Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
Treatment Program Specialist
Barbara McInnis House - Boston, MA - Full Time
Who We Are:
Since 1985, BHCHP’s mission has been to ensure unconditionally equitable and dignified access to the highest quality health care for all individuals and families experiencing homelessness in greater Boston. Over 10,000 homeless individuals are cared for by Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program each year. We are committed to ensuring that every one of these individuals has access to comprehensive health care, from preventative dental care to cancer treatment. Our clinicians, case managers, and behavioral health professionals work in more than 30 locations to serve some of our community’s most vulnerable—and most resilient—citizens.
From our earliest days as a program, we have always sought to do work that is transformational: recognizing our shared humanity; centering dignity, compassion, mutual respect and supporting the right of every individual to access the highest levels of health care and every staff member to reach their fullest potential. We continue to be committed to building bridges and breaking down barriers, including systemic racism which harms us all. We provide community-based health care services that are compassionate, dignified, and culturally appropriate, incorporating social determinants of health, with the goal of breaking down the physical and systemic barriers that our patients face.
Bilingual, Bicultural, LGBTQIA identifying, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are encouraged to apply.
To learn more about working at BHCHP, watch our video Please Click Here.
Job Summary:
Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) is seeking a dynamic individual to join our Behavioral Health team as a Treatment Program Specialist at the Barbara McInnis House, a 104-bed medical respite program located in the South End neighborhood of Boston. As a Treatment Program Specialist, you will be responsible for providing safe and dignified discharge options for patients completing their stay. In this role, you will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to assess the substance use histories of referred patients and evaluate their readiness for and interest in treatment. You will assist patients with applications to substance use treatment programs, complete bio-psychosocial assessments, coordinate interviews with treatment programs, assist with detox referrals, communicate with insurance providers, and manage all follow-up communications through discharge. This role will involve collaboration with doctors, case managers, nurses, unit secretaries, recovery coaches, and behavioral health clinicians, to ensure a safe and seamless discharge plan.
Hours: Full-time: 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Responsibilities:
Since 1985, BHCHP’s mission has been to ensure unconditionally equitable and dignified access to the highest quality health care for all individuals and families experiencing homelessness in greater Boston. Over 10,000 homeless individuals are cared for by Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program each year. We are committed to ensuring that every one of these individuals has access to comprehensive health care, from preventative dental care to cancer treatment. Our clinicians, case managers, and behavioral health professionals work in more than 30 locations to serve some of our community’s most vulnerable—and most resilient—citizens.
From our earliest days as a program, we have always sought to do work that is transformational: recognizing our shared humanity; centering dignity, compassion, mutual respect and supporting the right of every individual to access the highest levels of health care and every staff member to reach their fullest potential. We continue to be committed to building bridges and breaking down barriers, including systemic racism which harms us all. We provide community-based health care services that are compassionate, dignified, and culturally appropriate, incorporating social determinants of health, with the goal of breaking down the physical and systemic barriers that our patients face.
Bilingual, Bicultural, LGBTQIA identifying, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are encouraged to apply.
To learn more about working at BHCHP, watch our video Please Click Here.
Job Summary:
Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) is seeking a dynamic individual to join our Behavioral Health team as a Treatment Program Specialist at the Barbara McInnis House, a 104-bed medical respite program located in the South End neighborhood of Boston. As a Treatment Program Specialist, you will be responsible for providing safe and dignified discharge options for patients completing their stay. In this role, you will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to assess the substance use histories of referred patients and evaluate their readiness for and interest in treatment. You will assist patients with applications to substance use treatment programs, complete bio-psychosocial assessments, coordinate interviews with treatment programs, assist with detox referrals, communicate with insurance providers, and manage all follow-up communications through discharge. This role will involve collaboration with doctors, case managers, nurses, unit secretaries, recovery coaches, and behavioral health clinicians, to ensure a safe and seamless discharge plan.
Hours: Full-time: 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Responsibilities:
- Assess the substance use & treatment histories of patients referred by the BMH clinical, behavioral health, and case management team; manage treatment program referral queue and work with individual patients to refer to programs and assist through the process, including completing applications with clients, setting up interviews, compiling the documentation, and following up on program and bed availability.
- Provide patients with information and basic counseling about treatment options - 1 on 1, printed materials; assist clients with START/sober home BHCHP pilot program referrals; network with treatment programs to build relationships and learn about their resources to support the clients; complete program application with clients; collaborate with treatment programs to check patient application status daily.
- Collaborate with behavioral health/medical team/case management/patients to develop and execute safe discharge plans for patients in medical respite; support patients and their medical team in their transition/discharge from BMH to the treatment program; collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to ensure successful transition and around discharge to programs.
- Complete bio-psychosocial assessment; update patients’ charts in Epic as required.
- Collaborate with the program’s quality director around monthly reports, BMH behavioral health staff on in-house recovery activities/efforts, and the Complex Addiction Technicians (CAT techs) to assess clients’ readiness for treatment and support.
- High School Diploma, Associate or Certification in alcohol and drug counseling (LADC 2).
- Experience working with treatment programs (ATS, CSS, TSS, sober homes, or residential) and training in motivational interviewing.
- An understanding of multicultural issues, substance use, mental health, and the complex health problems of patients experiencing homelessness; knowledge and willingness to learn about substance use disorders (harm reduction/relapse prevention/motivational interviewing skills training); Knowledgeable about multi-pathways to recovery.
- Demonstrated interest in working with underserved populations.
- If in personal recovery, a minimum of 1 or 2-year continuous abstinence.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, hectic environment, be flexible, multi-task, and prioritize responsibilities; ability to maintain confidentiality, professionalism, and therapeutic patient relationships with healthy boundaries.
- Excellent communication, documentation, and organizational abilities; must have practical oral, written, and verbal communication skills; must be computer literate and have good typing skills.
- Proven strong rapport-building with patients; strong interpersonal skills are required.
- Insurance knowledge is a plus.
- Bilingual Spanish is preferred.
- The compensation starts at $ 22.07 per hour and increases based on years of experience.
- BHCHP full time employees are eligible for our competitive time off policy of 4 weeks’ vacation, health, dental and vision insurance, 403B retirement savings plan and employer retirement contribution, and pre-tax MBTA pass program with 40% discount. In addition, eligible employees will receive yearly increases, additional compensation of seven thousand five hundred added to your base hiring rate for demonstrated bilingual proficiency and the opportunity to work with local hospitals and community health centers.
Does this amazing opportunity interest you? Then we'd love to hear from you.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, BHCHP pledges not to discriminate against and encourages those from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds to apply, particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA identifying, first generation college students and adults without a college degree, Bilingual and Bicultural persons; and individuals from low economic backgrounds.
Covid-19 Vaccination: Proof of Covid-19 vaccination(s) is optional for employment. Candidates who are offered employment will be given details about how to demonstrate receipt of vaccination if they choose to.
Please Note: Employment at Boston Health Care for the Homeless is at-will. Boston Health Care for the Homeless does not sponsor work authorization visas.
