Health Navigator, Sexual Health

Health Navigator

Reporting to the Sexual Health Program Manager, the Health Navigator provides outreach, risk-reduction counseling and HIV/Hepatitis C/STI screening services, check-in, and linkage to care services with a focus gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender and gender nonconforming populations and people who inject drugs (PWID).

Primary Responsibilities:

Client Engagement

• Following the workflow, register and check-in patients during walk-in hours
• Communicate with the navigators, nurses, and providers about patient's needs after they are checked into the Epic system
• Answer the Sexual Health Hotline to screen and triage callers

Provide Direct Services in Clinic

• Always create a non-judgment, patient centered atmosphere for patients
• Discuss basic HIV and STI prevention information and the importance of accessing care with patients (with a focus on our priority populations)
• Complete demographic and risk assessment forms in Epic to understand the patient's risk factors while using motivational interviewing techniques to ascertain needed information
• Conduct serum testing for HIV, HCV and syphilis, performing phlebotomy
• Create specimen collection forms that are sent to the Massachusetts State Lab and Quest Lab orders
• Communicate with providers, nurses, and other navigators about patient's care throughout clinic
• Document results to patients by accessing the Massachusetts State Lab Electronic Laboratory Reporting and Communication, according to established workflows
• Ensure forms are completed within the established timeframe
• Follow-up as needed to ensure patient's needs are met
• Provide extended or multi-session counseling sessions for HIV-positive and high-risk HIV-negative clients when appropriate, including with evidence-based interventions
• Perform Health Navigation, making supported referrals, and accompanying clients to service sites when appropriate, to address the full spectrum of client needs

Outreach (outside of clinic)

• Participate in program planning through interdisciplinary team meetings to design and implement community outreach initiatives and screening events to reach members of at-risk communities
• Assist with outreach events, as needed

Participating in Planning and Implementation of New Initiatives

• Collaborate with clinical providers to coordinate culturally competent referrals
• Attend continuing education seminars, staff in-services and stay abreast of relevant literature to maintain familiarity with trends in prevention services.
• Assist in drafting/editing program materials
• Make connections and build referral relationships with Fenway Health providers and community organizations that serve the target populations

Agency Participatory Expectations:

• Ensures all patients receive patient-centered, non-judgmental care
• Suggests and participates in continuing quality improvement efforts
• Adheres to all agency and departmental policies and procedures
• Participates in quality assessment and improvement activities as requests
• Adheres to the highest principles of patient and client confidentiality
• Adheres to established safety policies, procedures and precautions; identifies potential or actual unsafe situations in the environment and takes measures to rectify the situation
• Attends all required meetings, in-services and professional trainings
• Attends all regularly scheduled research meetings, trainings, forums and pertinent FCH staff meetings
• Maintains professional competence necessary to perform job responsibilities; maintains and provides agency with records of continuing education activities

Perform related duties as required

Requirements

• Minimum two years relevant work experience. Note: A bachelor's degree plus relevant experience may substitute for the minimum work experience requirement.
• Willingness and ability to learn and perform phlebotomy (with prior competence preferred but not required)
• Ability to handle multiple tasks, prioritize assigned duties, and keep written records
• Ability to work independently and in small groups
• Ability to manage clinically and emotionally challenging situations with utmost professionalism, care and discretion
• Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of individuals and communities at risk for HIV -- especially men who have sex with men, transgender people, injection drug users, people of color, those who are foreign-born and may be undocumented, and those who are homeless or unstably housed.
• Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and effectively with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. This includes engaging constructively with colleagues, patients, clients, and vendors in a manner that reflects professionalism, empathy, and cultural awareness, without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or other protected characteristics as defined by applicable law.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience providing HIV or substance abuse education preferred but not required.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Experience working in an ethnically, culturally, and racially diverse environment preferred
• Ability to meet deadlines and work within a team-based environment
• Strong interest in LGBTQIA+ health

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to meet the following physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodation:
• Sit at a computer station for extended periods.
• Ability to keyboard for extended periods.
• Requires handling average-weight objects up to 15-20 pounds and occasionally assisting patients.
• May work with blood or blood-borne pathogens and may require OSHA training.
• Ability to travel to community events and venues, including bars and nightclubs, to perform outreach activities.

This is a union position in a Fenway Health bargaining unit represented by 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.

We offer competitive salaries, and for those who qualify, an excellent benefits package; including comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans, and a retirement plan with employer match. We also provide 12 paid holidays, paid vacation, and more.

LGBTQIA+ identified persons, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC), and individuals from other historically underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.