Outreach Worker / Peer Support

POSITION OVERVIEW

Provide outreach services to clients in the community and coordinate health services between the Agency, community and home settings. Emphasis on outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health and/or substance use challenges.

REPORTING STRUCTURE

There are no staff persons reporting to this position.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

- Conduct visits to various agencies, shelters, and hospitals to outreach clients for Homeless Services/Integrated Outreach program. Outreach areas reported by the health department as having elevated overdose spike history and/or known for high substance use traffic.

- Screen clients for eligibility for services, complete intake to the Homeless Services/Integrated Outreach program and obtain psychiatric, substance use treatment, and medical health history.

- Coordinate client care and collaborate with other social and community agencies, advocating for clients; refer clients to other treatment facilities/community resources as required.

- Participate in community mobile treatment related meetings, client care conferences, clinical programs, etc.

- Provide information and resources to clients and families relating to nutrition, medication, side effects, and all physical/psychiatric illnesses, dental care, substance abuse prevention, health maintenance and preventative care, including activities related to diagnostic testing preparation and prescribed treatment for acute and short-term treatment.

- Practice Harm Reduction providing training in communicable disease prevention; prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, as needed and if credentialed. Provide training in the use of naloxone and fentanyl/xylazine test strips. Provide clients with harm reduction products; condoms, naloxone, and/or fentanyl/xylazine test strips.

- Assess acute health problems of clients to determine the most appropriate health care provider and make referrals.

- Act as a liaison between the Agency and various community programs.

- Serve as a resource for other staff members in the development of the case management role with their clients.

- Provide advocacy and appropriate resources for clients.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Candidate recruitment for the Homeless Services/Integrated Outreach program

Client assessment and ongoing treatment.

Client well being (clinical and physical).

Education and training.

EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE AND JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education: High School Diploma and/or equivalent work experience.

Skill Requirement: One to six months OJT required for efficient job performance.

Job Requirements: Excellent communication, problem solving and organizational skills.

COMMENTS

Must exhibit knowledge of mental health and substance use treatment.

NOTE: INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DESCRIPTION IS A SUMMARY OF THE ASSIGNED DUTIES AND NOT INCLUSIVE OF ALL REQUIREMENTS THAT MAY BE ASSIGNED. ADDITIONAL DUTIES MAY BE ASSIGNED ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS