Community Health Worker - Salinas

COPE Health Solutions•Salinas, CA

4d•$26 - $29

About The Position

The Community Health Worker (CHW) helps patients and their families navigate and access community services and other resources, and supports the adoption of healthy behaviors. The CHW supports providers and Case Managers through integrated care management and community outreach. The role promotes, maintains, and improves the health of patients and their families by providing social support, informal counseling, and advocacy for individual and community health needs. The CHW educates members about Enhanced Care Management (ECM) services, supports enrollment, and serves as a primary liaison between members and needed services. The role establishes trusting relationships with patients and families, provides follow-up, motivational interviewing and goal setting, helps address barriers to care, and collaborates with the care team on individualized, linguistically and culturally appropriate care plans. The CHW connects members with health-related services and community resources, documents interactions in medical records and other software, manages an assigned caseload, and maintains HIPAA compliance. This is a regular, full-time, non-exempt position based in Salinas, California, with travel up to 80%. The position reports to a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has no direct reports. Salary is $26.00–$29.00 per hour. Weekend availability is required as program and operational needs dictate. COPE Health Solutions describes ECM as a program supporting eligible Medi-Cal members with complex medical, behavioral, and health-related social needs through comprehensive, person-centered coordination across health care and community settings. Multidisciplinary teams engage members, develop individualized care plans, connect them with services, and coordinate with providers and community partners to improve access, continuity, and health outcomes.

Requirements

Valid California Driver’s License.
High school graduation or equivalent required.
Experience working in a multicultural setting.
Willingness to learn about and understand different cultures, perspectives, and norms.
Basic computer skills required.
Good communication skills, including listening well and using language appropriately.
Ability and willingness to provide emotional support, encouragement, and motivation to patients.
Good organizational skills and ability to handle multiple priorities while remaining professional and calm.
Effective telephone skills.
Strong confidentiality practices when handling sensitive materials and information.
Ability to suggest workflow or system improvements.
Ability to work independently, be self-directed and flexible, prioritize, and perform functions with minimal supervision.
Ability to work at a high-volume level with accuracy.
Commitment to the mission of the COPE Health Solutions ECM Program and to improving care through teamwork.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with laws and principles related to patient, employee, and program information.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s Degree in Business Administration or a related field.
Successful completion of a formal Community Health Worker training program, such as one offered by a college or other educational institution.
Written and oral fluency in English and Spanish.
One to two years of experience working in a community-based setting.
Electronic medical record (EMR) experience.
Understanding of the community served and community connectedness.

Responsibilities

Educate members about ECM services, assist with enrollment, and serve as a primary liaison between members and services they may need.
Support individuals and families as they navigate the health care system and develop self-care and health care management.
Establish trusting relationships with patients and families and provide general support and encouragement.
Provide ongoing follow-up, basic motivational interviewing, and goal setting with patients and families.
Help bridge conversations with members and remove barriers to accessing health and social services.
Conduct face-to-face outreach to assigned members for appointment scheduling, needs assessment, and care gap closure.
Meet members in clinics, facilities, or homes to identify social determinants of health affecting their health and well-being.
Collaborate with the care team to create individualized, linguistically and culturally appropriate care plans for enrolled members.
Assist members in accessing health-related services and community resources, including accompanying them to specialist appointments and helping with enrollment forms.
Facilitate communication among members, families, colleagues, and community-based organizations as needed.
Document interactions with members and on their behalf in the medical record.
Follow up with patients by phone, home visits, and visits to other settings where patients can be found.
Help patients set personal health-related goals and attend appointments.
Refer patients to community agencies as appropriate.
Help patients connect with transportation resources and provide appointment reminders in special circumstances.
Maintain positive working relationships with patients, visitors, and staff, and effectively communicate CHS’s mission.
Work closely with medical providers and other clinical personnel assigned to the same patient to support comprehensive, coordinated care plans.
Maintain knowledge of community resources appropriate to patient and family needs.
Communicate consistently with the Case Manager about patient and family status, providing information and reports that clearly describe progress.
Act as a patient advocate and liaison between patients, families, and community service agencies.
Record patient care management information in the EMR and other software within 24 hours of patient contact.
Manage an assigned caseload of patients.
Maintain HIPAA compliance and protect confidential information.
Remain available to work weekends as required by program and operational needs.
Demonstrate professionalism, respect, honesty, dignity, teamwork, punctuality, and conscientious performance.