Outreach & Social Services Worker

SUMMARY: Responsible for finding and connecting HIV-positive individuals to medical care and maintaining current patients in medical treatment, keep up to date with HIV-related issues and services, especially in EHC service area, building awareness in the community about the HIV services provided by EHC, and establish and maintains relationships with outside social service agencies and programs that can refer their clients to care at EHC. Provides support to Esperanza’s social services team and population of patients with HIV by ensuring coordinated care and communication with external providers.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Outreach Duties

1. Develops and maintains strong relationships with other community health, social support and substance abuse treatment agencies to facilitate keeping patients in care and conducting case finding.
2. Find HIV+ clients and refer to medical care.
3. Attends community events as needed (i.e., health and resource fairs).
4. Off Site Rapid HIV Testing; On Site testing as needed.
5. Outreach visits to the street and rehab centers, doctor’s offices, and community pharmacies to promote HIV testing.
6. Coordinates with drug detoxification centers, rehabilitation centers and homeless shelters for HIV testing, and/or HIV medical care referrals.

Social Services Duties

1. Conduct annual Case Management Plan Review and Updates for all Ryan White Patients, ensuring accurate and current documentation.
2. Monitor renewals and expiries of services such the Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program and the annual Ryan White Recertification, ensuring patients remain active in the program and all documentation is up to date in the Electronic Medical Record.
3. Assist patients in arranging specialty care appointments, completing paperwork, and requesting Ryan White Funds to cover cost of procedure.
4. Support patients and EHC Social Services team in coordinating dental care and other non-Esperanza medical care to ensure that patients can access services.
5. Coordinate Taxi Transportation services for HIV patients.
6. Coordinate annual HIV patient satisfaction survey, gathering patient feedback throughout the year.
7. Provide assistance in recruiting and ensuring patient awareness of HIV support groups, patient involvement meetings, and other Esperanza hosted services for patients with HIV.
8. Support SS team in responding to patient messages for patients in Ryan White program, as needed.
9. Be available for testing in the clinic, as assigned.

SPIRITUAL CARE:

1. Provide spiritual encouragement, prayer, and other spiritual outreach to patients.
2. Participate in personal and community spiritual growth, including EHC devotions/retreats.
3. Communicate the love of Christ through interactions, not complaining or arguing, but expressing hope in Christ and His promises.

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS:

1. MOTIVATION
   • Express enthusiasm and a positive attitude and interest in the job.
   • Exhibit self-motivation in undertaking new projects and assignments.
   • Independently identify and resolves problems.
   • Pursue personal and professional development.
2. COMMUNICATION
   • Display respectful communication with supervisor, coworkers and patients.
   • Verbally present ideas and opinions in a clear and concise manner.
   • Present written communication in a clear, concise, and well-organized manner.
   • Notify supervisor when leaving the office to conduct outreach or off-site HIV Testing.
   • Use effective listening skills and allow others to convey ideas.
   • Provide information to supervisor and staff re status of patients, projects, programs.
   • Establish and maintain open lines of communication with other staff.
   • Maintain confidentiality, following all HIPAA guidelines.
   • Show respect for cultural differences and the dignity of each individual.
   • Strive to put others at ease and to communicate in ways they can understand.
   • Make hospitality and responsiveness to patients and each other a habit.
   • Notify supervisor prior to scheduled start time if anticipating lateness or absence.
3. DOCUMENTATION
   • Document patient records within 24 hours of contact with or on behalf of patients, including face-to-face, phone, or collateral contact; HIV testing and counseling, referrals.
4. QUALITY / SERVICE
   • Make consistent efforts to control costs, seeking ways to increase productivity and improve quality.
   • Ensure proper completion of work activities in a timely manner.
   • Recognize critical situations and respond effectively.
   • Maintain professional boundaries, taking on tasks within limits of job description.
5. TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE
   • Continue personal and professional growth by recognizing current trends in specialty and effectively preparing to meet anticipated changes.
   • Serve as a resource by providing technical knowledge to others seeking assistance.
6. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
   • Work in harmonious partnership with EHC staff and volunteers to further EHC’s mission and vision, to accomplish common goals, and to coordinate various activities.
   • Adhere to policies and procedures of the health center and the regulations of governing agencies, recommending changes where appropriate.
   • Promote and follow “safety” practices.
   • Seek timely reconciliation with others following biblical principles when wronged or after doing wrong to someone else.
   • Favorably represent Christ and His mission within and outside of EHC.
   • Adhere to dress code policy at all times.
   • Demonstrate good attendance and punctuality, reporting for work as scheduled.
   • Participate in departmental meetings and general staff meetings, including attending EHC Care Team Meetings twice a month.

EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Training in oral communication and one or more years’ experience in speaking situations.
2. High School Diploma.

1. Must be bilingual with the ability to communicate well in both Spanish and English.
2. Solid interpersonal skills, including handling challenging people, communicate warmth and be able to put people at ease.
3. Ability to remain calm in a chaotic situation.
4. Take initiative in communication, being clear and direct; effectively communicate with staff, other organizations and clients.
5. Able to organize and prepare culturally specific and client centered contact with patients.
6. Ability to form and follow a plan.
7. Computer literacy, including able to enter data into a database.
8. Ability to use visual aids as appropriate.
9. Possession of a solid record of handling confidential information, as well as demonstrating trustworthiness and honesty in all transactions.
10. Solid character references with no criminal record.
11. Solid record of timeliness and reliability in a work setting.
12. Knowledgeable about AIDS, STD’s, HIV issues using specific training, books, videos, etc.
13. Conversant in the USPHS clinical guidelines for the treatment of HIV.
14. Ability to lead a discussion group and to teach.
15. Ability to learn new information and share it with others in a modified form.
16. Ability to work with clinical team to assess patient involvement in regular HIV care.
17. Familiarity with community services and resources relevant to HIV positive people.
18. Ability to develop trusted relationships with consumers.