Community Health Worker, Older Adults

RIPIN

Job Posting

Community Health Worker, Older Adults

$20 - $22/hour

About RIPIN:  RIPIN deploys a peer model to support people with special healthcare and education needs across the whole lifespan. Founded in 1991 by a group of parents of children with special needs, RIPIN continues to be peer-led: a majority of our board and more than three-fourths of our staff are parents or caretakers of loved ones with special needs. RIPIN’s peer professionals now help more than 45,000 Rhode Islanders every year navigate healthcare, schools, and other support systems.

Job Summary:

The Community Health Worker (CHW) is a peer who has experience in navigating Rhode Island’s health system for themselves, a family member or through previous employment. This CHW will work in RIPIN’s Care Management Program, which supports low income older adults or disabled Rhode Islanders who may be at high risk for nursing facility admission, hospital or institutional care, or homelessness. The CHW will be a critical part of a comprehensive team providing peer support, care coordination, resources and referrals. CHWs will engage with consumers in the home and community settings providing person centered, culturally sensitive support, and building on the values, strengths and preferences of the member. The CHW will also serve as an effective role model and mentor.

Essential Functions:

• Outreach to consumers in a timely manner in accordance to program guidelines
• In collaboration with the care team and consumer, assist with the development of a Care Plan to include: actions to improve the consumers’ health status, medical home barriers to care, as well as any social needs identified by the consumer
• Utilizing motivational interviewing skills and culturally sensitive methods to help consumers achieve the goals of their Care Plan
• Collaborate with partners to connect consumers with supports and services that will help them live safe, healthy, and independent lives in the community
• Provide emotional support, serve as a role model, and guide consumers to practice positive, responsible healthy behaviors while remaining fully engaged with each consumer until goals are completed
• Assist consumers as they transition to independence/case closure by engaging with consumers and providing follow up support
• Maintain timely, accurate records, documentation, and reports as required
• Assist in data collection, surveys, assessment and reporting as required
• Actively participate and complete training and professional development activities
• Assist in statewide system analysis, planning and coordination with state agencies, state and local boards, community-based organizations, and community rehabilitation programs
• Accept other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to relate to consumers and to address barriers to care, health and wellness
• Effectively demonstrate sensitivity to the issues facing consumers served
• Possess intimate knowledge of health systems, terminology, supports, and services
• Demonstrated ability and skill to work collaboratively with co-workers, consumers, families, service providers, and health plans, etc.
• Ability to promote and advocate for person and family-centered, culturally sensitive care
• Ability to motivate high risk consumers and serve as a peer mentor
• Skilled and/or willingness to learn and initiate motivational interviewing techniques with consumers
• Knowledgeable of the Rhode Island health care environment and resources
• Demonstrated prior success in accessing community-based resources in Rhode Island
• Problem-solving skills to facilitate empowering experiences and positive outcomes with consumers
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple priorities and tasks
• A deep understanding of, commitment to, and ability to carry out the mission, vision, philosophy and values of RIPIN
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office/computer skills to enter data, prepare reports and correspondence

Education and Experience:

• High School diploma or GED and a combination of education and skills to effectively carry out responsibilities and assignments
• Community Health Workers certification preferred; non-certified incumbents are expected to earn certification within 18 months of hire date
• Personal experience navigating state and community services and programs on behalf of self or a family member
• Previous experience supporting families or individuals with special care needs or disabilities or families or individuals accessing health programs and services
• Previous experience in working effectively with professionals supporting individuals/ parents/families of children with special needs
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as an effective team member
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse populations
• A combination of education and experience demonstrating acquisition of the skills and abilities required

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee regularly is required to stand, walk, sit, use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to climb stairs, reach, stretch, stand and bend. The employee frequently lifts and/or moves up to 25 pounds. Community Health Workers are required to climb up to three flights of stairs to conduct home and community visits.

Working Conditions/ Work Environment:

• Primary work location is a climate-controlled indoor office environment; however, employee will also be required to conduct visits in private homes and various community locations
• Must be able to provide own reliable transportation to facilitate visits to client’s home or community setting and travel between multiple provider sites
• Flexibility for occasional travel related to job requirements
• Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends as needed
• Provide own reliable transportation with proof of RI minimum requirements of auto insurance

The physical demands and 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