Rapid Responder

Healing Transitions•Raleigh, NC

8h•Onsite

About The Position

The Rapid Responder – Peer Support Specialist provides direct, peer-based outreach and follow-up support to individuals who have experienced an overdose or are at high risk of substance use-related harm. This role operates as part of Healing Transitions’ Post-Overdose Response Team in partnership with Wake County EMS. Rapid Responders engage individuals within 24–72 hours following an overdose event and provide services across a range of community-based environments including homes, hospitals, jails, encampments, and other high-risk locations. The role focuses on building trust through lived experience, delivering overdose prevention services, and facilitating access to treatment, recovery, and supportive services. This position plays a critical role in advancing harm reduction strategies, reducing overdose risk, increasing engagement in care, and supporting long-term recovery outcomes through consistent follow-up and relationship-centered engagement.

Requirements

MINIMUM OF 1.5 YEARS SUSTAINED RECOVERY.
VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE AND RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.
STRONG KNOWLEDGE OF RECOVERY PRINCIPLES, HARM REDUCTION, AND OVERDOSE PREVENTION PRACTICES.
ABILITY TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY IN COMMUNITY-BASED AND NON-TRADITIONAL SERVICE ENVIRONMENTS.
STRONG COMMUNICATION AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS.
BASIC COMPUTER PROFICIENCY, INCLUDING DOCUMENTATION AND DATA ENTRY.
NC CERTIFIED PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST (OR WILLINGNESS TO OBTAIN).
Negative pre-employment drug test.
Adherence by our policy which prohibits the misuse of drugs and alcohol in the workplace.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common documents.
Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from participants, or members of the community.
Ability to effectively present information to top management and public groups.
Required to travel to the appropriate location for mandatory meetings and/or trainings that take place on another campus or location.

Nice To Haves

EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER POPULATIONS.
FAMILIARITY WITH WAKE COUNTY SYSTEM OF CARE.
EXPERIENCE WITH DATABASES SUCH AS CRM, HMIS, AND MICROSOFT OFFICE (EXCEL).
PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION.
Speaking additional languages.

Responsibilities

CONDUCT POST-OVERDOSE FOLLOW-UP WITHIN 24–72 HOURS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WAKE COUNTY EMS.
ENGAGE INDIVIDUALS IN HOMES, HOSPITALS, JAILS, ENCAMPMENTS, AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS.
BUILD RAPPORT THROUGH LIVED EXPERIENCE AND PEER SUPPORT PRINCIPLES.
ASSESS PARTICIPANT NEEDS AND FACILITATE CONNECTIONS TO APPROPRIATE SERVICES.
PROVIDE OVERDOSE PREVENTION EDUCATION AND DISTRIBUTE SUPPLIES.
DELIVER SERVICES USING TRAUMA-INFORMED, EVIDENCE-BASED BEST PRACTICES.
DISTRIBUTE AND EDUCATE ON: NALOXONE (OVERDOSE REVERSAL), SYRINGE EXCHANGE SERVICES, OVERDOSE PREVENTION STRATEGIES.
COLLABORATE WITH EMS, TREATMENT PROVIDERS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
PARTICIPATE IN OUTREACH EVENTS, TRAININGS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.
REPRESENT HEALING TRANSITIONS IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY SETTINGS.
ENSURE ACCURATE, CONSISTENT, AND TIMELY DOCUMENTATION OF ALL PARTICIPANT INTERACTIONS.
UTILIZE DATA SYSTEMS (CRM, HMIS) TO TRACK ENGAGEMENT AND OUTCOMES.
SUPPORT REPORTING, AUDITS, AND CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS.
COORDINATE WITH INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS TO SUPPORT PARTICIPANT CARE.
PARTICIPATE IN TEAM MEETINGS, CASE CONFERENCING, AND STAFF TRAININGS.
RESPOND TO CRISIS SITUATIONS IN THE FIELD AS NEEDED.
UTILIZE DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES AND APPROPRIATE REFERRAL PATHWAYS.
PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION PREFERRED OR REQUIRED UPON EMPLOYMENT.
PARTICIPATION IN ONGOING TRAINING THROUGHOUT EMPLOYMENT AS PART OF A CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR STAFF AND PARTICIPANTS.
MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH ORGANIZATIONAL AND STATE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS.