Access Linkage to Care Navigator

Reports to: HIV Counseling & Testing Division: HIV Counseling & Testing

Classification: Non-exempt Department:PROJECT ACCESS

Date:01/26/2015__ Approved: Project ACCESS Coordinator

MAJOR FUNCTION:

  1. The Navigation Coordinator will serve as the linkage to care point person by providing “concierge service” to new patients with a single positive (or confirmed positive) rapid HIV test who are referred for care by other agencies.
  2. Clients referred for confirmation of preliminary positives will be enrolled in care on the same or next business day by blood draw for HIV panel (T-Cells and Viral Load at minimum) if the second test is also positive; refer discordants to RWJ.
  3. Provide partner services to new and existing patients via contact elicitation strategies to bring in their sex and needle-sharing partners for rapid HIV testing. Employ social networking strategies with new and existing patients to bring in additional social contacts for HIV testing. Non cash incentives may be used appropriately.
  4. Re-engage patients lost to care (defined as not completing a medical care visit) by flagging EMR, working with community partners and other effective strategies.
  5. Coordinate and link each patient to available community resources, both formal (e.g., housing agencies, food banks) and informal (e.g., friends, support groups, spiritual groups) based on each patient’s needs, advocating on each patient’s behalf, as needed, to link him/her to entitlements and/or other needed services.
  6. Actively participate in regional/local collaboration meetings that identify testing, linkage and retention as their primary mission.
  1. Maintain a formal and informal Memorandum of Agreement with service providers
  2. Maintain a process of release of information procedures to enable community partners to assist with re-engagement, adherence and prevention counseling.

7.The Navigation Coordinator will track all data for completeness, accuracy and reporting.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

As required by the grant objectives and performance measures:

The Linkage to Care Navigator's main target population as described above, and to which Attachment C objectives apply, are:

  1. Linkage to Care Navigator will comply with all levels of data collection to include individual-level data through the real time web-site provided by DHSTS.
  2. All patients with a positive initial rapid test conducted by another MOA agency will be tested by the Navigator (or other suitable staff) on the same or next business day following referral for the second rapid test; patients with a second positive rapid test will be linked to care the same day as the positive second rapid test result.
  3. All discordant patients will be referred to RWJ on the same day the discordant result occurs.
  4. Partner Services, i.e., HIV testing of partners, will be provided to at least 65 HIV clinic patients annually.
  5. Partner services will yield at least a 2% rate of newly identified HIV-positive results among partners tested.
  6. 100% of partners testing positive will receive their HIV test results.
  7. 100% of partners testing positive will be linked to care on the same day.
  8. 25% of partners testing HIV-negative will receive HIV prevention counseling and be referred to an HIV prevention agency for on-going HIV and STD prevention services.
  9. 50% of partners testing positive and resistant to care will be provided with the ARTAS strategy.
  10. 30% of partners testing positive who are not adherent or resistant to care will receive the CLEAR intervention.
  11. Over the course of one year, 100% of all HIV patients seen by the clinic who are lost to care will receive follow-up visit calls or other forms of contact such as text messages; contacts made and evidence of the follow-up will be noted on patient charts.
  12. The clinical provider will maintain updated MOAs with 100% of the non- clinical testing sites in its catchment area.
  13. 85% of new HIV patients lost to care who were identified by the Navigators will be re-engaged in care.
  14. A minimum of four collaboration meetings will be held during the grant year.

Professional Requirements

Meets dress code standards; appearance in neat and clean.
Completes annual educational requirements and trainings as determined by the Agency and the State of New Jersey.
Reports to work on time and as scheduled; completes work within designated time.
Wears identification while on duty; uses computerized punch time system correctly.
Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
Attends annual review and department in-services, as scheduled.
Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.
Actively participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.
Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
Communicates the mission, visions and goals of the facility, as well as the focus statement of the department.

EDUCATION:

While a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Social/Health Science or Public Health with one year’s experience in providing HIV care services to people living with HIV is preferred, extensive experience in HIV care services can be substituted.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assist staff with Spanish interpretation if bilingual in Spanish.

PREREQUISITES FOR THE JOB:

Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

Pass proficiency testing in Spanish (if bilingual) within 30 days of notification of testing requirement.

Ability to read and comprehend instructions, correspondence and memos. Ability to write correspondence; effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to, clients and other employees of the organization.

Computer literacy.

Skill in the application of modern office techniques and practices and the use and care of office machines and equipment. Working knowledge of common software packages necessary to perform the functions of the position.

Ability to review and abstract data from client records.

Valid driver license

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Ability to work well with others and to assist the public cooperatively and courteously.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to handle, finger or feel objects, tools or controls; and talk or hear. is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to stand which can be for long periods of time, walk and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to ten (10) pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics 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.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Interested parties, please send resume and cover letter to: