Community Health Worker

General Job Description

VCU School of Nursing is seeking a Community Health Worker residing in one of the four grant-identified communities of the Northern Neck Tappahannock area to serve as a liaison between the VCU School of Nursing Mobile Health Program, the participant/families in the community and the VCU Health System Richmond and Tappahannock.

The Community Health Worker will assist with trust building within the community, serve as a resource to identify community member needs, and assist with intake and referrals for families and program participants. The goal is for the community health worker to support the Mobile Health and Wellness team with navigation to facilitate access to care, resources, and improved communication to assure follow-up, long-term chronic care self-management, and address coordination for unmet social and health care needs for their community members.

P resent one day a week at the VCU School of Nursing Mobile site with the VCU School of Nursing Faculty, staff, and students. Additional time to be spent serving as a community liaison to assist with communications and outreach with community members. Outreach services may be conducted by face-to-face contact during home or community visits, telephone contact, and/or written communication.

Time commitment hourly, up to 16 hours a week, following the schedule of the VCU School of Nursing mobile van and program presence as well as the VCU calendar of closures.

Age-specific groups served: adolescence to adult geriatric.

Position Responsibilities

• Provides precepting to undergraduate students at the Mobile Health and Wellness Site one day a week
• Demonstrates competency in educating patients, families and staff regarding appropriate resource as evidence by:
• Effectively communicates and navigates systems to include health care, social services, education and other community resources to assure patient access and appropriate use of these services
• Identifies problems and resources to help individuals solve problems with the goal of teaching the patient/family/others how to navigate independently
• Assists program management in barriers to access to resources
• Participant support and assures needed services are received:
• Understands public support programs to include eligibility requirements, application process and services available. Once client is deemed eligible, assists the individual in getting the services
• Navigates the systems of care while teaching the participant about the self-care that is appropriate and timely. This includes assisting with making appointments, obtaining referrals for specialty care, appropriate use of the Emergency Department, promotion of obtaining preventive services, etc. to promote “Right Care, Right Place, Right Time”.
• Works with enrollees to empower them to become an active participant in their health care
• Program support:
• Accurately documents in VCU approved RedCap documentation system for Mobile Health Program
• Communicates and documents patient care activities
• Completes documentation for 100% of assigned participants in appropriate format and software
• Reports to the supervising faculty or independent licensed practitioner any pertinent observation or information
• Provides assistance to team members
• Assist with completing questionnaires and consent for enrollment for Spanish speaking individuals or those with low literacy
• Performs other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Familiar with, or lives in the Northern Neck Tappahannock
• Experience serving as an advocate and liaison with individuals in the community
• High school diploma or equivalent education/training
• Able to handle multiple priorities and manage time to meet workload goals
• Able to set goals and plans to accomplish role/responsibilities
• Must have reliable transportation. Travel required to the school and Mobile Health and Wellness sites
• Demonstrated knowledge of transportation resources to assist patients with transportation needs
• Demonstrates active listening and the ability to share information 1:1 or in large groups using established communication systems
• Demonstrated experience working and fostering a diverse faculty, staff and student environment or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of one-year experience working in community service, health or social service sector
• Associate or Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences, or Social Services from an accredited program