Community Health Worker

Northern Light Health

Department: Community Care Team

Position is located: Northern Light A.R. Gould Hospital

Work Type: Full Time

Hours Per Week: 40.00

Work Schedule: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Summary:

Community Health Workers (CHWs) provide social support, health coaching and navigation to access healthcare and community-based services. They also advocate for systems change, connect patients to high-quality health care services. CHWs do what is needed to help each patient improve their health and well-being. They take a holistic approach that allows them to provide patient support across multiple domains, based on what the patients need. Community Health Workers often have life experiences that have helped them to develop innate empathy, making them high effective at developing connections and relationships with patients to help promote change. CHWs are good listeners. They are able to reflect back what they have heard from patients, and they are good at helping to set goals and action steps to achieve those goals. Community Health Workers work with patients in multiple settings, including patient homes and communities, healthcare facilities (primary care offices, hospitals, emergency departments), and community settings such as grocery stores, gyms, or other locations where patient might need support/help. They also use the telephone and telehealth to provide patient outreach and support.

Responsibilities:

+ Excellent oral and written communication skills

+ Ability to carry out written and oral instructions

+ Ability to exercise judgment in the application of professional services

+ Comfortable with home visits and outreach; Make weekly follow-up calls and home visits to patients

+ Comfortable with computer data entry; Document each patient encounter in detail, using technology and the electronic medical record

+ Complete referrals to programs and supports that the patient needs to improve their health or social situations

+ Meet patients in a clinic or hospital and conduct a needs assessment, including helping patients to set health goals

+ Motivate patients to meet their health goals

+ Help patients with social issues like homelessness, substance abuse and hunger

+ Assist patients with organizing their records, making follow-up appointments, and obtaining prescriptions

+ Help patients fill out applications for benefits like insurance and food stamps

+ Facilitate support groups for patients

+ Coordinate and partner with others to provide workshops and education in a variety of areas

Other Information:

- Long-time resident of the community/region where this position provides service, with good knowledge of the resources of this community. - Successfully pass a background check and physical - Prior experience as an outreach worker a plus - Must provide a minimum of 2 references - Travel by personal vehicle is required - Will attend a paid training program

Competencies and Skills

+ Achieves Results: Sets high standards for their own outcomes and seizes opportunities to engage others towards objectives. Consistently moves forward with direct actions in order to attain or exceed objectives. Manages their own time effectively to accomplish assigned tasks. Successfully prioritizes multiple projects and duties as needed.

+ Behaves with Integrity and Builds Trust: Acts consistently in line with the core values, commitments and rules of conduct. Leads by example and tells the truth. Does what they say they will, when and how they say they will, or communicates an alternate plan.

+ Cultivates Respect: Treats others fairly, embraces and values differences, and contributes to a culture of diversity, inclusion, empowerment and cooperation.

+ Demonstrates Adaptability: Learns quickly when facing a new problem or unfamiliar task; is flexible in their approach with changing priorities and ambiguity. Manages change effectively and does not give up during adversity. Capable of changing one's behavioral style and/or views in order to attain a goal. Absorbs new information readily and puts it into practice effectively.

+ Develops Self and Others:Takes responsibility for engaging in professional self-development activities and programs. Strives to gain insight into their own values, strengths and weaknesses, interests and ambitions and takes action in order to enhance competencies and skills when possible. As a leader, encourages and guides employees towards growth opportunities to enhance performance and help them reach goals. Reviews and analyzes employees' strengths and weaknesses to distinguish their talents and development needs, and to ensure they are enhanced appropriately.

+ Effectively Communicates: Listens, speaks and writes appropriately, using clear language. Communication methods are fitting to the message(s), audience, and situation and follow-ups are regular and timely. Shows that important (non-) verbal information is absorbed and understood and asks further questions to clarify when necessary. Expresses ideas and views clearly to others and has ability to adjust use of language to the audiences' level.

+ Exercises Sound Judgment & Decision Making: Understands and processes complex information, which allows for appropriate and accountable conclusions. Does not react too quickly or slowly. Balances facts, goals, and potential approaches taking the appropriate criteria into account. Makes active decisions and commits oneself by communicating confidently and respectfully.

+ Fosters Accountability: Creates and participates in a work environment where people hold themselves and others accountable for processes, results and behaviors. Takes appropriate ownership not only of successes but also mistakes and works to correct them in a timely manner. Demonstrates understanding that we all work as a team and the quality and timeliness of work impacts everyone involved.

+ Influences and Inspires: Builds enthusiasm and commitment among others to move in a desired direction and models it personally. Creates a compelling vision of success that motivates workplace initiative and energizes others to follow. Provides direction and guidance to encourage cooperation between team members in order to attain an objective. Has the ability to appropriately influence others' actions and decisions with and without express authority.

+ No previous experience required.

+ Practices Compassion: Exhibits genuine care for people and is available and ready to help; displays a deep awareness of and strong willingness to relieve the suffering of others.

+ Promotes Health and Safety: Promotes a healthy and safe environment for patients, employees and visitors. Advocates and models healthy physical and mental health behaviors even in challenging circumstances. Sets high quality standards and strives for continuous improvement and quality assurance by reporting and encouraging others to report near misses and safety issues.

+ Provides Patient-Centered Care: Demonstrates understanding of patient care quality and service as organizational priority. Proactively supports change to improve patient experience and results. Exhibits the ability and willingness to find out what the patient wants and needs and to act accordingly, taking the organizational and outside resources into account. Cooperates, collaborates, communicates, and integrates care within and between teams to ensure that care is continuous and reliable.

+ Serves Others: Strives to understand, meet and exceed the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers which may include the people and communities in our service areas. Develops and maintains relationships, alliances and coalitions within and outside the organization and leverages them in order to obtain information, support, and promote cooperation and collaboration.

Education

+ Required No Minimum Requirement

Working Conditions

+ Need to drive to perform responsible duties.

+ Work with computers, typing, reading or writing.

+ Prolonged periods of sitting.

+ Lifting, moving and loading less than 20 pounds.

Position Community Health WorkerLocation Req ID null