Job Information
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program Recovery Coach in BOSTON, Massachusetts
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 10,000 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 30 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 (https://www.bhchp.org/careers) .
Job Summary:
Hours: Full-time, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am-5:30 pm
As the Recovery Coach, you will be embedded in the Office Based Addiction Treatment (OBAT) team at the flagship site of Boston Healthcare for the Homeless (BHCHP), and will be considered an essential, non-clinical member of the care team. BHCHP has a long tradition of providing exceptional and compassionate services to people experiencing homelessness. You will provide peer recovery support services to patients at any point on the recovery continuum with substance use disorder (SUD). As part of the BHCHP OBAT staff, you will support patients in one of several SUD treatment programs and work with them and their care teams to support patient’s individual treatment goals. In this role, you should possess a thorough understanding of community culture to address the barriers to successful recovery and provide links to community resources and treatment options. We are working to end health disparities experienced by Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) community members in our SUD treatment services. If this is something you feel passionate about, we encourage you to apply!
This position is part of the OBAT team, as well as part of a community-focused and community engagement effort within the team. As a part of the OBAT team, you will work alongside case managers, recovery coaches, nurses, therapists, and doctors. The OBAT team works intently to build bridges and break down barriers, including to dismantle systemic racism which harms us all. In this role, you will have a special focus on support for Black, Latinx, and Native- and tribal-identified people living with substance use disorders.
Responsibilities:
Engage with patients identified with SUD, offer peer coaching, and support patients to identify and develop their own short-term personal wellness goals and to achieve and maintain the highest level of health.
Participate in community engagement efforts focused on communities of color, including community meetings and events, listening carefully to community concerns, providing education about addiction treatment and harm reduction, and supporting patient advocacy efforts; works collaboratively with treatment team in support of evidence-based services to patients with SUD.
Serve as a resource broker between the recovery community, the addiction treatment system, the medical treatment system, and the patient’s community, family, and social context to facilitate connections across systems of care.
Together with input from the patient, join with clinical staff to facilitate referrals to appropriate treatment options; address barriers to successful recovery and serve as a role model and advocate.
Educate on and encourage attendance and participation in recovery-oriented, self-help, and pro-social groups; educate patients about addiction safe use practices, multiple pathways of recovery and utilize motivational enhancement techniques to explore ambiguity and tip the scales towards healthy decision-making.
Write brief non-clinical notes in the patient’s medical record.
Systematically review the progress and challenges of each patient with a peer supervisor, to understand the most effective ways to support and encourage patient success.
Assists with data collection for quality assurance and program evaluation.
Communication and Team Based Collaboration:
Clearly and effectively facilitates communication between the recoveree, providers, care coordinator, project director, and any external providers maintaining appropriate confidentiality procedures and boundaries.
Maintains accurate and up to date (non-clinical) records and standardized data on all recoverees in Epic, the electronic medical record system.
Ability to work independently as well as part of an interdisciplinary team that includes behavioral health clinicians, physicians, nurses, and care coordinators.
Systematically reviews the caseload with the supervisor and care coordinators each week focusing on new recoverees and recoverees who are having difficulties.
Participates in scheduled/required recovery coach mentorship and training activities and meetings.
Ability to provide accurate feedback without judgment or discomfort and to handle confidential information.
Qualifications :
High school diploma or GED required.
Has a history of personal or lived experience of sustained (several years) recovery, as the individual themselves defines recovery; and feels comfortable discussing the general outlines of this process with others.
Feels comfortable working with people in all stages of recovery and with people who are actively using drugs and not currently in a recovery process; can describe and implement strategies to maintain their own recovery in a clinical setting with frequent exposure to active drug use, sales, and intoxication.
Successful completion of a CCAR approved Recovery Coach Academy before hire, or the successful completion of a CCAR approved Recovery Coach Academy within 4 months of hire.
Certified Addiction Recovery Coach (CARC) certification required within the first 12 months of employment.
Strong advocacy skills along with knowledge of community-based services, resources, and local recovery community; demonstrated understanding of the multiple pathways approach to recovery from SUD and willingness to embrace a patient-centered, patient-driven approach that recognizes an individual’s preferences and autonomy. Recovery by any means possible.
Demonstrated understanding of the efficacy of Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) as one of the multiple pathways to recovery.
Excels at problem-solving, time management with the ability to multi-task; organized, efficient and process directed; ability to maintain effective working relationships to include effective boundaries with patients/families and staff.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; effective use of the Internet and Microsoft Office programs such as Word and Outlook.
Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.
Compensation and Benefits:
The compensation starts at $22.07, 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 seven thousand five hundred added to your base hiring rate for demonstrated bilingual proficiency added to the base rate 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: Proof of Covid-19 vaccination(s) is optional for employment. Candidates who are offered employment will be given details about how to demonstrate receipt of vaccination if they choose to.
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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