Community Health Navigator Lead Panel Support - Pacific Tower (Hybrid, 1.0 FTE)

Neighborcare Health is a community-based provider removing barriers to health care for low-income and uninsured families, seniors, immigrants, and people experiencing homelessness. We operate nearly 30 clinics in Seattle, serving nearly 60,000 patients annually, and welcome everyone regardless of insurance, income, or immigration status.

About the role

The Community Health Navigator Lead – Panel Support provides community health and social-service navigation to assigned patient populations, reducing barriers to primary-care participation. The role delivers care coordination for moderate- to high-risk patients with health-related social needs, maintains regular contact with referred patients, and connects them to appropriate support services. The Navigator works in partnership with RN Care Management, external Community Health Navigation services, and other internal care-team members to advance Neighborcare’s mission and goals.

Responsibilities

• Effectively maintain a caseload of empaneled patients in a designated population.
• Provide high-quality community health navigation support to referred patients in a timely manner, including:
  • Assessing needs and assisting individuals to access and navigate community services.
  • Following up to ensure services are received.
  • Examples of services:
    • Housing and emergency shelter placement.
    • Clothing, food, and hygiene resources.
    • Medical appointments and specialty referrals.
    • Referrals to community behavioral health resources.
    • Coordination with other team members for benefits (e.g., FMLA, DSHS programs, Social Security, Medicare, VA).
    • Child or Adult Protective Services.
    • Parenting support services.
    • Transportation services.
    • Older adult services.
    • Patient Assistance – DME supply logistics.
    • School IEP services.
    • External Case Managers, Social Workers, or Community Health Workers as needed.
• Collaborate with clinic teams—including RN care management, pediatrics, behavioral health, and support staff—to ensure coordinated care and maximize patient access to navigation services.
• Assist patients and care teams in documenting screenings, social histories, and navigation activities in the electronic medical record (EHR).
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all care coordination activities.

Family Medicine Panel Support

• Carry a rotating panel of patients requiring social services support based on internal referrals or identified needs via screening.
• Assess clients’ needs to develop individualized treatment plans that coordinate care with Neighborcare providers and provide ongoing support and advocacy.
• Work closely with clients to help them navigate the complexities of health-related social needs and play a key role in helping them achieve their goals.
• Facilitate collection of further behavioral health and health-related social needs screenings as appropriate and dictated by Neighborcare care guidelines.
• Refer highest-risk and highest-complexity patients to Neighborcare RN Care Management or external case managers/social workers as needed in accordance with Neighborcare care guidelines.

CHN Lead Panel Support

• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert in community health navigation for specific patient populations.
• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert in Epic documentation and processes for the community health navigators.
• Assist in training new team members.
• Participate in the design, pilot, and implementation of new or optimized workflows.
• Support the Community Health Navigation Manager in monitoring progress.

Requirements

• High School diploma/GED or equivalent relevant experience in a health care or social service setting.
• Must show proof of Community Health Worker Core Competency Course Certificate or obtain within the first 9 months.
• Must show proof of Community Health Worker Pediatric Course Certificate or obtain within the first 12 months of employment.
• Minimum of 1–2 years of community health outreach, patient navigation, health education, or in a role representing or supporting local community agencies.
• Experience working with people of diverse socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and effectively with individuals of diverse racial, ethnic, socio-economic, cultural, sexual orientation, and ability backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally in English, both verbally and in writing, including facilitating conversations and presenting information.
• Strong listening skills and ability to demonstrate tact and patience with patients and colleagues.
• Experience working in a primary care setting, preferably within a community health or Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) environment.
• Familiarity with medical and community health terminology, health-related social needs (HRSN), and health insurance, especially Medicaid.
• Working knowledge of electronic health records (EHRs) and practice management systems.
• Basic PC skills in MS Windows environment, 10-key, and typing.
• Ability to learn new processes, procedures, and software programs quickly, while demonstrating attention to detail and accuracy in daily work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Formal training or certification in community health work, care coordination, or public health.
• Experience with trauma-informed care or motivational interviewing.
• Experience with cross-sector collaboration (e.g., housing, food access, behavioral health).
• Lived experience navigating community health resources or social service systems.
• 2-year degree in health, human, or social services related fields, or equivalent relevant experience in a health care or social service setting.
• Bilingual in English and any languages, including those top languages of our patient population such as Spanish, Somali, Amharic, Tigrinya, or Vietnamese.
• 3+ years of social services or community health experience.
• Prior experience in care coordination and patient navigation.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid time off and paid holidays.
• Retirement plan with employer contribution match.
• Life and AD&D insurance.
• Pet insurance.
• Employee assistance program.

Pay

The target wage range for this position is $24.48 – $30.78 per hour. Final offers are individually based on skill set, years of experience, location, qualifications, work schedule, and other job-related factors.

This position is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.