Description

The Community Health Care Worker (CHW) Coordinator will work directly with individuals receiving services, family members, providers and other stakeholders, at the direction of a supervisor. This position requires the candidate have close understanding of the community they serve. This trusting relationship enables CHWs to serve as a liaison link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. We recognize CHWs build individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, social supports and advocacy. To fill this position we will recruit a seasoned person who has expertise in issues such as housing, transportation, peer support, informal counseling, career training, and social supports. The CHWs will provide care coordination services to address health needs of individuals enrolled in the program. This position will include telephonic and face to face contact with individuals receiving services, family members and other stakeholders to engage in problem solving and referral strategies; community based services; resources for housing and resources available to members to promote recovery. The CHW also represents the organization to the general public, individuals in, and seeking, recovery, family members, and to stakeholder groups.

As a Community Health Worker, you will be a frontline public health worker who assists in improving quality of care and breaking down cultural barriers to treatment. CHWs bridge the gap between people in need of care and care providers and help build trust and open lines of communication.

You will help your neighbors address high-priority chronic conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, mental health, and obesity.

You will help reduce health disparities and enhance health equity.

You will join a network of amazing students, graduates, instructors and employers already serving in our communities. Free off-street parking!

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with Community Care/HPL care management staff, as needed, for interventions
• Assist members with specific non-medical needs that affect health and access to care
• Promotes principles of recovery with members, providers, and stakeholders
• Mobilize the community level to enhance provider understanding of community needs and preferences
• Flexibility in schedule to meet members' needs
• Utilize motivational interviewing to effectively identify the member's strengths, needs, motivation, triggers, and goals in managing life circumstances.
• Connect the member to community-based treatment and recovery supports.
• Identifying challenges a member faces in the Eight Stages of Wellness and Recovery
• Empower the member to self-advocate and follow through with treatment (making and attending scheduled appointments, setting goals, and community networking)
• Work in the community setting at least 80% of the time, to have direct contact with members, support teams, treatment providers and recovery supports
• Represents community Care/HPL recovery and transformation at all levels
• Provides telephonic assistance to members and family members concerning recovery tools and resources
• Manages an increased caseload and handles the more complex cases that come to the department
• Engage the community to improve underlying social and economic conditions that impact health
• Bridge the gap between the physical health care and behavioral health treatment
• Advocate for the members' community needs, medical and behavioral health needs
• Assist in scheduling appointments as needed

Qualifications

• A person in the community who has expertise in issues such as housing, transportation, peer support, career training and community education. This person will also be working with members that have concurrent medical difficulties.
• Minimum 3 years experience providing clinical, social service or case management experience in the community required.
• Bachelor's Degree in Human Services field preferred.
• Ability to develop rapport and demonstrate good interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of basic mental health systems and co-occurring substance use issues, substance use recovery issues and services, education, social services, medical systems, etc.
• Knowledge of key concepts and principles (recovery, resiliency, and wellness) Demonstrate ability to work with other people through a cooperative effort Ability to utilize motivational interviewing.
• Basic computer skills and familiarity with Microsoft products.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to function autonomously and analyze and problem solve moderately complicated problems.
• Has the personal connection and intimate knowledge of community resources for members.
• Willingness to travel throughout Allegheny County.
• Solid organization skills and ability to set priorities and schedule time efficiently Self-directed and flexible to meet the needs of our members.
• Value for and ability to deliver excellent customer service
• Has own vehicle

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

• Act 34

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran

UPMC has a Center for Engagement and Inclusion that is charged with executing leading-edge and next-generation diversity strategies to advance the organization's diversity management capability and its national presence as a diversity leader. This includes having Employee Resource Groups, such as PRIDE Health or UPMC ENABLED (Empowering Abilities and Leveraging Differences) Network, which support the implementation of our diversity strategy.