Community Health Navigator

Position Purpose :

The role of the Community Health Navigator (CHN) is to screen patients referred from the California Hospital (Dignity) emergency department and inpatient units, providing the essential function of matching and referring these patients to suitable resources, encompassing housing and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) services.

The CHN conducts care coordination and navigation with an approach centered on trauma-informed, patient-focused care. The primary work location for the Community Health Navigator will be California Hospital and Medical Center (CHMC), and this role will also require collaboration with JWCH and community entities to increase connections and accessibility to health services.

The CHN is expected to possess an understanding of mental health issues and addiction, displaying readiness to engage with clients facing these challenges at all levels, demonstrating compassion and an unbiased demeanor.

This position is grant-funded on a yearly basis, subject to renewal contingent on the availability of funds.

Principal Responsibilities :

• Assist homeless clients referred by CHMC in gaining access to a healthcare medical home, including facilitating tasks such as appointment scheduling, enrollment, and eligibility assessments.
• Deliver culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate care coordination and navigation services for homeless clients referred by CHMC, which may include but are not limited to :
• Referring to social services, such as substance use treatment and behavioral health services, housing assistance, etc., as required.
• Providing or arranging health education sessions.
• Coordinating transportation to and from appointments, which might involve accompaniment (excluding driving patients).
• Collaborating with CHMC's ER, Social Work staff, and JWCH to develop and implement effective referral protocols.
• Maintain a thorough database and comprehensive documentation of services offered to clients referred by CHMC, including intake interviews, follow-up actions, referral resources utilized, and requisite forms.
• Foster relationships with local social service agencies to enhance awareness of available resources for clients.
• Actively participate in team meetings, training, seminars, and program planning.
• Fulfill any other assigned duties or tasks as required.
• Conduct oneself with a professional demeanor when collaborating with a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
• Contribute to safety programs, potentially serving on an emergency response team.
• Perform additional tasks as assigned.

Requirements :

• Hold a bachelor's degree in a public health or behavioral health-related field.
• Possess a minimum of two years of relevant work experience, preferably within the homeless health community.
• Exhibit clear communication skills.
• Demonstrate proficiency in computer applications, including Excel and other data platforms, data abstraction, documentation, and report completion.

Familiarity with electronic health record systems is advantageous.

• Display competence in handling confidential documents.
• Embrace a collaborative ethos, exemplifying strong interpersonal skills to engage effectively with diverse individuals of various backgrounds.
• Communicate empathetically and tactfully, with cultural sensitivity, while interacting with staff and patients.
• Show willingness to be trained for a variety of tasks.
• Exhibit excellent oral and written communication capabilities.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish is preferred.
• Hold a current CA Driver's License and have access to an automobile with valid liability insurance.
• Candidates with personal experience of homelessness are strongly encouraged to apply.
• All JWCH, Wesley Health Centers workforce are strongly recommended to be fully vaccinated / boosted against COVID-19.

Employee Benefits :

JWCH Institute, Inc., offers competitive salaries for all positions. Employees working 30 hours per week or more are provided a monthly allowance which can be used towards medical, dental, vision, and life insurance premiums.

The agency offers sick leave and vacation accrual, 13 paid holidays, jury duty pay, mileage reimbursement, employee parking, direct deposit, credit union, and an employee assistance program.

In addition JWCH offers a 401(k) Profit Sharing plan to employees who work a minimum of 1,000 hours per fiscal year.

Wesley Health Centers, JWCH Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer!