Community Health Worker (CHW)- Hospice

VITAS Healthcare•Whitpain Township, PA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

This position description outlines the duties and responsibilities for a Community Health Worker (CHW) specializing in Hospice care. The CHW will assist patients and their families in identifying and accessing community resources, advocating for their needs, and providing support. This role involves conducting goals of care conversations, maintaining resource files, and building trusting relationships with patients and families. The CHW will also be responsible for follow-up care, documentation, and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to ensure quality patient care. A customer service approach and adherence to confidentiality are essential. The position may require performing other duties as requested by a supervisor.

Requirements

Reliable transportation, current state driver’s license and automobile insurance.
Extensive knowledge of community resources within the specific community in which the palliative care program is located.
Knowledge of local, county, applicable state, and federal assistance programs.
At least one year of social service experience in a health care setting or social service agency.
Knowledge of the interdisciplinary team concept.
Ability to communicate tactfully, verbally and in writing with department heads, managers, coworkers and vendors to resolve problems and negotiate resolutions.
Computer skills required including the ability to use Outlook, Excel and Word, must be able to work within an automated system, and be able to access and use the internet.
Must have licensure and/or certification (if required by the state) to practice as a Community Health Worker in the state in which the position exists.

Nice To Haves

Experience as a community health worker with seriously ill patients and their families preferred.
Experience in patient education, planning, and management preferred.

Responsibilities

Assists the patient/family in identifying appropriate community resources to help address their needs.
Assists in a variety of applications for patient/family assistance and with gathering required documentation with various community agencies.
Serves as a direct or indirect representative, and is a patient/family advocate with all related community agencies either by request of the patient/family or by virtue of prevailing circumstances.
Conducts goals of care conversations with patients and families in a culturally competent manner.
Maintains a community resource file in the area where the palliative care program is located with current information on all relative agencies within that area.
Actively works to increase awareness in the palliative care program of existing community resources.
Responsible for establishing trusting relationships with patients and their families while providing general support and encouragement.
Provide ongoing follow-up, basic motivational interviewing and goal setting with patients/families.
Conducts follow–ups with patients via phone calls, home visits and visits to other settings to meet with patients.
Maintains appropriate documentation in patient charts.
Attends and participates in internal VITAS Palliative Care team meetings.
Works closely to assist members of the interdisciplinary team in providing quality patient care.
Utilizes a customer service approach in all interactions with VITAS patients, families, and employees, facility staff, referral sources, and business partners.
Adheres to the practice of confidentiality regarding patients, families, staff and the organization.
Other duties as requested by supervisor.