Harm Reduction Social Worker

Victory Programs Inc • Boston, MA

159d • Onsite

About The Position

The Harm Reduction Social Worker provides specialized mental health and harm reduction clinical services in a transitional housing setting. This role uses clinical interventions and support to foster a safe and productive environment for individuals living with substance use and mental health disorders. The Harm Reduction Social Worker reports to the Program Director for support and supervision. Location: Visions of Victory, in Jamaica Plain, is a low threshold transitional living program utilizing a Housing First, harm reduction model. Visions of Victory serves individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use/opioid overdose risk and health/mental health conditions, who may also face multiple barriers to housing.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Social Work.
• Working knowledge of HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis, homelessness, substance use, STIs, and sex work as well as health-related social issues faced by persons who use drugs.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals of diverse race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex and drug cultures, age groups, religion, country of origin, disability and economic status.
• Excellent verbal communication skills including an ability to have open and affirming conversations about sex and substance use risk.
• Knowledge of group facilitation skills.
• Strong computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Outlook, Excel and other data bases.
• CPR certified (may be obtained upon hire)
• Complete TB screening (may be obtained upon hire)

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience in nonviolent crisis intervention, de-escalation, and milieu management

Responsibilities

• Act in accordance with Victory Programs’ Standards of Excellence at all times, including maintaining professional ethics, boundaries and client confidentiality.
• Provide daily support to clients experiencing mental health episodes, and who are actively using substances.
• Support staff in their engagement and interactions with clients.
• Provide crisis intervention and leadership in resolving client issues including one-to-one clinical support and appropriate follow-up.
• Ensure program integrity and safety, support clients and address any issues as they arise.
• Develop, implement, and facilitate and/or co-facilitate client groups each week and complete required documentation.
• Provide syringe services, naloxone, and harm reduction supplies for individuals at risk for overdose or infectious disease transmission.
• Engage clients in an ongoing assessment of needs, connection to services, and review cases and progress in individual and staff meetings.
• Conduct biopsychosocial need assessments with clients, when indicated, to determine service needs, referrals and potential service plan goals and objectives.
• Work collaboratively with case managers and other staff to implement client service plans, including helping to facilitate referrals to appropriate resources as needed.
• Partner with the Clinical Director of Housing in identifying specific clinical learning needs of staff and plan appropriate in-service training if requested.
• Create agendas for case conferences for staff as requested.
• Supervise first year social work interns as needed with the support of the Clinical Director of Housing.
• Engage in crisis intervention and conflict de-escalation as needed in the program.
• Collaborate on the development of policies and procedures.
• Maintain accurate documentation and record keeping systems, including but not limited to: assessment; referrals, consent forms; and data collection.
• Maintain current working knowledge of referral sources such as medical, outpatient counseling, dental, legal, housing, AIDS client services, self-help groups, substance use treatment, shelter and others to provide comprehensive services to the program clients.
• Attend clinical and administrative supervision, staff meetings, and periodic professional development trainings and workshops as requested by supervisor.
• Attend weekly staff and clinical team meetings, in-service trainings and agency workshops.
• Participate and support the agency in program events, State House rallies, fundraising and advocacy events, rallies, walks and any additional functions.
• Transport clients to appointments as needed.
• Perform any other duty or task that may be requested from time to time by your supervisor or designee.

Benefits

• 75% health and 25% dental employer premium contribution
• 100% employer paid disability and life insurance
• Generous paid time off package including vacation, sick, and personal time as well as holidays
• 4 personal days
• 160 sick hours
• 10 holidays
• 3 1/2 weeks of vacation

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level