Heluna Health invites applications for a full time (40 hour/week), benefitted, as-needed Health Worker/Phlebotomist position that is phlebotomy licensed in CA, to work in the San Francisco County Jails. This program operates under Jail Health Services, an ambulatory care site within the San Francisco Department of Public Health. The Health Worker/Phlebotomist position will be responsible for the following functions to incarcerated patients who are housed in the San Francisco County Jails: 1) conducting testing for sexually transmitted infections, using both point-of-care (rapid) and conventional (venous) lab-based testing services, including HIV, Hepatitis C, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia infections; 2) disclosing results and providing counseling to the patients for tests completed by Health Worker/Phlebotomist; 3) ensuring appropriate referrals for biomedical HIV and STI prevention, treatment of chronic Hepatitis C infection and treatment of HIV infection.

This position requires relaying and collecting critical, sensitive information to patients typically from vulnerable backgrounds with low health literacy and high levels of institutional mistrust. Additionally, the job duties are primarily completed within the living areas within the county jail. Applicants must have a high degree of comfort and motivation to work with these patient populations within a high stress environment. While the majority of work functions are performed individually, the position operates within a larger, multidisciplinary group of medical providers and case managers, necessitating excellent communication skills and a high degree of comfort working across different roles, skills and job functions.

This is a temporary, in person, grant-funded, full-time, benefitted position. Employment is provided by Heluna Health. Position requires travel to San Bruno.

Pay Rate: $26.68 per hour

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Cover letter and required for consideration.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides rapid point of care and/or conventional lab-based testing for various STI’s including HIV, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, Gonorrhea and Chlamydia to patients housed in the various SF county jails
• Triages patient medical records for testing history prior to meeting with them for testing services
• Facilitates fingerstick and venous blood specimen collections
• Develops point of care tests, interprets test results, and accurately documents test information on testing logs
• Completes reflex venipuncture specimen collection for confirmatory lab-based testing when a patient has a reactive point of care test result
• Prepares and packages venous blood and urine specimens, following quality assurance procedures, for lab-based testing
• Provides disclosure counseling, education, and immediate linkage to care services for any patient who tests positive
• Distributes test result letters to patients following point of care or lab-based testing services
• Conducts outreach in jail housing units to re-engage patients who have previously refused testing services
• Documents testing and counseling encounters in patient electronic medical records
• Provides education to people living with Hepatitis C regarding curative treatment options
• Collects demographic and contact information for all patients who are tested
• Screens for opiate use and provides drug overdose prevention education to patients
• Assists with Narcan distribution activities for the jails
• Provides education and navigation services for PrEP
• Assists with inspection and restocking of condom machines
• Attends required supervision sessions, team meetings, all-staff meetings and required trainings
• Establishes and maintains professional working relationships with JHS staff, Sheriff’s department staff, jail-based providers, and with volunteer community-based providers
• Assists JHS medical staff with phlebotomy services support for hard-stick patients
• Assists HIV Care Team with phlebotomy services, as needed
• Occasional delivery of specimens to local San Francisco labs
• Performs other related duties as necessary

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with HIV, Hepatitis, STI testing, education, and counseling
• Knowledge of local community agencies/services in San Francisco
• Experience working in a clinical or medical setting
• 1 year experience providing phlebotomy services

Certificates/Licenses/Clearances

• Possession of an active CA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT1) license is required
• Must be able to attend and pass the HIV Testing/Counseling training and other trainings required by the California Department of Public Health, and the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Community Health Equity & Promotion Branch
• Must be able to pass a local, state, and federal background check. Background checks and jail clearances are facilitated yearly by the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department
• CA driver’s license is preferred, but not required, as the position will require going to a county jail facility located in San Bruno, CA

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Ability to educate, interact and engage with vulnerable populations
• Must be able to work with patients from diverse backgrounds with sensitivity to ethnic, racial, cultural, gender and sexual identities
• Knowledge of harm reduction principles and interventions
• Familiarity with criminal justice and law enforcement culture and operations
• Excellent attention to detail, self-motivation, ability to work independently as well as part of a team, and strong organizational skills
• Experience using electronic medical record platforms
• Bilingual / bicultural skills, as relevant.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Stand = Frequently Lift / Carry = Occasionally

Walk = Frequently Push/Pull =Frequently

Sit = Occasionally See = Constantly

Use of hands and fingers = Frequently Taste/ Smell = N/A

Reach Outward = Frequently Climb, Kneel, Bend = Occasionally

Reach Above Shoulder = Occasionally

Physical demands key:

Not Applicable = Not required for essential functions

Occasionally = 0 - 2 hrs. /day

Frequently = 2 - 5 hrs. /day

Constantly = 5+ hrs. /day

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Most of the essential job duties and responsibilities will take place inside the various SF County Jail facilities. There are 3 jail facilities in SF. The job duties described will take place inside different areas of the County Jails including housing units, medical clinics, interview rooms, and will require daily work in the intake housing units of the jails.

Administrative duties will be conducted outside of the jails at the agency’s office headquarters which are offsite from the jail facilities and located at 798 Brannan Street. Street parking around the office space is limited and parking is not provided by the employer. The indoor work environment inside of the jail facilities is not temperature controlled, can be loud, and the work schedule and planned activities can be unpredictable. The SF Sheriff’s Department Deputized staff oversee jail security and jail clearances access and issues. The indoor work environment inside of the jail facilities can be untraditional in comparison to other clinical settings.

Must be able to maintain jail clearance on an ongoing basis to work within the jails.

Heluna Health is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer that encourages minorities, women, veterans, and disabled to apply.

All qualified applicants will be considered for this position in accordance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

EEOC STATEMENT

It is the policy of Heluna Health to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants, without regard to age (40 and over), national origin or ancestry, race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, reproductive health decision making, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or a record or history of cancer), AIDS or HIV, genetic information or characteristics, veteran status or military service.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.