National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) is looking for Contact Tracer applicants in the state of Washington. This will be the inaugural group of the NPCA Emergency Response Network, which is envisioned as a nationwide initiative for partners interested in working with Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) in response to COVID-19 and other future emergencies. 

In anticipation of a new partnership with the Public Health Seattle & King County (PHSKC) Contact Tracing Team, National Peace Corps Association is recruiting a group of RPCV Contact Tracers to be invited to training and assessment for employment. Upon successful completion of training and assessment, up to 10 RPCVs will be employed, through the National Peace Corps Association, in Contact Tracing positions for an initial period of 6 months. Positions are contingent on final funding approval. 

King County Contact Tracers conduct in-depth interviews with individuals (“cases”) who tested positive for COVID-19. They contact individuals identified by cases (“contacts”) who were potentially exposed while the case was in the contagious period of their illness.  Contact Tracers notify contacts about their exposure status. They support COVID-19 positive cases and their contacts with access to testing, communicate isolation and quarantine (I&Q) guidelines, and help support people adhere to these I&Q guidelines by providing information and referrals to community resources. 

Starting pay for these positions, set by PHSKC, is $30 per hour. 
 

Tasks

• Call COVID-19 positive cases and conduct in-depth interviews, follow scripted language and use suggested prompts, enter responses into a case management database.

• Call and text contacts (those identified as potentially exposed to Covid-19) using call scripts and suggested prompts; share information about exposure and guidelines for quarantine; facilitate linkages to testing and other community resources needed to support their quarantine.

• Follow up on requests for support or additional information; ensure cases and contacts needs’ have been met or they have been referred on to appropriate agency. 

• Refer to Community Health Workers for additional support with enrolling in needed services

• Facilitate access to interpretation services, as needed.

• Conduct daily work using multiple data collection and communication platforms, such as REDCap, Mosio, Skype, Zoom and Office 365 products.

• Document challenges and bring issues to supervisors and team leads; implement identified solutions.

• Strictly adhere to rules regarding client confidentiality and handling of PHI (like notes taken, and other communication).

• Participate actively in daily AM and PM staff phone calls.

EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the following (Minimum)

• Must be a resident of Washington (WA).

• Ability to establish rapport on the phone with diverse groups of people in a very brief amount of time.

• Ability to work with communities of people with varied lived experiences in a non-judgmental manner.

• Ability to improvise and encourage responsiveness when encountered with a person’s unwillingness to engage. 

• Carries out assignments and responsibilities reliably in a thorough, accurate, and timely manner. 

• Strong attention to detail. 

• Strong oral communication skills. 

• Highly proficient in navigating computers, communication software and data collection systems.  

• Ability to comprehend complex information and adapt to changing guidance.

• Ability to probe, and improvise responses to feedback and questions, in a clear, professional, and compassionate manner.  

• Maintains confidentiality of protected health information at all times.

• Fluency in English is required; bilingual Spanish-English language skills (and potentially other second languages) are preferred

Assessment

Upon successful initial screening by NPCA, successful applicants will then be invited to an in-person skills assessment in Seattle, Washington. The assessment will include: 

• Data entry and literacy skills assessments will be required of all applicants. 

Employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a required training and passage of a graded post-training observation (trainees must demonstrate required skills to continue employment).