Community Health Worker - Northeast PA

UPMC Community Care Behavioral Health is hiring a full-time Community Health Worker for the Northeastern PA region. The office is in Tobyhanna, PA, however, this individual can reside anywhere within Northeast PA. This role will involve a mix of working remotely and travelling throughout Carbon, Monroe, Pike and surrounding counties, and may require occasional on-site presence in the office as needed. 

The ideal candidate for this role will have a valid drivers license, reliable means of transportation, and prior social services or mental health experience. This role involves heavy travel so candidates should be willing to travel throughout the assigned region. 

The Community Health Care Worker (CHW) will work directly with individuals receiving services, family members, providers and other stakeholders, at the direction of a supervisor. This position requires the candidate have close understanding of the community they serve. This trusting relationship enables CHWs to serve as a liaison link/intermediary between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. We recognize CHWs build individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, social supports and advocacy. To fill this position we will recruit a seasoned person who has expertise in issues such as housing, transportation, peer support, informal counseling, career training, and social supports. The CHWs will provide care coordination services to address health needs of individuals enrolled in the program. This position will include telephonic and face to face contact with individuals receiving services, family members and other stakeholders to engage in problem solving and referral strategies; community based services; resources for housing and resources available to members to promote recovery. The CHW also represents the organization to the general public, individuals in, and seeking, recovery, family members, and to stakeholder groups. Title and salary will be determined based upon education and community health worker experience for Sr. Community Health Worker within Community Care Behavioral Health.

Responsibilities:
 

• Flexibility in schedule to meet members' need
• Provides telephonic assistance to members and family members concerning recovery tools and resources
• Engage the community to improve underlying social and economic conditions that impact health
• Assist in scheduling appointments as needed
• Identifying challenges a member faces in the Eight Stages of Wellness and Recovery
• Connect the member to community-based treatment and recovery supports.
• Travel throughout the region
• Mobilize the community level to enhance provider understanding of community needs and preferences
• Advocate for the members' community needs, medical and behavioral health needs
• Empower the member to self-advocate and follow through with treatment (making and attending scheduled appointments, setting goals, and community networking)
• Represents community Care's and UPMC Health Plan recovery and transformation at all levels
• Utilize motivational interviewing to effectively identify the member's strengths, needs, motivation, triggers, and goals in managing life circumstances.
• Collaborate with Community Care and UPMC Health Plan care management staff, as needed, for interventions
• Promotes principles of recovery with members, providers, and stakeholders
• Bridge the gap between the physical health care and behavioral health treatment
• Work in the community setting at least 80%25 of the time, to have direct contact with members, support teams, treatment providers and recovery supports
• Assist members with specific non-medical needs that affect health and access to care

• Proof of high school graduation or GED
• 1 year providing customer service, or clinical, or social service or case management experience in the community required
  • Preference will be given to those with social services, mental health or community work experience. 
• Willingness to travel throughout our service area
• Has own vehicle

• A person in the community who has expertise in issues such as housing, transportation, peer support, career training and community education. This person will also be working with members that have concurrent medical difficulties.

   

• Ability to develop rapport and demonstrate good interpersonal skills 
• Knowledge of basic mental health systems and co-occurring substance use issues, substance use recovery issues and services, education, social services, medical systems, etc preferred 
• Personal or family experience in the health care system preferred
• Knowledge of key concepts and principles (recovery, resiliency, and wellness) 
• Demonstrate ability to work with other people through a cooperative effort
• Ability to utilize motivational interviewing 
• Ability to model and share the recovery principles: Hope, Personal Responsibility-Empowerment Skills, Self-Advocacy, Educational Opportunities, and use of Community supports Basic computer skills and familiarity with Microsoft products 

• Good verbal and written communication skills

   

• Solid organization skills and ability to set priorities and schedule time efficiently
• Self-directed and flexible to meet the needs of our members 
• Value for and ability to deliver excellent customer service 
  
  Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
• Drivers license required
• Automotive insurance required
  
  UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran