Harm Reduction Peer Navigator
Los Angeles, CA
Full Time
Harm Reduction
Experienced
Special Service for Groups, Inc.
Job Announcement
_____________________________________________________________________________Job Announcement
Title: Harm Reduction Peer Navigator Division: HOPICS
FLSA: Non-Exempt/Full Time (40 hour) Supervisor: HRP Supervisor
Pay Range: $24.00 - $26.00 Revised: 10.24.24
__________________________________________________________________________
Summary
Under the supervision of the Harm Reduction Supervisor, and as part of the harm reduction team, the Incumbent (Harm Reduction Peer Navigator) will perform low-barrier professional harm reduction interventions in connection with outreach, to improve the health and well-being of non-homeless/homeless participants affected by substance use disorders. To reduce the impact of substance and sex-related harm by addressing health disparities and increasing safe practices in the City and County of Los Angeles with a focus in SPA 6. SSG-HOPICS Harm Reduction Program rooted services are to provide participants with syringe exchange service, Narcan overdose reversal, linkage to HIV, viral hepatitis prevention education, medical care, substance use treatment, housing, and mental health. The program is committed to reducing the amount of syringe litter throughout the community by providing free services to our participants with a suitable safe recovery to dispose of used syringes and sharps waste.Incumbents will also be provided technical guidance, consultation, and supervision to enhance their skill in developing harm reduction navigator techniques for helping the participants. The incumbent will comply with all ethical/legal mandates for documentation and reporting.
Incumbent will utilize evidence-based harm reduction methods in assessing participants' immediate needs, and the creation of treatment plans to help to ameliorate issues that contribute to their safe usage and living status. Incumbents must be able to coordinate their daily work responsibilities in the field to service clients, complete documentation, attend meetings, and participate in training. The incumbent must coordinate treatment with the harm reduction team in the field as part of an outreach effort in Service Planning Area 6.
Essential Functions
- Provide ongoing harm reduction services to participants, and ensure that harm reduction supplies are adequately stocked, and organized before harm reduction outreach.
- Be knowledgeable in syringe exchange daily activities in outreach and off the field.
- Distribute, create, and educate on syringe exchange harm reduction kits, and all other available essential health and living items to participants.
- Distribute, train, and educate on Narcan Naloxone overdose prevention.
- Link harm reduction participants to referrals; HIV, HCV, and STI screenings, SUD treatment, housing, and mental health.
- Identify prime locations and participants that may benefit from the harm reduction services and linkage to health supportive services.
- Engage, and build rapport to establish an ongoing safe and professional relationship with the harm reduction participants.
- Always ensure vehicles are stocked, organized, and up to date with maintenance to preserve a smooth and efficient flow of operations.
- Assist with special outreach projects as they arise, and perform all duties as assigned, as directed by the Program Supervisor for the Harm Reduction Program, the Associate Director for Homeless Access and Engagement, the Deputy Directors, or the Director of HOPICS.
- Foster and maintain professional relationships with community organizations, local partner agencies, community leaders, stakeholders, and local authorities.
- Conduct immediate needs assessments with adult consumers to obtain information to complete a comprehensive treatment plan; have a working knowledge of how to present within the Harm Reduction Team (HRT) due to collaboration involved with internal and external entities.
- Incumbent must be comfortable working and aiding participants in the field; be able to establish client treatment plans that correlate with the clinical assessments of therapists, nurses, and substance use counselors; to assist the consumer in resolving or cope with issues that contribute to mental, emotional, medical and/or substance-related problems upon request by participants.
- Respectfully and professionally collect data in the field at each encounter, document it consistently, and enter the 123 surveys for the Harm Reduction Program.
- Incumbent will provide services to participants consumers by providing case management (including providing solutions to immediate needs, linkages to benefits, housing supports, other mental health, physical health, and substance use programs, food support, hygiene support, linkages to employment or school resources, etc) upon request.
- The Incumbent must be able to work with substance use disorder participants consumers, and adults with co-occurring substance use issues and mental/physical/developmental disabilities; will be able to document effectively in accordance with established standards of care on a daily.
- Incumbent will participate in all required meetings, trainings, collaborations, and harm reduction team meetings within the program and be prepared to discuss, educate, present, or evaluate the nature and progress of presenting issues; will attend other meetings, training sessions, seminars, as needed to effectively perform duties affiliated with this position; will coordinate program activities to meet contractual agreements, laws, regulations and funding directly with the Harm Reduction Program Supervisor; will participate in weekly supervision (individual and group); will assume other tasks as assigned and required for this position assigned by the Harm Reduction Program Supervisor; will be required to conduct all interventions and treatments in the field.
- Incumbent will participate in all mandatory programs, division meetings, and trainings (which includes offsite meetings and trainings), as assigned by his/her Harm Reduction Program Supervisor, Program Manager, Associate Director, Deputy Director, and Agency Director.
- The incumbent will be responsible for coordinating transportation and transporting Harm Reduction staff and participants using the agency vehicle as needed.
- Build rapport with individuals and staff of various community organizations that serve homeless individuals, families, low-income households, and other HOPICS target populations; inform, educate, and refer individuals and families about HOPICS programs and services of available to them. Incumbents must have the ability to work evenings, overtime, weekends, or holidays.
- Incumbent will maintain appropriate boundaries and adhere to SSG’s Code of Ethics and HOPICS’ Core Values; Incumbent will represent the Agency and Division in a professional manner at meetings and community events; Incumbent will maintain regular attendance, maintain files/records on client services in compliance with HIPAA & CFR42 and other funding requirements for auditing purposes. Incumbent will ensure that all client records/documentation are submitted, or a plan arranged to send them in, if the incumbent resigns from this position.
- Must adhere to all Division and Agency safety protocols, until governing bodies (CDC, State of California, etc.) and SSG determine the pandemic is over.
- Perform other duties as assigned by their immediate Harm Reduction Program Supervisor, Harm Reduction Program Manager, Associate Director, and or Division Director. Provide support to administrative and data-related Information Technology Department functions.
Minimum Qualifications - Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required
- Harm Reduction Peer Navigator will work alongside the Harm Reduction Navigator in conducting outreach and engagement, including providing trainings on overdose prevention, safer substance use, harm reduction supplies training, and education around safer sex. Furthermore, the Harm Reduction Peer Navigator will seek to obtain feedback to enhance service delivery and will connect participants with direct or external services required. The individual must have lived experience or knowledge of working with PWID, sex workers, BIPOC, SUD, and prior experience with homelessness is preferred but not required. The individual must have one year’s experience working in social services, preferably with street outreach and/or experience working with the target population. Bilingual (Spanish/English) and experience living in SPA 6, 4, 7, or 8 is also preferred. The Harm Reduction Peer Navigator will report to the Program Supervisor.
- Must have the ability to work with clients from diverse cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds; ability to work with homeless clients in the field; ability to communicate effectively both written and orally with collaborative entities; neat and professional appearance; attention to detail and punctuality required; working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Internet, ArcGIS 123 survey; experience working with participants with co-occurring issues (mental/health/disabilities/substances); be able to work with co-occurring populations that present with any stand-alone or combination of mental illness, health conditions and substance-related concerns. You must be able to report (verbal/written) in accordance with the law all legal issues that surface (i.e., Tarasoff, child abuse, vulnerable adult abuse, danger to self/others, and grave disability, etc.); professional experience working within a harm reduction team. Be able to coordinate the submission of client documentation if unable to work; if in recovery, a minimum of three (3) years of being drug and alcohol-free is required. You must be able to produce verification of Employment Eligibility and pass a Background Clearance. TB test required (not more than (3) months prior to or (7) days after the Date of Hire, and renewed annually thereafter), CPR and First Aid Certification required within 30 days of employment with the company, and valid Driver’s License and auto insurance required. Maintain and uphold the Agency's mission statement, values, policies, procedures, and principles.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- This position does not have any supervisory responsibilities
Environmental Conditions (Working Conditions)
- This position is responsible for working in all environments, including homeless encampments, in all areas of Service Planning Area 6. This position will require extensive interaction with homeless/non-homeless individuals, individuals with a substance use disorder, severe physical and mental disabilities, the possibility of individuals with infectious diseases, stray animals, moving vehicles, and other possible dangers associated with working in areas of high crime. You may be exposed to aggressive/hostile clients. Incumbent must be ready to deal with traumas that may trigger personal trauma; must work in conjunction with other collaborative staff members; communicate with many sources including courts, the Department of Children and Family Services, Law Enforcement, and other community agencies. Local automobile travel will be required. There is some responsibility to work in noisy environments where adults are free to talk loudly and expressively. You must be able to work effectively and produce quality work under pressure. While driving to training or performing other duties there may be exposure to weather conditions prevalent at the time, noise, moving vehicles, high crime rate areas, odors, fumes, pollen, etc.
Physical Requirements
- The Incumbent typically spends time sitting, standing, typing, thinking, writing, walking, driving, carrying (max. 25 lbs.), listening, and speaking.
Mental Requirements
- The Incumbent is to be able to perform effectively under all the following: unpredictable situations, crises, constant distractions, interruptions, uncontrollable changes in priorities/work schedules; be able to process information, think, and conceptualize. You must be able to effectively deal with personal trauma that may be triggered.
Special Service for Groups is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
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