What are the responsibilities and job description for the Community Health Worker position at Breakthrough?
Job Title: Community Health Worker Coordinator
Program Area: Health and Wellness
Reports to: Chief Program Officer
FLSA Code: Full time, Exempt
POSITION SUMMARY
Wellness is an initiative on Chicago’s west side that uses a comprehensive network of community-based partners and medical providers to screen community members with chronic illness for social determinants of health and provide a suite of comprehensive services to resolve identified issues. The Wellness West Community Based Organization Community Health Worker (CBO CHW) will serve as a bridge between the patient, the medical system, and community-based organizations by building trusting relationships with community members served by the program. The CBO CHW will also help in identifying barriers to accessing quality care, work with individuals to overcome these barriers, provide relevant referrals, follow-up with clients accordingly. The CBO CHW is employed by Wellness West and works with participating community-based organizations. The CHW is required to maintain a consistent caseload of 80 participants and is responsible for reaching this target within the first 90 days of their start date.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES/FUNCTIONS
Program Area: Health and Wellness
Reports to: Chief Program Officer
FLSA Code: Full time, Exempt
POSITION SUMMARY
Wellness is an initiative on Chicago’s west side that uses a comprehensive network of community-based partners and medical providers to screen community members with chronic illness for social determinants of health and provide a suite of comprehensive services to resolve identified issues. The Wellness West Community Based Organization Community Health Worker (CBO CHW) will serve as a bridge between the patient, the medical system, and community-based organizations by building trusting relationships with community members served by the program. The CBO CHW will also help in identifying barriers to accessing quality care, work with individuals to overcome these barriers, provide relevant referrals, follow-up with clients accordingly. The CBO CHW is employed by Wellness West and works with participating community-based organizations. The CHW is required to maintain a consistent caseload of 80 participants and is responsible for reaching this target within the first 90 days of their start date.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES/FUNCTIONS
- Complete Health Risk Assessments (HRA) with patients living in target zip codes
- Complete monthly CBO follow-ups for qualified candidates
- Assist with community resources and scheduling appointments
- Educate community members on the importance of engaging in primary care
- Educate on disease states
- Refer to Medical Home CHWs at nearby Wellness West primary care practices for ongoing follow up and engagement with a primary care provider
- Follow up with patients referred to primary care
- Accurately document patient information, assessments, and referrals
- Help address social determinants of health
- Attend ongoing training and learning related to job position and duties
- Complete any other related tasks and responsibilities as assigned and required
QUALIFICATIONS
Required Education: CHW certificate, High School Diploma or GED.
Required Experience Level: one to three years related professional experience of work experience that can be demonstrated to be applicable to the duties listed in the job description.
Demonstrated Values
- Independently follows agency policy and procedures
- Follows through with commitments including meeting established timelines
- Identifies and resolves difficult issues
- Works effectively with diverse staff, communities, and population served
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong computer skills and a working knowledge of Microsoft Office
- Ability to demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, professionalism, and problem solving ability.
- Promote customer care through all actions and behaviors
- Project a professional image to all internal and external customers
- Ability to display a warm, supportive attitude toward all people
- Ability to demonstrate initiative and follow through, and be comfortable working in a changing environment.
- Must possess an accurate and informed understanding of cultural and urban realities, especially as related to poverty, and community development.
- Some Knowledge of Chicago’s West Side Communities (resident of a West Side Community preferred)
- Demonstrate the ability to collaborate and communicate effectively in a team setting
- Punctual, reliable, and willing to learn
- Ability to maintain effective and professional relationships with patients and other members of the care team
- Strong interpersonal skills, communication skills, and confidence and persistence in seeking out providers’ time to review patient progress
- Displays high energy, empathy, and organization skills
- Ability to effectively engage patients in a therapeutic relationship, when appropriate, by telephone or face-to-face
- Experience with or ability to learn assessment tools and interventions for hypertension, diabetes and mild to moderate depression
- Experience working with underserved, transient populations
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS
Work Environment
While performing the duties of this job, the employee will work in a multi-purpose facility and/or outdoors and thus will be exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be high depending on the activities in the facility.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk and/or sit; use hands and fingers to feel objects, tools or controls, reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; regularly talk or hear. The employee must be able to bend, stoop, pull, lift as well as have overhead extension of arms. Must be able to stand for long periods of time; be able to lift, carry or move at least 50 pounds. Must adhere to proper handling and lifting techniques. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Safety Requirements
Prior to the first day of work, must complete a criminal background and sex offender clearance.
Prior to the first day of work, must complete a criminal background and sex offender clearance.
Equipment Used
The employee will generally use general office equipment including but not limited to telephone, computer, calculator, copier, paper shredder, paper cutter, and filing systems.
The employee will generally use general office equipment including but not limited to telephone, computer, calculator, copier, paper shredder, paper cutter, and filing systems.
A review of this description has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties. All duties and requirements are essential job functions. All requirements are subject to possible modifications to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves, other employees or individuals served.
This description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform any other job-related duties requested by the supervisor.
Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbent will possess the abilities or aptitude to perform each duty proficiently. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.
COMPENSATION/BENEFITS
In exchange for the above, we offer competitive wages and benefits including paid sick time off, 401(k) with match, discounts for children enrolled in Breakthrough Youth Programs and free fitness center membership.
This description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform any other job-related duties requested by the supervisor.
Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbent will possess the abilities or aptitude to perform each duty proficiently. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.
COMPENSATION/BENEFITS
In exchange for the above, we offer competitive wages and benefits including paid sick time off, 401(k) with match, discounts for children enrolled in Breakthrough Youth Programs and free fitness center membership.
