Who We Are:

Since 1985, BHCHP’s mission has been to ensure unconditionally equitable and dignified access to the highest quality health care for all individuals and families experiencing homelessness in greater Boston. Over 12,000 homeless individuals are cared for by Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program each year. We are committed to ensuring that every one of these individuals has... access to comprehensive health care, from preventative dental care to cancer treatment. Our clinicians, case managers, and behavioral health professionals work in more than 60 locations to serve some of our community’s most vulnerable—and most resilient—citizens.

From our earliest days as a program, we have always sought to do work that is transformational: recognizing our shared humanity; centering dignity, compassion, mutual respect and supporting the right of every individual to access the highest levels of health care and every staff member to reach their fullest potential. We continue to be committed to building bridges and breaking down barriers, including systemic racism which harms us all. We provide community-based health care services that are compassionate, dignified, and culturally appropriate, incorporating social determinants of health, with the goal of breaking down the physical and systemic barriers that our patients face.

Bilingual, Bicultural, LGBTQIA identifying, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are encouraged to apply.

To learn more about working at BHCHP, watch our video Please Click Here.

Job Summary:

Hours: Full-time; Monday- Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm

Currently, about 60% of those who receive services at BHCHP have a diagnosed substance use disorder, and drug overdose is the leading cause of death among homeless individuals in Boston. We are constantly examining and strengthening our care model to better meet the needs of people struggling with addiction. We are working toward a system without stigma, and we recognize the need to expand access to all types of addiction treatment, on demand. We also recognize a parallel need to reduce the harms associated with drug use for people who do not seek treatment or cannot access treatment currently. We do not require people to stop using before we can start helping.

We are looking for a compassionate and self-motivated individual who embraces the mission of BHCHP and is committed to delivering high quality therapeutic understanding, counsel and support to individuals who are heavily sedated after using drugs and/or living with a substance use disorder. You will apply harm reduction services to individuals who, having engaged in drug use, are at risk of harm from drug overdose. You will collaborate in a team environment in both the Supportive Place for Observation and Treatment (SPOT) sedation-monitoring program and the low-threshold Engagement Center Clinic to prevent harm, support overdose prevention and will provide individual and group level interventions to reduce disease transmission and increase access to care and treatment. You will also provide supervision to harm reduction staff under this position.

Responsibilities:
• Support the Co-Directors of Harm Reduction Services in creating department structure to ensure team sustainability and highest quality of care for patients.; assist Nurse Managers in operational activities of SPOT and Engagement Center, including DPH compliance, tracking inventory, and scheduling of staff, interns, and visitors.
• Manage scheduling of Harm Reduction Specialists at SPOT and the Engagement Center and provide oversight of operational activities of the non-clinical trailer at the Engagement Center in collaboration with the Prevention and Screening Operations Manager; provide weekly supervision for Harm Reduction Specialists in SPOT and at the Engagement Center and participate in weekly supervision with Co-Director of Harm Reduction Services (Non-clinical).
• Provide oversight of the medication pick-up process by Harm Reduction Specialists and Emergency Medical Technicians at the Engagement Center; ensure training for new non-clinical staff and promote on-going training for current non-clinical staff, including Harm Reduction Specialists and Emergency Medical Technicians.
• Work with the Director of Trauma Services and Co-Directors of Harm Reduction Services to support staff-focused programming related to making working environments as healthy and sustainable as possible, recognizing inevitable high rate of workplace-related trauma due to systemic consequences of the War on Drugs.
• Lead at least biweekly team meetings of Harm Reduction Specialists in collaboration with the Team Coordinator of Mobile Medical Services to address sustainability, workflow, and documentation goals.
• Cover Harm Reduction Specialists during times of low staffing completing the following:
• Distribute and document naloxone rescue kits and provide harm reduction and overdose prevention education; provide and document syringe exchange and education about safer injection practices.
• Make referrals and provide resources to patients in need of services that support their overall health, including addiction treatment, shelter and housing programs, food programs, transportation assistance, etc. Support patients in negotiating MassHealth, Social Security, and Department of Transitional Assistance benefit applications and maintenance.
• Manage in-kind donation storage and disbursement with help of other Harm Reduction Specialists.
• Connect longitudinally with patients to evaluate progress, update care coordination plan, and provide support; document case management activities in Epic electronic medical records and Microsoft Teams as needed.
• Maintain all clients' privacy and confidentiality, adhering to HIPAA regulations and those policies as implemented by the BHCHP.
• Outreach individual drug users on the street who will benefit from being monitored in sedation-monitoring spaces, occasionally including the physical transport of patients via partnered walking or wheelchair. Under the direction of a medical provider, serve as a first responder in the event of an overdose.
• Assist Co-Director of Harm Reduction Services in covering Mobile Medical Services Team Coordinator when they are on leave.
• Serves as a resource to BHCHP staff for harm reduction techniques, advocacy, and knowledge. Serves as the point person to schedule non-clinical shadowing on the Harm Reduction Team.
• Attends and participates in Harm Reduction Team debriefings and incident reviews, meetings, and trainings. Assists Safety and Security Team with reviews of safety incidents, advocating for both staff and patient safety.
• Attends and participates in case management leadership meetings at BHCHP and with outside partners, including the city, to provide systems-level advocacy as a representative of BHCHP.

Qualifications:
• Associate or bachelor’s degree in a related field and/or have acquired the requisite skills from prior work experience equivalent to two years human services experience; At least 2 years of management experience and at least two years of experience providing harm reduction services or medical case management with an emphasis on patients not needing to be abstinent to receive care and an openness to recovery being defined by the patient.
• Experience working with people experiencing homelessness, incarceration and/or sexual violence as well as conducting street level outreach with at-risk populations is a plus.
• Life support training certification (e.g., CPR, BLS, ACLS) from a course that includes a hands-on, in-person component. If not certified prior to the start date, applicant must submit certification within 90 days of the start date.
• Commitment to equitable and culturally appropriate care for a wide range of diverse populations, including communities of color, LGBTQIA communities, non-English speaking populations, people with substance use disorders and behavioral health challenges and people experiencing homelessness; Commitment to carrying harm reduction forward to challenge the persistent stigma and lack of access that drug users face. Significant knowledge of health-related social issues faced by people who use drugs.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; self-directed, motivated and flexible with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Bi-lingual Spanish/English fluency preferred; History of lived/living experience is considered highly applicable.

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation starts at $49,500 and increases based on years of experience.

BHCHP full time employees are eligible for our competitive time off policy of 4 weeks’ vacation, health, dental and vision insurance, 403B retirement savings plan and employer retirement contribution, and pre-tax MBTA pass program with 40% discount. In addition, eligible employees will receive yearly increases, additional compensation of $7,500 added to your base hiring rate for demonstrated bilingual proficiency and the opportunity to work with local hospitals and community health centers.

Does this amazing opportunity interest you? Then we'd love to hear from you.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, BHCHP pledges not to discriminate against and encourages those from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds to apply, particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA identifying, first generation college students and adults without a college degree, Bilingual and Bicultural persons; and individuals from low economic backgrounds.

Covid-19 Vaccination: For the protection of our workplace and patients, BHCHP requires all staff to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Proof of Covid-19 vaccination(s) is required for employment. All candidates offered employment will be given details about how to demonstrate receipt of vaccination.

Please Note: Employment at Boston Health Care for the Homeless is at-will. Boston Health Care for the Homeless does not sponsor work authorization visas.

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Boston MA USA

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