Health Navigator, Sexual Health

Fenway Health•Boston, MA

2h•$24 - $26

About The Position

Reporting to the Sexual Health Program Manager, the Health Navigator provides outreach, risk-reduction counseling, HIV/Hepatitis C/STI screening, check-in, and linkage-to-care services. The role focuses on gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender and gender nonconforming populations, and people who inject drugs (PWID). The Health Navigator engages and checks in patients during walk-in hours, communicates patient needs to navigators, nurses, and providers, and responds to the Sexual Health Hotline to screen and triage callers. In clinic, the role provides patient-centered prevention information and counseling, completes demographic and risk assessments in Epic, conducts serum testing and phlebotomy, prepares specimen forms and lab orders, documents results, and follows up to ensure patients’ needs are met. The position also provides health navigation, supported referrals, and accompaniment to services when appropriate. The Health Navigator participates in outreach planning and events, collaborates with clinical providers on culturally competent referrals, contributes to program materials, builds referral relationships, and attends relevant continuing education and staff activities. The role follows agency policies and confidentiality and safety requirements, supports quality improvement, and maintains the professional competence needed to perform the work. This is a union position in a Fenway Health bargaining unit represented by 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. The organization offers competitive salaries and, for eligible employees, a benefits package that includes medical and dental insurance, a retirement plan with employer match, 11 paid holidays, and paid vacation.

Requirements

At least two years of relevant work experience; a bachelor’s degree plus relevant experience may substitute for the minimum work experience requirement.
Willingness and ability to learn and perform phlebotomy.
Ability to handle multiple tasks, prioritize duties, and keep written records.
Ability to work independently and in small groups.
Ability to manage clinically and emotionally challenging situations with professionalism, care, and discretion.
Ability to work effectively with diverse groups and communities at risk for HIV, especially men who have sex with men, transgender people, injection drug users, people of color, foreign-born and potentially undocumented people, and people who are homeless or unstably housed.
Ability to work respectfully and effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences, demonstrating professionalism, empathy, and cultural awareness.

Nice To Haves

Prior competence in phlebotomy.
Experience providing HIV or substance abuse education.
Strong interpersonal communication skills.
Experience working in an ethnically, culturally, and racially diverse environment.
Ability to meet deadlines and work within a team-based environment.
Strong interest in LGBTQIA+ health.

Responsibilities

Register and check in patients during walk-in hours according to workflow.
Communicate patient needs with navigators, nurses, and providers after patients are checked into Epic.
Answer the Sexual Health Hotline and screen and triage callers.
Create a nonjudgmental, patient-centered atmosphere for patients.
Discuss basic HIV and STI prevention information and the importance of accessing care, with a focus on priority populations.
Complete demographic and risk assessment forms in Epic and use motivational interviewing techniques to gather needed information.
Conduct serum testing for HIV, HCV, and syphilis, including phlebotomy.
Create specimen collection forms for the Massachusetts State Lab and place Quest Lab orders.
Communicate with providers, nurses, and other navigators about patient care throughout clinic.
Document results for patients through the Massachusetts State Lab Electronic Laboratory Reporting and Communication system according to established workflows.
Ensure forms are completed within established timeframes and follow up as needed to ensure patient needs are met.
Provide extended or multi-session counseling for HIV-positive and high-risk HIV-negative clients when appropriate, including evidence-based interventions.
Provide health navigation, make supported referrals, and accompany clients to service sites when appropriate.
Participate in interdisciplinary program-planning meetings to design and implement community outreach initiatives and screening events.
Assist with outreach events as needed.
Collaborate with clinical providers to coordinate culturally competent referrals.
Attend continuing education seminars, staff in-services, and relevant meetings and trainings; stay informed about prevention-service trends and relevant literature.
Assist in drafting and editing program materials.
Build referral relationships with Fenway Health providers and community organizations serving target populations.
Ensure patients receive patient-centered, nonjudgmental care and suggest and participate in continuing quality improvement efforts.
Adhere to agency and departmental policies and procedures, confidentiality principles, and safety policies; identify and address unsafe situations.
Maintain professional competence and provide the agency with records of continuing education activities.
Perform related duties as required.