Care Navigator

Description

Housing Works requires employees working in our Health Services division to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, unless approved for a legal accommodation. If you need an accommodation for any reason, including related to this job requirement, please contact Human Resources.

Job candidates should be aware that scammers may pose as employers and create fake job postings in order to extract personal information from individuals for financial gain. Housing Works will never ask job candidates for personal information, such as social security numbers or bank account details, over the phone. If you suspect that a job posting may be fake or wish to confirm that a job posting from Housing Works is genuine, please contact us at recruitment@housingworks.org

Housing Works was founded in 1990; With a long-term commitment to AIDS advocacy. Housing Works established New York State's first harm reduction-based, OASAS-licensed outpatient drug treatment program. Other services include Health Home care management, behavioral health, and syringe exchange programs. A pioneer in the social entrepreneurship movement, Housing Works operates 10 high-end thrift shops in Manhattan and Brooklyn and a much-loved Bookstore Cafe in Soho. For more information, visit www.housingworks.org

Housing Works fights for funding and legislation to ensure that all people living with HIV/AIDS have access to quality housing, healthcare, HIV prevention, and treatment, among other lifesaving services.

Benefits:
We have three comprehensive healthcare plans to choose from based on your priorities and budget. Housing Works covers most of the plan; you pay a portion, based on your salary. Staff begins accruing PTO immediately for a total of up to 30 days earned in the first year. We offer employees an educational benefit. This money is available for tuition loan reimbursement, tuition costs, and text books.

Housing Works provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements. Housing Works complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Housing Works also does not request prior salary information during the hiring process. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

This position is included in a bargaining unit of Housing Works' New York City employees represented by a labor union known as the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union ("RWDSU"). Accordingly, the RWDSU has the exclusive right to bargain over the terms and conditions of employment related to this position and this position may become covered by the terms of a collective bargaining agreement (a "CBA") between Housing Works and the RWDSU

Compensation Range: $17/hr - $19/hr commensurate with experience.

Overview:

The Care Navigator (CN) will implement effective Care Navigation strategies intended to serve New York City's most at-risk LGBTQ and TGNC (Transgender and Non-Gender Conforming) communities of color. In this dynamic role the CN will provide testing, education and linkage to services for high risk individuals in need of PrEP, STI testing and HIV treatment. The Care Navigator provides direct services primarily for men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women of color, through 4th Generation HIV Testing and Counseling, Linkage to Care and STI Treatment, PrEP/PEP Education, and Linkage to PrEP/PEP, Linkage to Services, Follow-up Services, Reengagement Services, and Benefits Navigation. The Care Navigator support outreach efforts by utilizing new media technology, work drop-in activities and staff weekend events that engage target populations that need connections to care.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct Care Navigator's Risk Screening, Brief Intervention, Intake Assessment and assist with case management activities and integrated case conferences while working closely with Health Services and Housing Work's medical clinics
• Ensure at risk and newly diagnosed clients are linked to Primary Care for confirmatory testing, STI screenings and PrEP/PEP when applicable and effectively troubleshoot barriers to linkage
• Provide frontline support including helpful information, answer questions, and respond to inquiries for PrEP and prevention services with an emphasis on delivering excellent customer service that support quality of care
• Work closely with Program Coordinator to troubleshoot client service concerns, barriers or challenges in a timely manner
• Advise Peers, interns and new staff on effective PrEP engagement and other service linkage strategies with support from Program Coordinator
• Participate in monthly peer reviews with staff to ensure that quality services, proper documentation, and client needs are being met
• Attend monthly PrEP meetings and report on client feedback and any barriers to providing PrEP outreach and scheduling.
• Participate in nightly drop in events as well as weekend events as needed and as allowable based on public health recommendations followed by Housing Works
• Document contract targets in AIRS, e-ICare and maintain weekly tracking form to document efforts
• Advise Peers, interns and new staff on effective PrEP engagement and other service linkage strategies
• Maintain knowledge of testing and screening protocols with an opportunity to become certified in phlebotomy

Other functions that may be required with this position include:

• Participate in department activities such as new staff onboarding, YPS Pride Committee, CQI efforts, and contribute best practices to Care Navigation and Client Engagement best practices guidebook
• Participate in reoccurring interagency meetings, as well as external community meetings to improve integrated care and maintain relationships with community partners
• Participate in advocacy events and activities as supported by Housing Works
• Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED required
• 2 years of outreach or patient navigation experience, preferably in health services setting or related experience working with medical
• Knowledge of HIV/AIDS, homelessness, substance use and mental illness, LGBT youth issues and MSM networks/hot spots
• Strong socio-cultural identification and understanding with the priority populations
• Ability to problem-solve effectively under pressure while maintaining a professional demeanor and communicate in a timely manner with an appropriate sense of urgency
• Knowledge of issues pertaining to homelessness, substance use, harm reduction, mental illness, transgender healthcare, and LGBTQ+ youth
• Experience providing rapid HIV and/or HCV rapid testing with pre- and post-counseling. STI screening and testing experience is a plus

The following additional competencies are viewed as important to success in this position:

• Excellent computer skills and experience with contract data systems in addition to Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams) and utilize.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills which supports positive interaction with others in achieving goals and objectives
• Ability to address healthcare barriers and identify available resources for LGBTQ+ and POC communities
• Professional experience with social media, dating apps and other digital marketing tools is preferred with a willingness to develop skills further
• Ability to work regular evenings and weekends
• Flexibility with schedule and travel required due to attending outreach events around the city as allowable
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time

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