Part-Time Peer Educator

Peer Educator

Ryan Health Network is a group of not-for-profit, federally qualified health centers that deliver high quality, affordable and comprehensive medical care to diverse and underserved communities.  We are currently seeking a Peer Worker to provide outreach and supportive service to HIV patients.  This position entails working 6 weekday hours, including 6 hours one day or 3 hours per day for two days.   This position will be located at our Ryan Health | NENA community health center on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

The Peer Educator will assist the HIV team members and provide support and services to identify new diagnoses and or treatment naïve patients, conducting re-engagement activities for patients that have missed appointments, have fallen out of care, or have an unsuppressed viral load, or who are lost to care. This work is carried out in support of the mission and goals of Ryan Health. The Peer Educator will assist the HIV team members in carrying out responsibilities such as:

Essential Functions:

• Orient new patients to the health centers' HIV services and staff
• Conduct re-engagement activities and outreach to patients
• Provide support, education, and adherence assistance
• Educate patients regarding early medical intervention, options to reduce/modify stressors, and adherence to treatment regimens and appointment schedules
• Provide reminder calls and follow-up for missed appointments and home visits as needed
• Conduct group and individual level educational and behavioral interventions utilizing evidence-based curricula and education materials
• Ensure that programmatic records are maintained according to agency standards
• Document all outreach efforts, health education and group interactions in eCW

Other

• Immediately report any problems or unusual occurrences to supervisor. 
• Other special projects/assignments as needed. 

Qualifications

Minimum Experience and Skills Required:

• Certified in Peer Education Training
• NYS adult resident, ages 18 and up, with the shared lived experience of HIV can apply
• Experience working with the targeted population
• Ability to relate well to target population
• Experience working with other peers
• Must demonstrate a willingness to learn
• Must demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary and willingness to go into the field to make home visits
• Must have computer skills in order to document in the electronic medical record system (eCW)

Education, Licenses and/or Certifications Required:

• High School Diploma or GED.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred

Competencies Required:

Customer Service:

• Professional, courteous and respectful attitude in dealing with patients.
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patient serviced (if applicable).
• Commits to exceeding expectations of the patient.

Cooperation/Teamwork:

• Works well with others.
• Contributes input to improve outcomes
• Asks others for opinions and feedback; provides feedback in a tactful respectful way;

Minimal Training Time:

90-days probationary period

Working Conditions:

Physical Demands

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 frequently required to sit, talk, and hear. 

The employee is occasionally required to move about the office; use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or operate office equipment. 

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. 

Work Environment

The work is primarily in a mental health clinic and/or general primary care setting which includes the unpredictability in behaviors of individuals and acute and chronic infectious diseases which may be contagious. Adequate preparation and precaution is necessary. 

Disclaimer

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. This position may be required to perform other duties. If suck work becomes a permanent and regular part of the job, a new description will be prepared. 

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ryan Health is an Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate because of age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital or family status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, military veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.  We are committed to attracting, retaining and maximizing the performance of a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Salary : $15