Boston Police Co-Response Recovery Coach

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Recovery coach (RC) will work within BMC’s Boston Police Co Response Program to provide peer recovery support services to patients with serious mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorder (SUD) and will assist patients in achieving sustained recovery. The RC will be responsible for responding to high-acuity calls, engaging patients in active use, and assisting the Boston Police Department officers in determining appropriate dispositions with the goal of diverting individuals to treatment whenever possible. As such, the position will facilitate patient access to recovery-oriented SUD treatment, resources and community recovery groups. The recovery coach must be able to provide support across multiple systems and frameworks of care, requiring collaboration amongst City and community providers. This position will maintain ongoing patient support regardless of relapse and will serve as a motivator, ally, role model, problem-solver and advocate for patients. The RC must possess a thorough understanding of multiple avenues to achieving successful recovery, and should exhibit excellent organizational skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Position: Boston Police Co-Response Recover Coach

Department: Psychiatry

Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Engage patients in crisis, in collaboration with the Boston Police Department, who are experiencing challenges secondary to a substance use disorder and possible co-occurring serious mental illness.

• Initiate and sustain trusting relationship with individuals and families.

• Provide recovery support to individuals who are unhoused or experiencing other psychosocial stressors, through community outreach, attending community provider meetings, collaborating with local substance use agencies and working closely with Boston Police Community Service Officers.

• Document patient encounters, resource development efforts, and other interventions for each patient, including date, time, and signature in the electronic medical record.

• Complete tasks related to connecting patients to unmet social needs, including but not limited to employment or workforce development, housing, state benefits, education and state agency coordination.

• Maintain current working knowledge of relevant resources and referral pathways including upkeep of resource list.

• Communicate effectively with all clinical and administrative leadership within BMC, Boston Police Department leadership and adhere to the Department of Mental Health Criminal Justice Diversion standards, ensuring that a patient’s care team is working in alignment.

• Performs other duties assigned or as necessary.

• Must adhere to all of BMC’s RESPECT behavioral standards.

(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• High School Diploma, or equivalent.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Recovery Coach or Peer Specialist Certifications preferred. Lived experience in recovery, required.

EXPERIENCE:

Minimum of five years of targeted experience including a minimum of two years as a Recovery Coach. Preference given to applicants with previous experience working with law enforcement or first responders.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES (KSA):

• Knowledge of community, social, and health resources, particularly substance use-related resources.

• Understanding of recovery and principles of recovery, lived experience required.

• Empathic understanding of patients and skilled in performing multicultural needs assessments and developing concrete service plans.

• Expertise in establishing working relationships with patients, their families, professionals, and the community, including the ability to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team.

• Computer competency, inclusive of the ability to access and enter data.

• Ability to work in a fast paced environment, inclusive of organizational skills, critical thinking, and problem solving abilities.

• Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills to facilitate interactions with various members of the health care team, patients, and their families.

• Bilingual or multi-lingual skills (beyond that of English) appropriate to the patient population served, is preferred.

• Demonstrated flexibility with client’s priorities, evolving needs, and goals.

• Sensitivity to ethnic, cultural, gender, and sexual orientation diversity; values; beliefs; and behaviors.

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS (responsible for on-call, 24 hr. coverage, etc.):

• Recovery Coach will be working directly with the Boston Police Department, and may respond to active 911 calls.

• Recovery Coach will be issued a ballistics vest and may be required to wear the vest on specific calls, as determined by the responding BPD supervisor.

Compensation Range:

This range offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications. However, our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and a broad range of factors is considered when making an offer. This includes education, experience, skills, and certifications/licensures as they directly relate to position requirements; as well as business/organizational needs, internal equity, and market-competitiveness. In addition, BMCHS offers generous total compensation that includes, but is not limited to, benefits (medical, dental, vision, pharmacy), discretionary annual bonuses and merit increases, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) savings matches, paid time off, career advancement opportunities, and resources to support employee and family well-being.

NOTE : This range is based on Boston-area data, and is subject to modification based on geographic location.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

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