Respite Community Health Worker

Vinfen•Lowell, MA

About The Position

The Community Health Worker (CHW) provides intensive case management services in the Respite Program to individuals who have mental health, substance use and/or co-occurring disorders. These services are designed to be maximally flexible in supporting individuals to implement their Community Support Plan and the skills and resources needed to community tenure. The CHW is at the helm of organizing and coordinating resources and services in response to healthcare needs across multiple settings, and inclusive of both LTSS and SDH needs. This role drives outreach and engagement, health and wellness coaching, as well as community and social services connections in partnership with Person Served and their care teams.

Requirements

Highly sensitive to the needs of people with disabilities and able to connect with and engage assigned members
Flexible and ability to work well as a team member
Ability to follow instructions
Adequate communication skills and willing to work cooperatively with a variety of people in a various community settings
Strong commitment to respect the right and ability of people served to live, work, have meaningful relationships, and receive the resources and supports needed in their community of choice
Knowledge of person-centered, strengths-based, recovery-oriented values and principles and modalities
Knowledge of clinical and psychiatric rehabilitation values, principles, and techniques
Knowledge of health risks of prevalence with adults with SMI/SUD
Knowledge of health promotion and clinical care coordination techniques
Knowledge of motivational interviewing, stage of change, and harm reduction techniques
Knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally responsive services
Sensitivity to cultural, religious, ethnic, disability, and gender issues
Skills and competence to establish supportive trusting relationships with program participants
Knowledge of human, legal, civil rights, community, and other resources
Knowledge of empowerment and self-advocacy techniques
Knowledge of available community health, mental health, and SUD services and resources
Ability to triage/balance competing priorities
Ability to make independent judgments and decisions
Ability to work in a professional and confidential capacity
Ability to work independently and as member of a multidisciplinary team
Minimum of 3 years’ care management or related experience with people with psychiatric conditions or SUD preferred.
A high school diploma or equivalent required
Driving is a requirement for this position using either a Vinfen van or personal vehicle.
If using a personal vehicle, you must possess and maintain adequate insurance as well as maintain a safe driving record which is subject to annual checks.
A valid driver's license must be presented at the time of employment.
Incumbents must be at least 21 years of age, have maintained a valid US driver's license for at least six (6) months, and must be able to pass a driver's screening background check.
Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, crawl, climb as this is a very physically active position.
Must be able to lift at least 25 pounds using proper lifting techniques or the use of a two-person lift.
Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment such as a calculator, copier, and printer.
Ability to sit, reach, climb stairs, and maneuver through narrow spaces or hallways.
Ability to assist clients with tasks of daily living.
Ability to speak, hear, and communicate with clients, staff, and external representatives.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
For positions in day programs or group residences, the ability to assist in routine living activities including cleaning, meal preparation, vacuuming, shoveling, and grocery shopping.
CPR within 2 weeks of hire
First Aid within 2 weeks of hire
MAP within 150 days of hire

Nice To Haves

BA/BS in human-services related field preferred.
Bilingual/bi-cultural applicants and people with lived experience are encouraged to apply.
Certified Community Health Worker in state of service preferred

Responsibilities

Drives referrals to any community or social services that align with a person served’s needs and goals as outlined in their Respite Community Support Plan (CSP).
Collaborates closely with PCP and other providers, including but not limited to community resources, to assure appropriate referrals based on level of care needed which optimize outcomes and minimize risk.
Assists persons served in improving daily living skills so they can perform them independently or access services to support them in doing so.
Provides temporary assistance with transportation to essential medical and behavioral health appointments while transitioning to community-based transportation resources (e.g., public transportation resources, PT-1, etc.).
Accompanies persons served to essential health care appointments, as needed.
Assists with obtaining benefits, housing, and health care.
Collaborates with Emergency Services Programs/Mobile Crisis Intervention (ESP/MCIs) and/or outpatient providers; including working with ESP/MCIs to develop, revise and/or utilize crisis prevention plans and/or safety plans.
Fosters empowerment, recovery, and wellness, including forming connections to recovery- oriented peer support and/or self-help support and services.
Collaborates with Respite Clinical Supervisor to manage all care transitions through collaboration with person served, community provider staff, ICT, and hospital staff to ensure a safe discharge plan and a well-coordinated implementation of that plan.
Completes required Service Notes and case documentation in electronic health record to ensure accurate and timely billing of services.
Participates in routine multidisciplinary team meetings.
Completes all assigned courses on Vinfen Learning Management System and other training/in service/workshops in best practices as assigned by supervisor.
Support person served with taking medications as prescribed under the MAP system
Performs other related duties, as assigned.