Recovery Coach- Boston Police Co-Response Program

Boston Medical Center (BMC) is more than a hospital. It´s a network of support and care that touches the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in need each year. It is the largest and busiest provider of trauma and emergency services in New England. Emphasizing community-based care, BMC is committed to providing consistently excellent and accessible health services to all—and is the largest safety-net hospital in New England. The hospital is also the primary teaching affiliate of the nationally ranked Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and a founding partner of Boston HealthNet – an integrated health care delivery systems that includes many community health centers. Join BMC today and help us achieve our Vision 2030 which is a long-term goal to make Boston the healthiest urban population in the world.

Position: Recovery Coach

Department: Psychiatry

Schedule: Full Time

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 position will facilitate patient access to recovery-oriented SUD treatment, resources and community recovery groups. The RC will bridge the segmented treatment system into a more holistic care model through providing support across multiple systems and frameworks of care. 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 should possess a thorough understanding to successful recovery, better tailor health messages and provide links to community resources and treatment options. This position requires good organizational skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Engage patients in outpatient setting and explain role and services of recovery coach.

• Develop and implement wellness plan with patient in collaboration with colleagues, targeting populations with SUD, MH or Dual Diagnoses.

• Provide appropriate recovery information, referrals and linkages to help individual improve recovery and reduce risk behaviors, including, but not limited to, healthcare support services, social work, financial assistance, child-care, housing, food, financial entitlements, clothing, transportation food pantries, and appropriate community resources.

• Provide on-going support and follow up as necessary to support recovery and healthy life style; support and understand different paths to recovery.

• Help patient navigate the healthcare system and social service system; accompany patients to appointments, community organizations, recovery-oriented events and meetings as needs.

• Initiate and sustain trusting relationship with individuals and families.

• Provide recovery support groups on weekly basis.

• Establish and maintain an open communication with community-based organizations, other appropriate BMC departments, providers and services, and other potential resources.

• Use language that conveys caring and is non-judgmental and utilize motivational enhancement techniques and motivational interviewing that helps encourage patients to identify and prioritize their personal needs.

• Gain and share information about specific health topics most relevant to the population being served.

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

• Collect patient information and outcomes through state and grant required documentation; schedule and maintain tracking for all data collection appointments and deadlines

• Clerical duties such as answering phones and checking voicemail, scheduling appointments and providing reminder/follow up calls as needed.

• Conforms to hospital standards of performance and conduct, including those pertaining to patient rights and privacy

• Utilizes hospital’s policies and standards as the basis for decision making and to support the hospital’s mission and goals.

• Performs other duties assigned or as necessary.

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

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

Associate's degree (or equivalent combination of formal education and experience in community health) plus a minimum of 2 years in healthcare/substance use treatment field is preferred.  May waive experience requirement for candidates with Bachelor's degree or higher.

EXPERIENCE:

At least 2+ year of experience working in a health care/substance use treatment setting and/or related experience or related settings required.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, e-mail, and the internet. Requires ability to research community resources independently.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

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

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

• Current or previous experience as recipient of mental health services preferred.

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

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

• Demonstrated critical thinking and problem solving ability.

IND123

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans