HealthcareISCO 3253
Community health worker
Community health workers provide advice and information about various health subjects to the community. They can assist with pre- and post-natal care, give nutritional advice and help individuals stop smoking. Community health workers develop health and prevention programmes.
Check yourself in a minute: community health worker
Rate 5 of the 14 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
provide social counselling
build community relations
apply quality standards in social services
deliver social services in diverse cultural communities
assess social service users' situation
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (14)
legal requirements in the social sectorlegal requirements in the social sectorThe prescribed legislative and regulatory requirements in the social sector.community educationcommunity educationPrograms targeting the social development and learning of individuals in their own community, through a variety of formal or informal education methods.provide social counsellingprovide social counsellingAssist and guide social service users to resolve personal, social or psychological problems and difficulties.build community relationsbuild community relationsEstablish affectionate and long-lasting relationships with local communities, e.g. by organising special programmes for kindergarten, schools and for disabled and older people, raising awareness and r...apply quality standards in social servicesapply quality standards in social servicesApply quality standards in social services while upholding social work values and principles.deliver social services in diverse cultural communitiesdeliver social services in diverse cultural communitiesDeliver services which are mindful of different cultural and language traditions, showing respect and validation for communities and being consistent with policies regarding human rights and equality ...assess social service users' situationassess social service users' situationAssess the social situation of service users situation balancing curiosity and respect in the dialogue, considering their families, organisations and communities and the associated risks and identifyi...relate empatheticallyrelate empatheticallyRecognise, understand and share emotions and insights experienced by another.apply knowledge of human behaviourapply knowledge of human behaviourPractice principles related to group behaviour, trends in society, and influence of societal dynamics.review social service planreview social service planReview social service plans, taking your service users' views and preferences into account. Follow up on the plan, assessing the quantity and quality of services provided.apply decision making within social workapply decision making within social workTake decisions when called for, staying within the limits of granted authority and considering the input from the service user and other caregivers.maintain records of work with service usersmaintain records of work with service usersMaintain accurate, concise, up-to-date and timely records of the work with service users while complying with legislation and policies related to privacy and security.communicate with social service userscommunicate with social service usersUse verbal, non-verbal, written, and electronic communication. Pay attention to the specific social service users' needs, characteristics, abilities, preferences, age, developmental stage, and culture...build helping relationship with social service usersbuild helping relationship with social service usersDevelop a collaborative helping relationship, addressing any ruptures or strains in the relationship, fostering bonding and gaining service users` trust and cooperation through empathic listening, car...
Optional (16) — show
assist individuals with disabilities in community activitiesassist individuals with disabilities in community activitiesFacilitate the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the community and support them to establish and maintain relationships through access to community activities, venues and services.promote health and safety policies in health servicespromote health and safety policies in health servicesPromote adherence to local, regional, national and EU Health and Safety legislation, policies, guidelines and protocols.address public health issuesaddress public health issuesPromote healthy practices and behaviours to ensure that populations stay healthy.empower social service usersempower social service usersEnable individuals, families, groups and communities to gain more control over their lives and environment, either by themselves or with the help of others.deliver group sessions on nutritiondeliver group sessions on nutritionDeliver information on good nutrition, healthy eating habits, and nutrition monitoring to groups.advise on pregnancyadvise on pregnancyCounsel patients on normal changes occurring in pregnancy, providing advice on nutrition, drug effects and other lifestyle changes.assess clients' drug and alcohol addictionsassess clients' drug and alcohol addictionsInterview clients and assess their addictions in order to establish an appropriate plan for action.promote social changepromote social changePromote changes in relationships between individuals, families, groups, organisations and communities by taking into consideration and coping with unpredictable changes, at the micro, macro and mezzo ...support individuals on nutrition changessupport individuals on nutrition changesEncourage and support individuals in their strive to keep realistic nutritional goals and practices in their day to day diet.advocate for social service usersadvocate for social service usersSpeak for and on behalf of service users, using communicative skills and knowledge of relevant fields to assist those less advantaged.perform health assessment autonomouslyperform health assessment autonomouslyAutonomously perform comprehensive health assessment, using professional judgement to refer patients requiring specialist attention to other health professionals and agencies as appropriate.manage health promotion activitiesmanage health promotion activitiesPlan, implement and evaluate health promotion activities and projects in different settings such as kindergarten and school, workplace and business, social living environment and primary health care, ...advise on mental healthadvise on mental healthAdvise persons of all ages and groups in terms of the health-promoting aspects of individual behaviour and institutions with regard to the personal, social and structural factors on physical and menta...manage social crisismanage social crisisIdentify, respond and motivate individuals in social crisis situations, in a timely manner, making use of all resources.identify the health benefits of nutritional changesidentify the health benefits of nutritional changesRecognize the effects of nutritional changes on human organism and how they impact it positively.inform on the risks of substance and alcohol abuseinform on the risks of substance and alcohol abuseProvide information in the community about the risks and dangers of substance and alcohol abuse.
Related Occupations
Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.
community social worker12 shared essential skillscriminal justice social worker12 shared essential skillsadult community care worker11 shared essential skillsbenefits advice worker11 shared essential skillscare home worker11 shared essential skillschild care social worker11 shared essential skillschild day care worker11 shared essential skillschild welfare worker11 shared essential skills
Frequently asked questions
What does a community health worker do?
Community health workers provide advice and information about various health subjects to the community. They can assist with pre- and post-natal care, give nutritional advice and help individuals stop smoking. Community health workers develop health and prevention programmes.
What skills does a community health worker need?
A community health worker needs 14 essential skills, including legal requirements in the social sector, community education, provide social counselling, build community relations, apply quality standards in social services.
Will AI replace community health worker jobs?
The AI disruption score for community health worker is 9/100 (very low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: maintain records of work with service users, legal requirements in the social sector, perform health assessment autonomously. Most resilient: relate empathetically, build community relations, empower social service users.
AI Replacement Risk
9/ 100
Very Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
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