Community Support Services - Harm Reduction Specialist

Greater Lawrence Family Health Center • Lawrence, MA

75d

About The Position

GLFHC is currently seeking a bilingual Community Support Services Harm Reduction Specialist to join our HIV and Infectious Disease Prevention Team. The Harm Reduction Specialist will provide an array of onsite and community (mobile) based harm reduction and screening services including but not limited to street and venue based outreach, prevention, counseling, integrated screening and linkage services to groups identified at highest risk for HIV/AIDS, STI's, Viral Hepatitis and latent tuberculosis as defined by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Services (BIDLS). The Harm Reduction Specialist will be phlebotomy trained or receive training in the first 18 months of employment in order to provide confidential screening services for HIV, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Latent Tuberculosis. This position will recruit, screen and link individuals who test positive with HIV, HCV, STI's, and/or TB results and/or at high risk for HIV, HCV, STI, or TB to appropriate levels of care, treatment, and supportive services through short term care coordination and navigation. The Harm Reduction Specialist will also provide overdose education and prevention, Narcan enrollment and Syringe Services (distribution of sterile injection equipment and syringe pick-up). Some evenings and weekends required.

Requirements

• Certified phlebotomist or willing to become trained within 18 months of employment.
• Certified Application Counselor or willing to become trained within the first 6 months of employment.
• Valid Massachusetts Driver's license and access to reliable transportation.
• Takes initiative, strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, ability to follow-through.
• Excellent communications abilities; able to work under pressure, meet inflexible deadlines, and set priorities.
• Demonstrated computer skills (Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word).
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize assigned duties.
• Strong communication skills, both interpersonal and well-written documentation.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with priority population as mentioned above strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of substance use, HIV, STI's, and HCV and its transmission and prevention and community resources.
• Bilingual/bicultural (English/Spanish) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assesses clients' risk factors including sexual and substance use behaviors.
• Conducts HIV/STI/viral Hepatitis counseling and screening sessions both in individual and group settings in an appropriate cultural and linguistic manner.
• Assists in the preparation and giving of test results and documents test result delivery.
• Assists and educate clients in the development of a risk reduction plan and distributes all appropriate harm reduction materials such as condoms, bleach kits and syringes.
• Collects specimens via venous blood draw and/or urine specimen for HIV/STI/HCV and coordinates transport to the State Laboratory for processing.
• Provide low threshold interventions to active substance users and drug users (IDUs) and coordinates detoxification services.
• Follows established GLFHC and MDPH protocols including but not limited to safe handling, storing and disposal of syringes.
• Collects from clients used injecting and smoking equipment from clients and in the community and safely and appropriately disposes of them.
• Completes daily, weekly or monthly paperwork.
• Assists Supervisor and Coordinator with gathering, counting and writing data needed for submission of reports to funders.

Benefits

• Great working environment.
• Comprehensive benefit package.
• Growth opportunities.
• Tuition reimbursement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Ambulatory Health Care Services
• Education Level: Associate degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees