Trans Health Peer Navigator

General Responsibilities:

The Trans Health Peer Navigator is a member of the Trans Health Access Team (THAT); a team of medical and behavioral health providers and allied support staff providing care for people who identify as transgender, gender non-conforming and non-binary. The Trans Health Peer Navigator will work directly with Trans Health patients of Thundermist Health Center to address barriers to care that are often unique transgender individuals. The Trans Health Peer Navigator is a critical team member who has lived experience navigating Trans affirming health care systems as a consumer and is comfortable sharing that experience to empower others. The Peer Navigator will provide care coordination, peer support, community resources and referrals. The Peer Navigator will also assist with group visits, wellness activities, patient outreach and may visit patients in their homes or communities to help patients achieve their health goals.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

·         Lived experience as a consumer of Transgender Health related services.

·         High School diploma and a combination of education and skills to effectively carry out responsibilities and assignments, such as previous experience working in a community-based setting.

·         Ability to work independently and effectively in a team environment; collaborate with other THAT staff.

·         Provide own reliable transportation with proof of RI minimum requirements of auto insurance (including a 100/300 K Rider to utilize your automobile for work purposes).

·         Highly organized and strong interpersonal skills.

·         Maintain timely and accurate records and documentation as required.

·         Demonstrated experience working with computers and other technology and Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Qualifications:  

·         English, Spanish and Portuguese written and spoken language

·         Candidates who do not meet all of the preferred qualifications are encouraged to apply.

Significant Job Functions:

·         Key member of multi-disciplinary Trans Health Access Team who collaborates with physicians, other care team members (Medical Assistants, Nurses, etc.), hospitals, partner agencies, obtain progress notes from outside providers involved in patient care.

·         Utilize healthy boundaries and understand the ethical issues/ challenges of working within a community with which one identifies.

·         Conduct initial outreach calls to all new Trans Health patients and ongoing outreach to reconnect patients to care.

·         Be a first point of contact for Trans Health patients who are experiencing barriers, looking for resources or need assistance navigating name/gender marker changes.

·         Facilitate Trans Wellness events and promote wellness events on social media.

·         Participate in community outreach events to promote the Trans Health Program.

·         Meet with patients in the community, at their home, in the hospital, or other community settings.

·         Transport and/or accompany patients to doctor’s appointments, assist with food shopping, picking up prescriptions at the pharmacy, completing forms for benefit applications, and assist with other tasks as needed that support their medical and behavioral health care needs.

·         Build trusting relationship and serve as an advocate and peer mentor with the goal of empowering the patient to become more independent and self-sufficient.

·         Utilize Motivational Interviewing skills and other patient engagement techniques with patients and caregivers.

·         Assist in the development of a patient Care Plan to include actions designed to improve the patient’s health status. Remove the barriers that are preventing them getting from high quality and timely access to PCP and specialist care.

·         Educate patients on appropriate Urgent Visit and ER use.

·         Perform other duties are required.

Physical Effort/ Environment:

·         This role is hybrid as work can be performed onsite or at a remote location.

·         Meet with patients in the community, at their home, in the hospital, or other community settings.

·         Flexibility to travel within Rhode Island to meet the needs of the patient.

·         May require climbing several flights of stairs.

·         Ability to work evenings and weekends as required.

·         General office environment: manual dexterity needed for keyboard work, writing and phone calls.

·         Use of technology for home monitoring, telemedicine, and other devices, as needed.

Work Schedule Demands:

·         Full-time. Ability to work evenings and weekends as required.

Communication Skills:

·         Strong communication skills, both oral and written.

·         Ability to relate to patients and build trusting relationships.

·         Ability to demonstrate knowledge of gender affirmative language and related health concepts.

·         Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers, patients, family/care givers, and partner agencies.