Community Health Worker

UVM Health; Colchester (VT); On-site; USD 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

UVM Health is seeking a Community Health Worker to join the care team, coordinating with patients and families to connect to services and resources. You will support clients in navigating community resources, enroll eligible patients, and document care management activities.

The role emphasizes outreach, advocacy and consistent follow-up in diverse settings. The CHW works across homes, clinics, and community sites with a focus on accessibility, health literacy, and respectful communication.

Qualifications

• Experience in diverse, multi-cultural settings and communities.
• Ability to explain health information clearly to patients and families.
• Basic medical terminology knowledge for health care navigation.

Responsibilities

• Support patients and families by identifying barriers, goals and care plans.
• Conduct eligibility determinations and enrollment activities for uninsured patients.
• Document care management information in appropriate systems and maintain records.
• Provide follow-up, motivational interviewing and goal setting with patients/families.
• Refer to community resources and assist with applications and registrations.

Skills

Multicultural communication

Community-based experience

Medical terminology basics

Education

High School Diploma

Community health worker training program

Job description

Job Summary

The Community Health Worker (CHW) works as an integral member of the interdisciplinary care team to provide a wide range of services and resources to patients and their families. Utilizing their skills the CHW will promote appropriate coordination of care and vital resource connections for patients, caregivers and families. The CHW helps to support clients in navigating and accessing community services, other resources, and adopting health behaviors.

Qualifications / Job Requirements

Education and Licensure

• High School Diploma
• Successful completion of a community health worker formal training program

Expected Experience/Skills/Attributes

• Experience working in a multi-cultural setting
• 1-2 years of experience, working in a community-based setting is preferred Basic understanding of Medical Terminology preferred

Success Criteria

• Responsible for establishing trusting relationships with patients and their families while providing general support and encouragement.
• Conduct eligibility determination, enrollment and follow up with uninsured patients.
• Record patient care management information in the necessary software.
• Providing ongoing follow-up, basic motivational interviewing and goal setting with patients/families. Follow up may include phone calls, home visits and visits to other clinical and community resource settings.
• Act as a patient/family advocate and liaison by referring and connecting them to appropriate resources and completing applications and registration forms.
• Transport client as needed when other transportation is not available, or support is needed to ensure attendance of appointment by client.
• Be able to work cooperatively and in a productive manner with both internal and external customers
• The CHW supports patients and families in various community environments such as in their Homes, Hospital or Hospice, Rehab or Clinical Office settings.

General Standards

• Must demonstrate and maintain any required competency
• Able to speak, read and write in English
• Be honest, self-directed, possess initiative, display good judgment and a positive attitude toward daily activities
• Have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in written work
• Be able to work cooperatively and in a productive manner with organization’s employees, clients, customers and the general public
• Maintain satisfactory standing with the Adult Abuse Registry, Child Abuse & Neglect Registry, Vermont Criminal Information Center and OIG
• Be free from the illegal use and effects of drugs and alcohol in the workplace
• Be able to carry out the functions of this job without risk of harm to the health and safety of self and others
• Hold a valid driver’s license and have a reliable, registered vehicle with insurance as required by the organization, and appropriate to position

Responsibilities

• Supports Patients: Responsible for supporting patients in a self-assessment of barriers, needs, and goals related to their health status, empowering them to actively participate, guide and lead the direction of their health teams recommendations. Effectively manages a home visiting caseload of diverse patients with complex care needs by coordinating visits and appointments, identifying health care and community resources and services to meet patient’s continuum of needs by working in collaboration with the patient, caregiver, family members, and multidisciplinary care teams to develop and support a plan of care relevant to patient’s transitions and goals.
• Documentation and Required Knowledge: Responsible for performing and modeling accurate and timely documentation including following State of Vermont regulations and laws such as Filing Mandated Reports and HIPPA compliance. Provides and maintains expertise of regulatory and legal requirements, including but not limited to HIPPA, Medicaid, and Medicare Conditions of Participation
• Client Advocacy: Facilitates development and practice of client advocacy skills to improve services and accessible resources.
• Patient and Family Advocate: Acts as a patient and family advocate to the health care team by providing context of the patient’s psychological and emotional status, adjustment to illness, medical diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options.
• Resource Access: Ensures access to adequate resources for the attainment of the highest level of independence that is possible and practical within the scope of professional expertise and competence.
• Community Engagement: Develop and maintain relationships with community partners, fostering and sustaining connections to resources.

Professional Accountability

• Demonstrates a commitment to the mission and values of the organization
• Complies with all organization policies and procedures
• Demonstrates respectful and effective communication in all interactions
• Protects the privacy and confidentiality of clients, co-workers and organization’s operations
• Complies with organization’s policies to protect confidentiality, integrity, availability and security of all protected health information
• Conducts themself in a safe manner by adhering to all safety practices, rules and standards
• Demonstrates a commitment to quality and proactively seeks to make improvements to systems and processes
• Reports to work on time, provides advance notice for time off, accurately reports time and attendance and appropriately manages paid time off (if applicable) in accordance with organization’s policy
• Demonstrates a commitment to integrity in work habits and use of organization’s resources
• Performs duties as assigned that may be outside his/her principle responsibilities
• Meets own learning needs. Participates in educational programs of the organization, including completion of all mandatory competencies, education or training
• Effectively communicates to transfer information, provide guidance and resolve conflicts
• Reports concerns and complaints regarding abuse, neglect and exploitation in accordance with Vermont State Law and the organization
• Enhance or improve organization’s services by participating in team meetings, projects and committees
• Contributes to a positive work environment and responds in a constructive manner to change
• Documents the provision care and services in accordance to organization’s policy

Work Conditions

• Traveling may be required
• May work in community based settings, and clients’ homes and outdoors
• May work during non-business hours
• May experience:
• Hostile and emotionally upset clients, family members, visitors and staff
• Stress due to a demanding profession
• An exposure to blood-borne pathogens
• A variety of environmental exposures such as inclement weather, animals, firearms, tobacco use, dust, and other client based activities and preferences

Essential Physical Requirements

• Must walk, sit, stand, bend, lift and move intermittently during working hours
• Must have the ability to push, pull and lift from the floor, up to a total of 50 pounds and be able to move with the weight, as to organization’s standards
• Climbing-be able to navigate stairs of varying heights and degrees
• Balancing-be able to maintain balance
• Kneeling, crouching, stooping, twisting, reaching below waist level, reaching overhead and reaching torso level
• Manual finger dexterity-will need dexterity to perform duties and use equipment
• Visual acuity-will need sufficient eyesight to drive a car, use office equipment and perform duties
• Auditory acuity- will need to assist individuals in person and by telephone