Supporting Community Healthcare is a rewarding role. LifeLong Medical Care is looking for a Recovery Support Counselor at our Berkeley TRUST Health Center. The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Project is a grant funded collaborative effort designed to identify, outreach, engage, and retain in care patients of the TRUST Health Centers, Street Medicine program, Our Place, and Recuperative Care/Medical Respite who struggle with addiction, specifically opiate use disorder (OUD). These programs form a continuum of integrated health services for people experiencing homelessness in northern Alameda County and operated by LifeLong Medical Care.  

The Recovery Support Counselor (RSC) is an essential member of the small team supporting patients to achieve stability and integrated health goals while enrolled in MAT services. Patients will be engaged through the TRUST health centers, Street Medicine, Our Place, or Recuperative Care/Medical Respite and routed to the MAT project. The RSC will provide care coordination and substance use counseling to patients during their enrollment in the project.

Ideally, the RSC will be a trusted member of the community in which they will work. In building relationships with patients, the RSC will be able to help patients successfully access MAT and other medical and behavioral health services. Much of this work will take place in various settings – medical offices, specialists, hospitals and patients’ homes (including shelters, encampments, and transitional housing programs). 

This is a full time, 40 hours/week, benefit eligible position in Berkeley. 

LifeLong Medical Care is a large, multi-site, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with a rich history of providing innovative healthcare and social services to a wonderfully diverse patient community. Our patient-centered health home is a dynamic place to work, practice, and grow. We have over 15 primary care health centers and deliver integrated services including psychosocial, referrals, chronic disease management, dental, health education, home visits, and much, much more. 

Benefits

Compensation: $25 - $28/hour. We offer excellent benefits including: medical, dental, vision (including dependent and domestic partner coverage), generous leave benefits including nine paid holidays, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) retirement savings plan.

• Conducts intake assessments to determine patient’s needs and goals and develops patient-driven service plan; makes referrals to appropriate internal and external service providers; and provides thorough follow-up to patients.
• Outreach to patients to engage in services, including going into encampments with LifeLong’s Street Medicine program, Our Place, or Recuperative Care/Medical Respite.
• Supports patients receiving primary care medication assisted treatment and uses other harm reduction strategies to support patients manage their addiction.
• Actively involves patients in the design and delivery of services by ensuring they have an active voice in their goal/service plans.
• Provides individualized guidance, coaching, and support to patients.
• Meets weekly patient engagement metrics set by SAMHSA MAT Project Director.
• Communicates with patients, documents clearly in the medical record and interfaces with medical providers to advocate for the patient.
• Prepares reports as required.
• Participates in all clinic trainings, case conference, and meetings. Attends all SAMHSA MAT Project meetings.
• Develops and maintain working relationships with outside treatment and other social service agencies, ensuring that patients have maximum access to community resources.
• Observes all rules of confidentiality related to clinical information and treatment, both internally and when dealing with external agencies and/or individuals
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.

• Possess and maintain certification as an Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counselor issued by a certifying agency approved by the California Department of Health Care Services OR enrolled in certification course and actively pursuing certification. Funding available to help cover portion of certification training.
• Experience working with underserved communities, including individuals experiencing homelessness and/or housing insecurity. Commitment to working directly with low-income persons from diverse backgrounds in a helpful and supportive manner.
• Knowledge and training in substance use/addiction and related issues and understanding of recovery models, including harm reduction.
• Understanding of co-occurring disorders and the interplay between mental health and substance use disorders.
• Must be sensitive to HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, mental health, substance use, cultural, social, ethnic and gender issues
• If in recovery, minimum two years of sobriety and comfortable with sharing recovery experiences, when appropriate.
• Strong organizational, administrative and problem-solving skills, and ability to be flexible and adaptive to change while maintaining a positive attitude.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, work under pressure and complete assignment in a timely manner.
• Ability to effectively present information to others, including other employees, community partners and vendors.
• Ability to seek direction/approval from on essential matters, yet work independently with little onsite supervision, using professional judgment and diplomacy.
• Work in a team-oriented environment with a number of professionals with different work styles and support needs.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written skills and ability to effectively work with people from diverse backgrounds and be culturally sensitive.
• Conduct oneself in external settings in a way that reflects positively on LifeLong Medical Care as an organization of professional, confident and sensitive staff.
• Ability to see how one’s work intersects with that of other departments of LifeLong Medical Care and that of other partner organizations.
• Make appropriate use of knowledge/ expertise/ connections of other staff.
• Be creative and mature with a “can do”, proactive attitude and an ability to continuously “scan” the environment, identifying and taking advantage of opportunities for improvement.

Job Requirements

• High School diploma or GED.
• At least two (2) years of work experience in a community-based health care or social service capacity.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and Outlook, with ability to manage databases.
• Reliable means of transportation for community outreach and travel to patient appointments and meetings. Note: staff will never be required to transport patients in their personal vehicle.

Job Preferences 

• Bilingual in English/Spanish strongly preferred.
• Access to use of personal vehicle and in possession of current license and insurance.
• Lived experience relative to working with people experiencing homelessness (e.g. formerly homeless, social or behavioral health services consumer, criminal justice system involvement, foster care involvement, close family-member of someone with these experiences).