Community Resource Specialist

Site: The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.

At Mass General Brigham, we know it takes a surprising range of talented professionals to advance our mission—from doctors, nurses, business people and tech experts, to dedicated researchers and systems analysts. As a not-for-profit organization, Mass General Brigham is committed to supporting patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community. We place great value on being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization as we aim to reflect the diversity of the patients we serve.

At Mass General Brigham, we believe a diverse set of backgrounds and lived experiences makes us stronger by challenging our assumptions with new perspectives that can drive revolutionary discoveries in medical innovations in research and patient care. Therefore, we invite and welcome applicants from traditionally underrepresented groups in healthcare — people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ community, and/or gender expansive, first and second-generation immigrants, veterans, and people from different socioeconomic backgrounds – to apply.

Job Summary

Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) is dedicated to serving the needs of the community and is deeply committed to its role in promoting health equity by eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health care in Boston’s neighborhoods and surrounding communities. BWH is committed to providing the highest quality of care for all patients and ensuring that patients, in particular the most vulnerable patient populations, receive the highest quality care. As part of the Violence Intervention and Prevention Programs (VIPP), Community Resource Specialist functions as part of a multidisciplinary team working on the prevention and intervention of violence related intentional injuries in our communities. Prevention strategies include individual and community education, training service providers, promoting collaborations and networks, and addressing change at all levels of the social ecology that influence intentional violence

This position is responsible for assisting with the development and continuity of collaborative relationships with community resources for our patients. The Community Resource Specialist is responsible for acting as a liaison between the hospital and various groups and services in the community. The Community Resource Specialist reports into the Clinical Program Director of VIPP.

Principal Duties And Responsibilities

• Provide assistance to patients identified by Emergency Department, Social Work, admitting team, or other members of the multidisciplinary health care team
• Advocates for patients to ensure their safety, physical, legal and financial well-being.
• Support patients to meet their health goals.
• Proactively develops and maintains partnerships with local community-based agencies and programs.
• Maintains the resource database and regularly update staff on new information
• Act as a liaison between the patient, care teams, and community groups and fosters relationships with key contacts in those groups
• Maintain patient confidentiality in all matters.
• Participate in process improvement groups - community visits
• All other duties as assigned Program Coordination
• Oversight of service delivery, coordination with hospital staff on integration of services, and development and implementation of policies and protocol at BWH for the Violence Recovery Program in consultation with the program manager
• Responsible for liaising with Emergency Department, Security and Social Work to define process/workflow when responding to patients of interpersonal violence
• Participation in clinical rounds and case reviews as appropriate to ensure consistent standards of practice across departments
• Participate in regular interdisciplinary team meetings to develop strategies for better supporting patients with complex care needs
• Provides consultation to BWH providers on high risk cases involving community violence and addresses practice issues that relate to the needs of patients and employees of BWH
• Collaborate with a diverse array of community service providers including education, employment agencies, mental health services, and violence intervention programs to coordinate services for youth impacted by violence
• Refer patients and their families, who need assistance, to the appropriate educational resources regarding health care delivery, health and wellness programs, legal management, government programs, community agencies, public and private organizations, housing options, and other services, as appropriate
• Research resources and programs available for patients and their caregivers including but not limited to: disabled and elder housing assistance and programs; legal, financial and insurance resources; health education material
• Work collaboratively with providers, Case Managers, Social Workers, CHWs and other staff to support patients which may include, but is not limited to: finding support systems for patients experiencing grief or bereavement; identifying and referring patients to community services such as transportation, Meals on Wheels, day programs; and the coordination of referrals to internal and external resources
• Work collaboratively with the City of Boston Neighborhood Trauma Teams to provide ongoing and seamless services for patients in the designated team catchment area
• Develop and implement a standardized process of patient hand off to appropriate neighborhood trauma team for seamless patient transition
• Serve as lead communication contact for the Boston Public Health Commission and the Boston Trauma Response Team Program Administration
• Serves as a mentor and resource to VRP staff and interns/students
• As appropriate, provides day to day supervision of Violence Recovery Advocate and interns/students
• Submits all data to ETO within 24 hours of patient contact
• Keeps up to date records/calendar of all community engagement and prevention activities to include purpose of activity and target audience
• Creates and disseminates monthly call schedule to relevant individuals and Departments, including the On Call Edit team by the 15 th of the month prior
• Participates in and contribute to related research activities to increase understanding and grow evidence base around intentional violence and trauma as appropriate
  
  

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree preferred; 10 years of relevant community outreach experience may be substituted - Demonstrated experience working with diverse and at-risk populations - Knowledge of subsidized and private housing resources and regulations a plus
  
  

Skills/ Abilities/ Competencies Required

• Customer focused and patient-centered
• Enjoys being part of a diverse team - Ability to multi-task - Comfortable with change
• Ability to work with patients in advising and developing goals
• Must have strong interpersonal skills.
• History of being highly organized, effective multi-tasker, self-motivated and self-directed
• Assessment and problem solving skills
• Ability to identify patient’s needs and coordinate with community based services
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to converse comfortably with patients and their caregivers and practice staff.
• Ability to represent the care team and maintain and build relationships in the community
• Knowledge of effective marketing techniques - Spanish language skills preferred but not required
  
  

Additional Job Details (if Applicable)

Remote Type

Hybrid

Work Location

1620 Tremont Street

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Employee Type

Regular

Work Shift

Day (United States of America)

EEO Statement

The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc. is an Affirmative Action Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Mass General Brigham Competency Framework

At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership “looks like” by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.