Community Resource Specialist

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Organizational Information

Founded in 1989, CaringMatters is a community-based, nonprofit organization in Gaithersburg, Maryland, that provides social support services for people facing serious, illnesses and grief.  The organization has a small professional staff and a large, robust pool of compassionate volunteers who deliver most of the direct services. 

 

CaringMatters offers a competitive salary, benefits, lots of opportunity for professional development, and a flexible, caring, and friendly work environment.

 

Position Summary

This part-time (20 hours/week) Community Resource Specialist will work closely with newly diagnosed cancer patients at The Aquilino Cancer Center, their families, and health care teams to facilitate community connections with access to a range of community resources. This new position strives to improve quality of life and maintain the highest possible ability to function within the community throughout their treatment and beyond.  Located between CaringMatters (Gaithersburg, MD) and The Aquilino Center (Rockville, MD), the Community Resource Specialist is a grant funded position for one year with a strong possibility of continuing beyond that period.  Training will be provided. Schedule is flexible, typically weekday hours. 

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Duties and Responsibilities

1. Effectively builds supportive, short-term, relationships with patients to solve problems and remove barriers that interfere with functioning or quality of life.

2. Facilitates client access to community resources, including locating transportation, companionship, food, support groups and relevant mental health services, respite care, and more.  Assists client to develop natural resources and contact social support networks.

3. Takes initiative to proactively organize and manage the responsibilities of the job.

4. Demonstrates cultural responsiveness and sensitivity to relevant cultural groups served.

5. Assists clients in identifying needs and developing goals and develops care plans which are reviewed regularly.

6. Documents all client encounters and contacts made on behalf of clients; Enters required data into Aquilino Center’s and CaringMatters’ database.

7. Assesses patients, evaluates effectiveness of care plan and progress made by client, participates in patient treatment planning and case review with patient care providers.

8. Attends interdisciplinary team meetings and other meetings as appropriate and requested.

9. Adheres to grant requirements and prepares grant reports. 

10. Performs other duties as assigned.

 

Minimum Job Requirements

1. 1-3 years of related work experience required. Experience with relevant community groups and multicultural settings is strongly preferred

2. Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, equivalent Human Service field, or equivalent experience required.

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

1. Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively and cultivate positive relationships with a wide range of clients and stakeholders in a diverse community.

2. Experience and high comfort level working with oncology patients

3. Resourceful individual with excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.

4. Working knowledge of community-based resources.

5. Ability to gather and maintain data, compile information, and prepare reports.

6. Ability to assess social/emotional status in clients and to help develop goals and plans.

7. Knowledge of community health care and related social support services, including but not limited to those services that are specific to cancer patients.

8. Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate individual client care plans. Ability to communicate medical information to health care professionals and the public over the telephone under crisis circumstances.

9. Ideal candidate will be experienced in the use of Motivational Interviewing.

10. Bilingual/multi-lingual (Spanish or other languages) preferred

 

To apply

Please send cover letter and resume to Allison Stearns at allisons@caringmatters.org. In the subject line, please put Community Resource Specialist. EOE.

 

CaringMatters, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination in employment and opportunity because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or age.

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