Community Health Worker - Street Medicine

Neighborhood Healthcare•El Cajon, CA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Community Health Worker (CHW) will work with Enhanced Care Management (ECM) patients to improve their whole health through outreach and engagement activities by helping patients navigate/access community services/resources and adopt healthy behaviors. This position will serve as an integral component of the Street Medicine program, engaging and enrolling individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness into ECM. Additionally, this role will encounter and manage a shifting landscape to meet the ECM needs of the homeless and underserved populations. The CHW will split their time between providing ECM services to patients in the community and in the clinical setting. Driving a Neighborhood branded vehicle for the Street Medicine program is a shared responsibility for all non-clinical support staff on the team.

Requirements

High school/GED required
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is required upon hire and must be maintained as a condition of employment. These courses must follow AHA guidelines, but may be completed through approved online providers such as ProMed or other equivalent programs that meet recognized BLS standards.
Two years’ healthcare, behavioral health, street medicine, or social services industry experience required
Valid CA Driver’s License and proof of auto insurance required
Ability to perform intermediate computer and data entry skills
Ability to apply emotional and cultural intelligence to provide appropriate communication and patient care
Ability to sufficiently engage patients in a variety of settings including phone, in person/homes, community streets/shelters, and/or healthcare settings
Ability to develop relationships with community patients and leaders, including faith-based community
Ability to make decisions and sound judgements to anticipate the needs of patents and knowing when to consult with the team, supervisors, and experts
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including superior composition, typing and proofreading skills
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form
Ability to successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously, including changing priorities and time sensitive deadlines
Excellent planning and organizational ability
Excellent teamwork and relationship building skills
Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently
Ability to work with highly confidential information in a professional and ethical manner
Ability to lift/carry 20 lbs/weight
Ability to stand for long periods of time

Nice To Haves

Experience working with unsheltered homeless and/or personal lived homelessness experience preferred
Experience working in outreach and customer service within the medical office and behavioral health environments with individuals who struggle with substance use disorder and mental health issues preferred
Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred
Knowledgeable about and experience with numerous cultural issues, such as immigration, socioeconomic, LGBTQIA+, seniors, etc.
Knowledgeable about and experience with trauma-informed practices, mental health conditions and addictive disorders
Knowledgeable about the community-based resources, especially non-professional resources and their reputation in the community

Responsibilities

Maintains situational awareness and ensures scene safety when providing services in the community
Conducts community outreach and establishes trusting relationships with patients while providing general support and encouragement
Manages and provides ongoing follow-ups to an assigned caseload of patients including: Schedules patient appointments and encounter patients using EMR Registration program
Uses basic motivational interviewing and goal setting
Conducts phone calls, home or living environment visits, and visits to other settings where patients are located
Assists patients attend appointments through assessing and addressing access barriers
Provides referrals for services to community agencies as appropriate
Assists patients connect with transportation resources and provides appointment reminders, as needed
Assists patients with completing applications and registration forms
Conducts eligibility determination, enrollment, and follow up with uninsured patients
Liaises between patients and community service agencies to ensure patient needs and rights are met, including collaborates with community providers to ensure continuity of care
Assists patients in navigating the healthcare system by finding and following up by phone and in-person with eligible ECM patients
Documents and shares patient barriers with ECM team and PCP to improve care and outcomes
Utilizes evidence-based approaches when engaging with patients to increase their sense of control over their health, such as motivational interviewing to promote collaboration between patients and their medical/behavioral care team
Communicates and delivers easy to read information about health and wellness to the community and provides information on ECM patient benefits and services
Advocates on behalf of ECM patients in the home or their living environment to community and provider organizations
Builds and maintains a positive working relationship with providers, including interactions within provider offices, phone, email, fax, and other approved communication methods
Assists the ECM team and providers to understand the culture, norms, beliefs, and preferences about patients and their communities by representing the community's voice
Helps create messages and materials that fit community culture and delivers messages to fit the culture of patients
Works collaboratively within the ECM team to discuss responsibilities, task sharing, conflict resolution, and patient case reviews
Collaborates on patient care issues with other ECM team patients
Participates in weekly case reviews and consults with the patient's PCP before taking any clinical action
Ensures documentation is accurate, helpful, and compliant with regulatory requirements and accreditation standards, including recording required documentation in eCW and managed care plans ECM portal within one day
Participates in required staff meetings or other activities, as assigned
Assume shared responsibility for driving the Neighborhood vehicle with non-clinical support staff team