Job | Linkage to Care Specialist @ Washington Heights CORNER Project

Linkage to Care Specialist

Overview

The Linkage to Care Specialist (LTCS) works as part of a team to connect people who use drugs to testing and treatment services. This position bridges the gap between low-threshold harm reduction services and medical services by meeting individuals where they are at and recognizing systemic barriers to care.

Position Description

• Leads initiatives related to care coordination for testing and treatment of hepatitis C, overseeing the process from intake to assessment to treatment adherence as part of a care coordination team.
• Provide assessment upon program intake to identify risks and health service needs, coordinate with team members to offer assistance and support to individuals seeking medical care and treatment, and liaison with medical providers to ensure access and retention in healthcare services
• Oversee a team of peer navigators to promote services in the community, provided one-on-one support for participants enrolled in treatment services, with a focus on identifying best strategies for engagement and retention
• Providing assistance to participants in scheduling and keeping physician appointments, supervising the peer navigators to arrange escort/transportation to appointments
• Implement onsite educational sessions and support groups for individuals interested in hepatitis C treatment and treatment management
• Serve as the primary contact for administrative and medical document retention and dissemination to coordinate care services, including confirmation of identification and assistance with procuring documents in order to begin or continue care
• Works in tandem with the care coordination team to identify effective systems-level needs to improve quality and efficacy of services
• Function as part of the multidisciplinary care team onsite at WHCP, including participating in weekly care coordination meetings
• Develop educational messaging regarding testing, treatment, re-infection, and wellness for participants in pre and post treatment care services
• Provide education to participants regarding injection drug use, personalized risk assessment, overdose prevention, HCV prevention, treatment and post care and HIV transmission and prevention.
• Manage and provide crisis intervention that may arise with participants
• Work as a team member of the care coordination team; work with team members, medical consultants, masters and professional-level students and interns to provide services, programming, needs assessments and evaluation
• Participate in team meetings, staff meetings and professional development opportunities as directed
• Provide audit-worthy documentation for all services provided to participants in both the Electronic Health Records) EHR) and Access Database. Collaborate with Assistant Director or Care Coordination on program reports and service utilization
• Reports to Assistant Director of Care Coordination

 Experience/Additional Qualifications:

• Minimum BSW or BA or BS in Health/Human Services, public health
• Bilingual English and Spanish required
• 2 to 3 years of experience working with marginalized populations (people who use drugs, sex workers, mentally ill, homeless, and/or formerly incarcerated)
• Must have knowledge of and believe in the harm reduction modality and service delivery is required
• Pragmatic and competent problem solving and conflict resolutions skills
• Experience in supportive counseling and crisis intervention
• Organized, outgoing, creative team player who learns and applies information quickly
• Able to conduct street-based and park-based outreach; physically able to climb stairs, hills, trenches
• Positive attitude, good sense of humor and people skills are a must
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Must have computer proficiency including but not limited to Microsoft Office and www search engines
• Ability to work with diverse communities (gender, ethnic, generation, lingual, political) as well as enthusiasm working with individuals who are current substance users.
• Ability to build relationships with clients, service providers and other programs within the community
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and integrity.

 Individuals from the Washington Heights and Northern Manhattan community are strongly encouraged to apply.

 Washington Heights CORNER Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is nondiscriminatory relative to race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, medical status, or history of incarceration.

 Application instructions:

• Please submit a cover letter outlining your experience and/or interest in harm reduction, management and leadership style, Spanish/English proficiency, and interest in the position in addition to your curriculum vitae/resume. Applicants without a cover letter will not be considered for the position.
• Please save your files with your last and first name followed by document title (e.g. Smith J Resume, Smith J Cover Letter)
• E-mail both documents in Word or PDF format to: whcpjobs@cornerproject.orgwith the title: Linkage to Care Specialist

Please address resume and cover letter to:
Jessica O’Neill, Assistant Director of Care Coordination
Washington Heights CORNER Project
566 West 181^st Street, 2^nd Floor, New York NY 10033

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