Location: Cambridge Public Health Commission 

Work Days: 8:30AM - 5:00PM  

Category: Human and Social Services  

Department: Social Health Resources  

Job Type: Full time  

Work Shift: Day 

Hours/Week: 40.00 

Union Name: Union of Social Workers

SUMMARY

The Patient Resource Coordinator (PRC) works closely with patients, families, and their health care team to facilitate community connections and access to a range of psychosocial resources within CHA and in the community. The PRC performs a wide range of functions that safely, effectively, and efficiently support CHA patients to address their personalized health goals.

Responsibilities include working with patients and site-based care teams to access resources and remove barriers to social supports that impede patient health and safety and effectively building supportive, short-term, relationships with patients to solve such problems. The efficient use of resources will improve patients’ experience of care, promote population health and wellness, and ensure patient engagement and empowerment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Conducts basic social needs assessments for patients referred by Primary Care and Complex Care Management teams. Identifies patient strengths and abilities. Adapts style to engage patients in appropriate levels of problem-solving and self-advocacy.

2. Directs patients and staff to appropriate resources within CHA to address patient needs in a timely manner. Supports patients in advocating for specific services.

3. Advocates on behalf of patients who struggle to advocate for themselves.

4. Identifies and develops working relationships with community-based social services to ensure access for patients. Teaches and supports patients in accessing services.

5. Maintains a diverse database of community resources. Builds working relationships with CHA Dept of Community Health Improvement staff and relevant community organizations.

6. Ensures paperwork and applications are completed by or for patients, including applications for transportation, SNAP benefits, housing subsidies, immigration, school-related forms, insurance, and disability benefits, etc. 

7. Builds supportive relationships with patients to help them access primary care, mental health care, and social services to improve their health status. On rare occasions, this may require accompanying a patient to a visit or meeting.

8. Serves as liaison to CHA’s Patient Financial Services to resolve insurance issues.

9. Educates patients and families to foster self-advocacy skills and self-sufficiency.

10. Acts as a resource to patients, families, and providers to help resolve social service needs that interfere with positive health outcomes.

11. Communicates concerns about signs of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence according to CHA policy with manager or other appropriate licensed staff in a timely way for safety planning and/or reporting of abuse/neglect to appropriate agencies.

12. Collaborates with multi-disciplinary teams, including clinical and non-clinical staff at multiple sites to facilitate timely patient-centered care. 

13. Works collaboratively to identify systemic barriers to care and develop strategies to reduce barriers.

14. Documents activities in Epic according to CHA policies and procedures.

15. Ensures that patients receive appropriate entitlements and benefits.

16. Attends continuing education activities as needed to maintain job competencies.

17. Participates in required site-based and department-based meetings.

18. Performs other duties as assigned by manager.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

• Resourceful individual with excellent interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills. 

• Effectively interacts with members of the health care team, patients, and their families. 

• Maintains confidentiality of all patient issues. Takes initiative to proactively organize and manage the responsibilities of the job. 

• Working knowledge of community-based resources. Demonstrates cultural responsiveness and sensitivity to relevant cultural groups served. 

• The ideal candidate will be experienced in the use of Motivational Interviewing.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (or equivalent Human Service field) or equivalent experience required.

LANGUAGE

• Bilingual (English and Portuguese, Haitian Creole or Spanish) strongly preferred.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• 1-3 years of related work experience required.

• Prior experience in a clinical practice setting is highly preferred.

• Experience with relevant community groups and multicultural settings is strongly preferred

 
In keeping with federal, state and local laws, Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) policy forbids employees and associates to discriminate against anyone based on race, religion, color, gender, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to establishing and maintaining a workplace free of discrimination. We are fully committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not tolerate unlawful discrimination in the recruitment, hiring, termination, promotion, salary treatment or any other condition of employment or career development. Furthermore, we will not tolerate the use of discriminatory slurs, or other remarks, jokes or conduct, that in the judgment of CHA, encourage or permit an offensive or hostile work environment.