Community Health Worker (Wayne) - Community Living Services Inc

Reposted - 9/12/2024

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Level 13 Non-Exempt

JOB TITLE: Community Health Worker

JOB SUMMARY: The Community Health Worker is responsible to work with people receiving Behavioral Health Home services to enhance their experience and encourage them by providing direct, person to person support and assistance specific to their individual needs as identified in their Care Plan. The Community Health Worker is responsible to work with the Behavioral Health Home Care Team to assure Health Home Services are provided to individuals enrolled in the Behavioral Health Home. The Community Health Worker provides direct services and collaborates with the care team to coordinate integrated, person-centered services. The Community Health Worker will mentor eligible individuals to address the complexity of comorbid physical and behavioral health conditions and assist participants who are receiving Behavioral Health Home services to better navigate the mental health and physical health systems, promoting improved health outcomes.

Reporting Relationship: Reports to the CEO if working at the Wayne location Reports to the Behavioral Health Home Coordinator if working at the Oakland County location.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Meets regularly with the people served within the Behavioral Health Home model and assists with the coordination, scheduling, and follow up/ confirmation of medical appointments, transportation, and pharmacy needs.
• Assists people served to develop new skills and advance their health care goals.
• Meets regularly with the Behavioral Health Care Team to discuss situations, exchange information, and plan for the care of participants with fellow BHH team members in an informal manner.
• Identifies community resources for participants to utilize and maximize wellness. Coordinates and assists people in accessing community resources, including referrals to community social supports, transportation assistance, pharmacy plans, smoking cessation, weight loss, and other support type groups.
• Provides education on health conditions and strategies to implement care plan goals.
• Coordinates and provides access to chronic disease management including self-management support to promote greater self-advocacy, empowerment, and personal responsibility for the participant’s own success.
• Implements wellness and prevention initiatives, facilitates health education groups, and passes along encouragement and support through their own life experiences.
• Provides housing information by helping to identify affordable or accessible housing for achieving independent living.
• Works directly and collaboratively with CLS staff, other service providers and persons receiving services from CLS.
• Provides support, including potentially occasional transportation, for people receiving services to assure their ability to attend necessary health appointments and proactively meet their health care needs.
• Meets performance requirements related to job duties and service delivery including making consistent contact with people served, timely completion of progress notes to be used for Medicaid billable claims, and ensuring / maintaining required training.
• Completes required documentation in a quality and timely manner consistent with requirements of CLS agency and external funding sources.
• Assures people served realize the value of Behavioral Health Services and maintain active engagement in their health care coordination. Notifies supervisor promptly if there are any engagement challenges, or if anyone begins discussing dis-enrollment in the Behavioral Health Home model.
• Professionally and positively represents CLS on committees and workgroups, when requested by supervisor.
• This position also provides support to other areas of the organization when requested related to coordination and tracking of health care coordination needs and resources.
• Demonstrates a general understanding of the agency’s programs, services, and contract requirements, including the policy and procedures of CLS and our funders.
• Additional tasks as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

High school diploma or equivalent, Community Health Worker, or Medical Assistant certification at time of hire is a plus. Must successfully complete Community Health Worker or Medical Assistant training and certification upon hire as a condition of employment. If certified as a Peer Support Specialist at time of hire must successfully complete ongoing Peer Support Training, as required.

Experience:

Minimum of one year work experience working with individuals who have disabilities. Associate’s degree or above in a human service or healthcare field would be considered in lieu of work experience. Experience coordinating health care appointments or services, and other relevant human service or health care work experience is preferred.

Good computer skills required - Functions of this position include, but are not limited to, frequent typing, data entry, cutting/pasting electronic data, use of mouse/keypad. Electronic Healthcare records maintenance requires navigating between screens, using tabs/links, use of electronic signatures. Other computer functions include use of Adobe PDF, scanning documents and maintaining electronic records and files. Frequent and regular use of computers is an essential function of this position.

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Excellent organizational skills are needed (tracking appointments, assuring follow up confirmations).
• Effective engagement abilities with the people served, their families, and other allies.
• Good problem-solving skills and the ability to engage others in effective problem-solving techniques.
• The ability to access services and community resources and to assist others to develop similar strategies in order to become more independent.
• Ability to pass along encouragement and positive support to others and help them construct strategies to bring about the changes they want for their lives.
• Must be an enthusiastic and upbeat “people person” and have the ability to communicate effectively and establish positive relationships with co-workers, the people we support, our funders, our network providers, and community members.
• Must be a highly motivated, conscientious, and flexible individual with a commitment to excellent customer service.
• Ability to work well within a team atmosphere and maintain a positive attitude, willingness to learn, and embrace our continuous efforts to always improve the supports we provide.
• Knowledge of, and passion for, the principles of Person-Centered-Planning, integration of healthcare within the Individual Plan of Service and Self-Determination models preferred. 
• Must ensure accurate reporting of actual hours worked, be on time for scheduled commitments and communicate with your supervisor if unable to be on time or fulfill a scheduled commitment.

Travel:

Adjusted hours and extensive scheduled and non-scheduled travel is required in executing essential duties and responsibilities of this position. Employees must provide their own transportation. Maintenance of a valid driver’s license, an acceptable driving record, and vehicle registration and insurance in compliance with State of Michigan requirements are all continuing conditions of employment. If driving a vehicle other than the one listed on file with the Human Resources Department, employee is responsible for ensuring the vehicle is registered, insured and meets all other State of Michigan motor vehicle requirements and providing documentation as requested.

CLS policy restricts the use of an alternate driver without the express, prior written authorization of the Human Resources Director. A review of such request will be based on evaluation of HIPAA compliance issues, work restrictions, other relevant factors and whether or not the request will present an undue hardship to the organization.

Training:

Must be willing to complete training internship expectations set forth by the Department of Community Mental Health. On the job training provided. If a Peer Mentor, must be additionally complete Peer Support Mentor training.