Outreach Specialist I

Job Summary:

As an Outreach Specialist I at Priority Healthcare Corporation, you will play a vital role in providing counseling, testing, and referral services to individuals with HIV/AIDS. Your primary goal will be to bring individuals into the continuum of care, while also focusing on the re-engagement of people living with HIV or AIDS who have been out of care.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide HIV pre/post counseling and testing services and STI screenings.
Refer to Treatment Adherence/Partner services (SHHP) for any newly diagnosed /returning to care persons.
Assist other staff with planning, and participation in community events.
Identify HIV testing and condom distribution sites.
Inventory and monitor testing and outreach supplies (weekly).
Provide outreach services, such as case finding and client recruitment.
Maintain knowledge of, and involvement with service providers in the community to identify those who are positive but not in care.
Attend multidisciplinary team meetings, community meetings, general staff, and other required meetings.
Maintains a working relationship and involvement with area hospital and clinic social workers.
Access and follow up on referrals to community resources appropriately.
Works closely with clients by fostering adherence through education and interaction with medical team.
Able to complete paperwork accurately and ensures submission of required paperwork in a timely manner.
Complete data entry of patient information into Evaluation Web ensuring timely submission of required reporting to the Office of Public Health, Ryan White Services & Resources and CDC.
Assist patients with accessing services and may attend appointments when needed.
Performs other duties as directed by your supervisor.
Search for and develop new Outreach/Testing sites.
Must attend on and off-site training as needed.
Work closely with the community to develop and maintain HIV and Prep related networks.
Participate in Outreach Activities including Pride, Southern Decadence, non-traditional venues, and other community engagement activities where the priority populations socialize and congregate.

Other Responsibilities & Activities:

Adheres to office protocol. (Proper clock in/clock out, work hours, voicemail, staff meetings, etc.).
Must have a current driver's license, reliable transportation, and proof of car insurance to travel throughout the community as required.
Adhere to mandatory dress code; appearance is neat and clean. Logo shirts must be worn daily.
Complete annual education requirements.
Treat clients and their families with respect and dignity and always maintain and ensure patient confidentiality.
Wear identification while on duty.
Communicate appropriately and clearly and maintain a good rapport and cooperative working relationship with all staff.
Represent organization positively and professionally.
Comply with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
Promote, model, mentor, and lead customer service excellence.

Skills and Abilities:

Must have knowledge of HIV treatment and care.
Support current organizational initiatives and exhibits creativity and flexibility in times of change.
Seeks experience and formal and independent learning activities to maintain and develop professional skills and knowledge.
Ability to schedule work production to meet timelines with attention to detail.
Able to work flexible hours and attend appointments with participants if needed.
Able to follow program guidelines of confidentiality.
Able to easily build rapport with participants.
Must have sound interviewing and assessment skills and the ability to work effectively with clients of all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds.
Must be self-disciplined and self-motivated with strong problem-solving skills.
Must interact with clients, providers, and staff in a professional, courteous, and responsible manner.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Qualifications:

Must be knowledgeable and experienced regarding HIV counseling and testing.
Must be skilled in educating clients about the importance of accessing medical care.
Must be certified and up to date in all requirements established by the Louisiana Office of Public Health, HIV/AIDS program.
Familiar with social determinants of health, particularly people of color.
Prior experience working with people living with HIV.
Prior experience working in outreach or community-based settings.
Strong organizational skills that reflect ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build excellent relationships with team members, program participants, staff, and other external partners.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Able to be a positive workplace example by working proactively for the good of the agency, maintaining a professional demeanor and an upbeat attitude.
Operate at the highest level of confidentiality, able to maintain all HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability) standards.
Maintain multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment and adaptable to changing project needs and deadlines.
Proficient in Microsoft Office.

Education/Experience:

High school graduate and at least one (1) year office experience in dealing with the public; pleasant telephone etiquette; ability to deal tactfully and effectively with patients; must be computer literate.
Must have one (1) year direct HIV service and/or outreach experience.

Language Skills:

Ability to read, write, speak, and comprehend written documents fluently.

Mathematical Skills:

N/A

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Certificates/Licenses/Registrations:

Current CPR and BLS certification.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands:

PHC will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act, and all other Federal, State, and local legislative requirements.
PHC will ensure that reasonable accommodations are made to enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of that position.
While performing the job, this position typically involves sitting, standing, climbing stairs, walking, carrying (15lbs), and lifting (15lbs).
Coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously.
Perform repetitive motion activities.
Operates a computer keyboard.
Makes and receives telephone calls.

Daily use of general office equipment:

copier, fax machine, phones, etc.

Temperature extremes may be encountered while working outdoors and indoors in buildings without air conditioning.

For outreach events the buildings may require walking up and down several flights of stairs, sometimes multiple times in one day.
Evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.
Travel is primarily local during the business day.

Priority Health Care is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, religion, age, gender identification, pregnancy, marital or familial status, gender or sexual orientation, veteran, or military status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or on the basis of any other status protected by law, and in compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

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