Community Health Worker

POSITION SUMMARY

The Community Health Worker (CHW) supports and coaches' patients to manage their health and assists them in navigating the health care and social service systems. CHWs bridge the gap between health care providers and people in need of care. They serve as a link between the patient and the health or social service agencies.

KC CARE CULTURE CODE

KC CARE follows a culture code in all we do. Our code determines how we work, treat each other, and move health equity forward. As an employee of KC CARE, you will:

• Put patients first, always
• Treat all people with dignity, respect, and kindness
• Create safe places for others to share their voice; encourage creativity
• Always strive for improvement; keep learning
• Own your work, action, and mistakes – no one is perfect
• Have fun – work should be fun and we want you to have fun at KC CARE

KC CARE CULTURE VALUES

Exceptional Service: We value exceptional service in providing unconditional whole-person care to everyone with the promise of a personalized and affirming experience for patients. We promise to treat internal and external partners with dignity, respect, and kindness to facilitate the opportunity for all to succeed.

Inclusion and Belonging: We value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging by focusing on differences that promote creativity and acceptance across the organization. We promise to create a safe environment for individuality to flourish.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support and educate clients to improve engagement in healthcare—including education on community resources, health literacy training, and general navigation of health care systems.
• Identify, develop, and monitor client-directed goals through motivational interviewing and in partnership with the patient.
• Monitor client health, assess social barriers, and identify resources to address barriers. (e.g., social services, payment assistance, insurance navigation services, etc.)
• Assist patients in the community, including but limited to home visits, attending appointments, and accessing other community resources on clients' behalf.
• Assist patients with scheduling both medical and social service appointments.
• Ensure patients have access to interpreters, translators, and transportation as needed for medical appointments.
• Advocate for patients, as needed, and help move patients to self-sufficiency.
• Document patient encounters in various software systems, including the electronic health record.
• Work collaboratively with other CHWs and members of clinical care teams—ensuring seamless access to CHW services.
• Represent KC CARE and promote CHW services through participation in community events.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• One year of experience working with underserved and diverse populations in a community setting.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to speak other languages.
• Certified as a Missouri Community Health Worker.
• Completion of an accredited community health worker course.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND 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.

Working Conditions

General working conditions are in a healthcare facility. As such, there is a potential exposure to virus, disease, and infection from patients while performing the duties of this job. May experience traumatic situations including psychiatric traumatized and deceased patients. Travel may be expected to community meetings, client homes, or other agencies.

Physical Demands

While performing duties of this job, employees are regularly required to set, walk, and stand; talk and hear; both in person and by telephone; use hands repetitively to finger, handle, feel, or operate standard office or clinical equipment; reach with hands and arms; and occasionally lift up to 20 pounds.

Mental Demands

While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read, analyze, and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve non-routine and complex problems; use math and mathematical reasoning; observe and interpret situations; learn and apply new information or skills; perform highly detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks; work under intensive deadlines with frequent interruptions; and interact with others outside of their department.

Duties and responsibilities, as required by business necessity may be added, deleted, or changed at any time at the discretion of management, formally or informally, either verbally or in writing. Scheduling, shift assignments, and location may be changed at any time, as required by business necessity.