Peer Support Harm Reduction Specialist

What Success Looks Like In This Job

The Harm Reduction Peer Specialist is an entry-level position performing routine harm reduction services providing public health care and treatment within the scope of services in the sexual health and harm reduction programs.  As a part of the harm reduction program, this role focuses on meeting participants where they are at; providing direct linkage to care services including outreach, case management, navigation, and transportation support. The Peer Specialist provides targeted individual and group level education and outreach for all services along the substance use continuum of care, with a focus on the linkage to recovery and treatment services for individuals post-overdose occurrence.  The goal of this role is to remove barriers and improve access to high-quality, client-centered, culturally competent care throughout Adams County to reduce infectious disease, decrease overdose risk and improve health and wellbeing of people who use drugs (PWUD).  The Harm Reduction Peer Specialist collaborates with other subject matter experts to establish standards of care for harm reduction services and assists in convening a substance use advisory group of community members and agencies throughout the area that have an interest and knowledge of substance use.  Along with the harm reduction program, this position focuses on Syringe Access Program (SAP) scope of practice to include overdose prevention education, Naloxone distribution, linkage or direct provision of physical and mental health care and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, and a variety of social services.  This position may be based throughout Adams County.

The anticipated hiring range for this position is $25.61/hour - $29.45/hour. The full salary range for this role is $25.61/hour - $37.13/hour.

Examples of Duties for Success

Direct Services:
 

• Participates in harm reduction outreach program activities and special events, including evenings and weekends as needed.
• Conducts direct harm reduction counseling, HIV/HCV/STI screening and point of care testing.
• Provides linkage to care services, and connects participants to interim and extended health care, behavioral health care, recovery resources, social services, etc.
• Offers opioid overdose prevention and education and Naloxone training and distribution.
• Utilizes appropriate resources to plan and provide services that are safe, effective, and financially responsible.
• Gathers and organizes supplies for outreach activities. Reconciles inventory and checks expiration dates to ensure all materials are up to date.
• Maintains program-specific documentation. Uses organizational skills to maintain correct forms and tools necessary for documentation.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Community Health Strategy
 

• Fosters community engagement to advance health equity. Develops and maintains interpersonal relationships with community partners, internal and external customers, and resources to create linkages to care and prevention services, including no-cost medications, emergency financial assistance, housing, and/or food. Assists in coordinating a local substance use advisory group.
• Coordinates with acute care providers and emergency responders to support post-overdose response for individuals after an overdose occurrence.
• Collects comprehensive data pertinent to the participants’ health or situation. Monitors health status to identify community health problems.
• Improves population health by emphasizing prevention and attending to multiple determinants of health.
• Participates in community-specific solutions to address health priorities.
• Enters data into and maintains computer systems or databases. Proofs data entry and corrects errors. Runs standard and ad hoc reports as required.
• Utilizes county-vehicle and mobile units to perform outreach services throughout the county.

Emergency Preparedness Duties
 

• Responds, as required, to support public health emergencies, incidents, and events.
• Participates in all exercises and drills on emergency preparedness, as required.
• Completes trainings identified as appropriate for this level employee.

Additional Duties
 

• Provides administrative support as assigned for the program. Handles confidential matters and collects information as requested for the use of the program staff. Filing, typing, and answering phones in support of daily program functions. Maintains files and records.
• Enters data into and maintains computer systems or databases. Proofs data entry and corrects errors. Runs standard and ad hoc reports as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned and required.
• Travel may be required to any ACHD clinic or outreach event as needed for efficient program operations. Travel may be determined on the day of work, based on program needs.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Ability to work community outreach events, including tabling, teaching, and mobile services.
• Participates in QA/QI projects as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

HIPAA Statement
Maintain sensitive & confidential client information according to the HIPAA policy confidentiality requirements.

Qualifications for Success

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Strong interpersonal skills for collaborating effectively with a broad range of community representatives.
• Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Colorado driver’s license within 30 days of hire date.

Knowledge of:
 

• Maintains knowledge of current practice guidelines and continuing education topics pertinent to the Harm Reduction Peer Specialist role.

Ability to:
 

• Work with diverse populations.
• Work within a multi-disciplinary team.
• To perform phlebotomy, collect specimens, and administer Naloxone, CPR and first-aid procedures.
• Capture health visit information into the electronic health record.
• Provide helpful, accurate, and direct assistance to internal and external customers via phone, email and in-person.  Exhibits excellent office etiquette.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships all participants and partners.

Equipment used:
 

• Standard office equipment including, but not limited to, laptop computer, tablet and associated hardware and software, telephone, copier, calculator, and audio-visual equipment.
• Maintenance of CLIA waived laboratory equipment.
• Basic care and ability to drive Adams County vehicles and mobile units for outreach services.

More Qualifications for Success

Education: High school diploma or GED required.
Experience:
 

• Lived experience: A minimum of 1 year lived experience including substance use treatment, poverty, and homelessness and/or behavioral health required.

AND
 

• Professional experience: 1 year of relevant professional experience working as a peer or health navigator, advocate, peer support services, community health educator/navigator, community health worker, case management, crisis services/management, customer service required.
• Training in trauma-informed care/support, boundaries/ethics training, recovery, strengths-based care/support, case management services, crisis services/management, Naloxone preferred.

*If you would like to capture lived experience for Qualifications for Success, please respond to the prompts in the Questions section. 
Preferred Qualifications:
 

• Peer Specialist Certification
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider certification through the American Heart Association
• Bilingual in English and Spanish