Community Health Worker

At Optimus Health Care, a career is more than a job—it’s an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people and communities we serve.
We’re proud of the dedicated professionals who bring compassion, skill, and purpose to their work every day, and we’re always looking for talented individuals who want to grow with us.
If you’re looking for a career where your work truly matters, we invite you to explore opportunities with Optimus Health Care.
Your career. Your purpose. Our community.

Optimus Healthcare is looking for a Full-time Community Health Worker who who is Bilingual/ Spanish to join our team in Bridgeport, CT.

The Community Health Worker (CHW) will function as the liaison between medical, behavioral health, home, and community. The CHW will provide individualized comprehensive care management and coordination that supports, improves, and maintains overall health and wellbeing of patients served. The CHW will collaborate closely with other members of the care team, social services agencies, and other community partners to assist with the coordination of care and services. Must be comfortable working with culturally diverse populations (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender identity and sexual orientation). Highly personable, highly organized, self-directed with reliable transportation. Must be open to working a flexible schedule when needed, coupled with strong verbal and written communication, in addition to a strong commitment to maintaining a high level of confidentiality.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Care Coordination & Outreach

• Welcome new patients into the practice and introduce the Care Team model and complete designated assessments specific to the patient’s cultural background.
• Coordinates all necessary referrals to community resources: such as housing, food, clothing, parenting classes, vocational services, educational resources, assist with completion of redetermination forms for social programs.
• Works with teams to create a trauma-informed environment for patients.
• Performs initial behavioral health pre-screening. Supports safe transitions of care for patients moving between care settings.

• Assists with creating, assessing, and re-evaluating patient-centered care plans that include patient self-management goals.
• Coaches’ patients in effective management of self-care. Assist patients in understanding care plans and instructions.
• Works with patients and their families/care givers to remain actively engaged in their health and overall well-being.
• Coaches’ patients and their families/care givers on proper use of the emergency department and offers alternative options.
• Participates in community health initiatives, health fairs and other pertinent events.
• Attend and participate in meetings, as scheduled, or as requested.
• Attends individual and group supervision with supervisor, as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Collaboration and Advocacy

• Builds and maintains positive working relationships with patients, all care team members, as well as agency representatives.
• Provides support and advocacy during office visits to assure behavioral health/medical needs and required referrals are conveyed.
• Advocates for special accommodations in school, home, community, and healthcare settings, when needed.
• Assists with transitioning youth to adult medical and/or behavioral health care.
• Identifies gaps in health services and coordinates comprehensive healthcare.
• Collaborates with school, community partners, home, and healthcare providers to assist with achievement of established goals.
• Attends relevant community meetings to build collaboration and cultivate relationships with community members.

Documentation

• Documents all patient encounters, including phone calls and/or discussions with collateral agencies in patients’ Electronic Health Record (EHR).
• Ensure proper DAP (data/assessment/plan) format when documenting.
• Accountable to scan all required documentation into EHR: Releases, guardianship, health records, conservatorship, IEP or 504 plan, if applicable.
• Develop and update an integrated care plan with the care team.
• Completes screening tools (CAGE, PHQ9, health literacy, PRAPARE, etc.) on an annual basis.

ADDITIONAL GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Professional, positive attitude, understanding of customer service principles, intuitiveness, trustworthiness, and excellent interpersonal skills to successfully accomplish tasks necessary to meet high standards of ethical and social responsibility required by this position. Knowledge of some medical terminology preferred. Ability to understand the needs of the community to be served. Must have knowledge of the various services available in the community. Ability and willingness to provide emotional support, encouragement, and patient empowerment. Ability to type into an electronic health record.

EDUCATION: High school or equivalent required. Bilingual (Spanish and English) preferred.

EXPERIENCE: Experience working with an ethnically, culturally, and racially diverse office staff and patient population. Preferred: Previous experience working with community-based programs for persons with serious psychiatric and addictive disorders helpful. Applicant has a well-developed understanding of chronic disease and its impact on behavioral/mental health treatment.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Excellent interpersonal skills required including, but not limited to appropriate email etiquette, active listening, and thorough revision of all written assignments.

LICENSURE / CERTIFICATION: Certification of Community Health Worker formal training program preferred or ability to obtain within the first year of hire.

Compensation decisions are made in accordance with applicable federal and Connecticut equal-pay requirements. The final offer will be determined based on job-related factors, including relevant experience, education, specialized skills, scope of responsibilities, market conditions, and internal equity. The salary range does not guarantee placement at any specific point within the range. Eligible employees may receive employer-sponsored benefits, covering medical, dental, and vision coverage; retirement benefits; paid time off and holidays; and other employer-sponsored benefits, subject to plan terms and eligibility.

Optimus is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees as protected by applicable federal and/or state law.