Community Health Worker-Bilingual Spanish- Bridgeport

About the role

Optimus Health Care—Fairfield County's largest provider of primary health care services—is seeking a Community Health Worker to join our Bridgeport, CT clinic. This position is 100% grant-funded and part of our team-based model of care.

Responsibilities

• Welcome new patients and introduce the Care Team model, completing necessary assessments.
• Coordinate all necessary referrals to community resources, including housing, food, clothing, parenting classes, vocational services, educational resources, and assist with redetermination forms for social programs.
• Work with teams to create a trauma-informed environment for patients.
• Perform initial behavioral health pre-screening.
• Support safe transitions of care for patients moving between care settings.
• Assist with creating, assessing, and re-evaluating patient-centered care plans that include patient self-management goals.
• Coach patients in effective management of self-care.
• Absorb and communicate care plans and instructions to patients and their families/caregivers.
• Assist patients in understanding care plans and instructions.
• Work with patients and their families/caregivers to remain actively engaged in their health and overall well-being.
• Coach patients and their families/caregivers on proper use of the emergency department and offer alternative options.
• Participate in community health initiatives, health fairs, and other pertinent events.
• Attend and participate in meetings, as scheduled or as requested.
• Attend individual and group supervision with supervisor, as required.
• Document all patient encounters, including phone calls and/or discussions with collateral agencies, in patients' Electronic Health Record (EHR).
• Ensure proper DAP (data/assessment/plan) format when documenting.
• Scan all required documentation into EHR: releases, guardianship, health records, conservatorship, IEP or 504 plan, if applicable.
• Develop and update integrated care plan with the care team.
• Complete screening tools (CAGE, PHQ9, health literacy, PRAPARE, etc.) on an annual basis.
• Provide emotional support, encouragement, and patient empowerment.
• Communicate effectively using appropriate email etiquette, active listening, and thorough revision of all written assignments.
• Work in a 100% outpatient setting.

Qualifications

• High school or equivalent required.
• Experience working with an ethnically, culturally, and racially diverse office staff and patient population preferred.
• Previous experience working with community-based programs for persons with serious psychiatric and addictive disorders helpful.
• A well-developed understanding of chronic disease and its impact on behavioral/mental health treatment.
• Bilingual Spanish/English required.
• Certification of Community Health Worker formal training program preferred or ability to obtain within the first year of hire.
• Excellent interpersonal skills required, including appropriate email etiquette, active listening, and thorough revision of all written assignments.
• Knowledge of some medical terminology preferred.
• Ability to understand the needs of the community to be served.
• Ability and willingness to provide emotional support, encouragement, and patient empowerment.
• Ability to type into an electronic health record.

Benefits

Optimus Health Care provides a fun, fast-paced working environment with excellent health & welfare benefit options and competitive compensation. Equal employment opportunities are provided to all applicants and employees as protected by applicable federal and/or state law.