Community health worker

Community Health Worker

Sea Mar Community Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) founded in 1978, is a community-based organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos in Washington State. Sea Mar proudly serves all persons without regard to race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, or sexual orientation, and regardless of ability to pay for services. Sea Mar's network of services includes more than 90 medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics and a wide variety of nutritional, social, and educational services.

Position Summary

The MSS Community Health Worker (CHW) position requires excellent communication skills, flexibility, good organization skills and the ability to manage time, resources and client caseload. Basic knowledge of maternal and infant health issues, as well as healthy child health development is essential to the position. Under the supervision of the MSS Manager, and in collaboration with the MSS care team, the Community Health Worker is responsible for informing and assisting clients in utilization of community resources that meet the client's identified health needs. In addition to client advocacy, the CHW will ensure appropriate education on various and pertinent health topics offered and/or provided to the client. The CHW will provide some administrative support to the MSS team. Productivity expectations are subject to change, depending on case load and location.

Job Description

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Enrolls clients in the First Steps program and enters client information into database.
• Teaches basic principles of self-care including appropriate utilization of available pre- and postnatal care, thus reducing negative birth outcomes.
• Connect clients to Sea Mar and non-Sea Mar resources as appropriate and track all resources available to clients. These services may include but are not limited to insurance enrollment, preventive health services, behavioral health, dental and care management.
• Provide appropriate provider and/or resource referrals to the client to help promote well-being within the family.
• Monitor and document clients' ability to keep regularly scheduled medical and social service appointments, thus ensuring greater client use of appropriate services.
• Send letters and perform follow-up phone calls to patients for planned visits
• Complete appropriate and timely documentation of client appointment.
• Participate in weekly case conference meetings with the MSS multidisciplinary team
• Miscellaneous administrative tasks, including answering phones and use of computer (MS Word, Excel and Access) and filing.
• Update and maintain the MSS client database

The CHW works to empower and educate clients in the appropriate use of health care resources such as basic nutrition, substance abuse and family planning services. The CHW supports the care plan developed with the client by the MSS team. The CHW maintains professional standards and follows the treatment policies and procedures of the agency, as well as applicable federal, state and local regulations. The CHW provides services in a manner which demonstrates an appreciation, understanding and respect for cultural diversity. The CHW attends regularly scheduled team meetings, completes all responsibilities as required, with an emphasis on timeliness and accuracy; demonstrates clear and concise written and verbal communication; completes daily record keeping as directed by the MSS Manager, following the structure of the problem-oriented patient records system.

Qualifications

CHW must be able to perform each essential duty as outlined above satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The CHW demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development throughout the life span, and is able to identify and categorize each patient's age specific grouping of needs, such as those for infants, adolescents, or geriatric patients. Additionally, the CHW must demonstrate knowledge and skill necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patient served. The person in this position must be of good character and able to maintain the understanding, physical health, emotional stability and personality suited to meet the physical, mental, emotional, and social needs of the population served. The person in this position shall have no history or evidence of alcohol or other drug misuse for a period of three (3) years prior to the date of employment at the facility, and no misuse of alcohol or other drugs while employed at this facility. This individual cannot be a person who has been convicted of a felony within the last seven years or ever been convicted of child abuse and / or any crime involving physical harm to another person nor be a perpetrator of substantiated child abuse.

Language Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish preferred and may be required. Other language skills may be considered depending on site needs due to the population that is being served.

Mathematical Skills

The applicant must have the ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Reasoning Ability

The applicant must have the ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Education Certificates, Licenses, Registrations, and Medical Screening

Education and Experience

High school diploma and continued education in areas of health or social services, or at least one year of experience in those areas. Additional Requirements Pre-hire and annual employee health screening required Annual influenza vaccine required. Only exception is for employees with a medical or religious exemption approved by Administration. Employees with an approved medical or religious exemption must wear a mask at all time during the flu season.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Must possess a current Washington State driver's license. This person must receive a background check from Washington State Patrol. Must have and maintain TB test annually. This position must obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR within 90 days of hire date and is required to maintain current BLS CPR throughout employment. Additional Requirements Pre-hire and annual employee health screening required Annual influenza vaccine required. Only exception is for employees with a medical or religious exemption approved by Administration. Employees with an approved medical or religious exemption must wear a mask at all time during the flu season.

Work Environment

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to high. CHW will conduct home visits if deemed appropriate due to the needs of the client. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or listen. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Facility ranges from quiet to loud depending on activities of patients

Hourly - Hourly Plan, 21.30 USD Hourly

What We Offer:

Sea Mar offers talented and motivated people the opportunity to work in a dynamic and growing community health organization. Working at Sea Mar Community Health Centers is more than just a job, it's a fulfilling career with opportunity for advancement. The fringe benefits surpass most companies. For example, Full-time employees working 30 hours or more, receive an excellent benefit package of:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Prescription coverage
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
• Paid-time-off starting at 24 days per year + 10 paid Holidays.
• We also offer 401(k)/Retirement options and an exciting opportunity to work in a culturally diverse environment.

Sea Mar is an equal opportunity employer.