Community Resource Advocate

Summary/Objective

The Community Resource Advocate is a core member of the care team, including the patient’s medical provider and the larger primary care team. They are frontline public health workers who understand the community they serve. The Community Resource Advocate is a link between health and social services and the community to facilitate access to services and to improve the quality of their health. The Community Resource Advocate helps increase health knowledge in the community through outreach, community education, informal counseling, and social support.

Essential Functions

• Help patients identify social determinants of health that affect their overall health and develop health and social management plans and goals
• Assist patients with setting and addressing SMART goals
• Outreach to and assist patients in overcoming barriers to obtaining needed medical care and/or social services
• Build and maintain relationships with services in the community and establish a presence in newer communities
• Assist with conducting preventative screenings in the community
• Host outreach events at designated locations and in the community
• Understand and retain knowledge regarding community health care resources related to chronic disease, mental health, substance abuse, and other basic care needs
• Arrange for services on behalf of the patient, such as helping them arrange transportation and make medical appointments
• Complete outreach and follow-up phone calls to patients

*These essential functions are a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the position and are not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all duties and responsibilities. The position will include other duties as assigned and duties are subject to change at management's discretion.

Competencies

• Planning and strategic foresight
• Responsible Decision Making
• Integrity and accountability
• Innovation and creativity
• Adaptive and flexible
• Leadership, teamwork, and conflict resolution
• Professionalism and work ethic
• Empathy

Required Role Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must have reliable transportation
• High School diploma or equivalent
  

Preferred Role Qualifications

• Two years of experience working within a healthcare setting.
• 1-2 years of experience working in a community and/or family support role

Required Skills

• Ability to analyze situations and solve problems at strategic and tactical levels
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply the appropriate sections of applicable laws, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, and policies
• Ability to acquire a thorough understanding of the organization's hierarchy, jobs, qualifications, compensation practices, and the administrative practices related to those factors
• Practiced at organization and planning
• Employ Critical thinking and problem solving
• Maintains composure and operates with emotional intelligence
• Ethical reasoning and decision-making
• Strong attention to detail
• Receptive and responsive to feedback
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Time management, prioritization, and sense of urgency
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software
  

Physical Demands and Environmental Conditions

• The physical demands and environmental conditions described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the responsibilities of this job, the employee may be required to sit for prolonged periods, occasionally stand and move about in an office setting, work longer than eight (8) hour shifts, and to work both day/evening/weekend shifts.
• Work may include hand dexterity as well as the need to reach, grasp, or move objects.
• The position requires constant operation of a computer and other office equipment, including but not limited to a copy machine and printer.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.
• While performing the responsibilities of the job, the employee is required to communicate information and ideas so other will understand. One must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• May be required to travel locally between NorthShore locations.
• Travel outside of NorthShore locations may be necessary for this position.