Care Navigator

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The Public Health Institute (PHI) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health, well-being, and quality of life for people throughout California, across the nation and around the world. As one of the largest and most comprehensive public health organizations in the nation, we are at the forefront of research and innovations to improve the efficacy of public health statewide, nationally, and internationally.

PHI was distinguished as one of the top 50 “Best Non-Profit Organizations to Work For” by the Non-Profit Times in a national search.

Position Summary

The Care Navigator is a key role in the AC Care Alliance (ACCA) Advanced Illness Care Program™. These individuals provide front-line support for members of the community, referrals from health care systems, and ACCA congregations who are caregivers and individuals with advanced illness.  The program is currently in several counties in the San Francisco Bay Area, in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, and in Los Angeles County.

We are currently hiring for a 100% FTE position to work primarily within the Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco County areas. The position is expected to work 40 hours per week.

The AC Care Alliance Advanced Illness Care Program™ (ACCA-AICP) is a community-based, person-centered, care navigation intervention serving individuals with advanced illness and their caregivers in partnership with health, faith, and community organizations. Founded in the African American faith community, it is free of charge and respects the needs and wishes of the participant, whatever their culture and faith. Care Navigators are trained members of the community who walk alongside participants providing trusted referrals, resources and specially designed tools to empower them to achieve their identified goals. The intervention is holistic in its approach by focusing on participant needs within our Five Cornerstones: spiritual, health (physical and emotional), social, advance care planning, and caregiving.

Care Navigators are trusted, well-respected individuals in ACCA churches and the community. While they are not medical professionals, nor are they trained to provide clinical guidance, Care Navigators are well trained in execution of our person-centered and holistic approach to relationship building, service delivery and case management. This incorporates foundational skills in motivational interviewing, storytelling and story-listening to better understand the multiple needs of each participant. Navigators are also trained to use each of the 10 tools developed for the cornerstones of the AICP as well as the case management technology solution to document their work. Services are delivered in three stages through a series of 5-12 visits, half in-person half via phone, approximately over a six-month period. Care Navigators personalize the ACCA program to meet individual participants’ needs. All 5 cornerstones and a subset of resources and tools can be utilized, depending on the needs of the participant.

This position will work with patients referred through community organizations, churches and by health system partners. ACCA’s model is to provide some participant visits in person rather than having all visits provided remotely. In times of COVID-19, all visits have been virtual/phone however the program has begun resuming some in-person visits, on a voluntary basis while current COVID precautions are in effect. Vaccination is a term and condition of employment at PHI unless a legally recognized exemption is granted and a reasonable accommodation can be identified and is approved. It is possible that an unvaccinated individual may not be allowed reasonable accommodation to conduct ACCA’s in-person work. ACCA strongly recommends that all candidates are up to date on all available vaccinations, as this work may require in-home visits for participants in the near future.

The position is required to do local travel for up to 75% of the regular schedule when it is deemed safe to do so and based on comfort of the Care Navigator.

Full pay range for this position: $24.59 to $34.62 per hour. The typical hiring range for this position is from $24.59 (minimum) to $29.60 (midpoint) per hour. The starting wage is determined based on the candidate’s knowledge, skills, experience, as well as budget availability.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Program Outreach and Participant Eligibility

• Conduct outreach activities to provide information on the ACCA-AICP to referred patients and community organizations.
• Through referral and/or outreach, identify individuals who can benefit from and may qualify for the ACCA-AICP.
• May assist other team members with facilitating trainings on AICP related topics.
• Determine program eligibility for identified individuals from the health systems, community or ACCA congregations.

Delivering Program Intervention

• Review consent forms and provide program overview for individuals.
• Obtain consent from individuals to enter into working relationship.
• Conduct assessment of big 5 cornerstone needs and gather intake information.
• Clarify areas of need, available resources and sources of supports and develop a plan in collaboration with individual.
• Facilitate access to services, taking care to empower individuals to take active steps to access resources.
• Provide up to 12 visits, via phone and in-person (currently on a voluntary basis while current COVID precautions are in effect).
• Assist with problem-solving among individual, family and health care providers.
• Work closely with ACCA and health system pilot team to ensure proper report-back procedures are followed.
• Partner closely with faith & health ministry leaders of assigned churches, for church-specific referrals.
• Comply with all HIPAA confidentiality requirements.

Program Documentation

• Utilizing online case management system, track & document required program activities during visit, but no later than 48 hours of occurrence.

Health System Pilot Work

• As directed, utilize approved secure methods for communicating with health system patient’s primary care physician, which may involve accessing health system’s electronic medical records system.
• Adhere to all applicable health system compliance requirements including annual trainings, current immunizations, background check, drug testing, and annual flu vaccine and TB testing.

Trainings and Supervision

• Attend bi-monthly ACCA team meetings virtually, and in-person when it is safe to do so at ACCA churches and PHI.
• Supervise volunteers, as applicable.
• Assist with training for new Care Navigators and Care Team members, as requested.
• Collaborate w/ Program Leadership Team and health system partnership team to improve personal performance and pilot program process.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of related experience that includes 1 year of Case Management or Care Navigation experience or 2 years of experience working in the health care field and/or working with individuals with advanced stage illness required.
• High School Diploma.

Other Qualifications

• Experience working with the faith community.
• Experience working with seniors and/or persons with chronic & serious health conditions is highly preferred.
• Some work experience in the health care field and/or the desire to develop a career in health care is preferred.
• Experience in community outreach, working with social service agency, advocacy with behavioral and mental health is a plus.
• Demonstrated relationship building experience is highly preferred.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Spanish speaking is a plus.
• Computer proficiency and comfort with technology.
• Understanding of and ability to comply with all HIPAA and confidentiality requirements.
• Interest in working with diverse communities with advanced illness.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, complex, and mobile work environment.
• Compassionate.
• Understand and appreciate the importance of spirituality, faith and/or religion for a person’s holistic well-being.
• Ability to make home visits and church visits in multiple Bay Area cities (when it is safe to do so and on a voluntary basis while current COVID precautions are in effect).
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education is preferred.

PHI WORKFORCE MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY

Per the PHI Workforce Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, it is a condition of employment for all domestic based employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless they are granted a reasonable accommodation under applicable law.

New hires need to provide proof of full vaccination prior to their start date or apply for an exemption/accommodation within three business days after their start date. Depending on the circumstances, new hires who do not comply with this Policy, or who cannot be reasonably accommodated, will either have their employment suspended or terminated. Candidates who are non-compliant will have their offers rescinded.

EEO Statement

The Public Health Institute is committed to a policy that provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and to make all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment opportunity. To this end, the PHI will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are offered employment and employees are treated during employment without regard to these characteristics.

For further information regarding Equal Employment Opportunity, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

ADA Statement:

The Public Health Institute is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Recruitment Team at least 48 hours in advance at Recruitment@phi.org.

#LI-REMOTE

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We’re so pleased the Public Health Institute is an organization you would like to work with. Do you have questions about this opportunity? If so, email our recruitment team at Recruitment@phi.org.

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