Community Health Institute.

Serves as liaison between the professional staff and the community; including developing relationships with various stakeholders in the community.

May transport ambulatory patients between their homes and clinics hospitals or other social agencies and meet with patients at home in the hospital or in community settings.

Attends ongoing training for community health workers.

Practices clear effective consistent communication with clients and colleagues.

Demonstrate privacy and confidentiality meeting all related training and practice requirements of the Lifespan system.

Works nights and weekends as required.

Other duties as assigned.

Other information:

QUALIFICATIONS - EXPERIENCE:

Two (2) years of verifiable experience providing information education intervention and/or referral services to culturally diverse populations. Recent experience (last 5 years) working as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a health care setting preferred.

Community Health Worker certification in Rhode Island preferred.

Experience with motivational interviewing advising/counseling clients and/or participating in health promotion and health education activities.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Excellent organization thorough record-keeping follow through and ability to juggle multiple priorities in fast-paced environment with multiple collaborators.

Demonstrated excellent attendance and reliability.

Prior experience using an electronic health record preferred.

Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.