Recovery Specialist - WomanPlace at Bay Cove Human Services, Inc. in Somerville, Massachusetts

Job Description:

Bay Cove Human Services' mission is to partner with people to overcome challenges and realize personal potential. Bay Cove pursues this mission by providing individualized and compassionate services to people facing the challenges associated with developmental disabilities, mental illness, substance use disorders, and homelessness at more than 175 program sites throughout Greater Boston and Southeastern Massachusetts.


Bay Cove Human Services is committed to ensuring the representation and participation of candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We encourage all qualified individuals, particularly those from historically marginalized groups, to apply.


Job Summary: The Recovery Specialist provides both substance use disorder and mental health disorder recovery-oriented supports to residents. The Recovery Specialist provides guidance and directions to residents, and oversees resident activities to ensure conformance with program policies; participates in ensuring that the day to day operations of the program milieu supports the culture of recovery and is both trauma and gender informed. The Recovery Specialist contributes to Bay Cove's mission by partnering with individuals in their recovery journey to recovery and improved quality of life.

This is a non-exempt position.


Essential Functions of Position:

• Work with the multidisciplinary team to support the processes for residents' admission (greeting, sign-in, orientation, search and belongings processing), transfer, discharge, ongoing observation and care, while ensuring respect and dignity.
• Interact therapeutically with residents to ensure their needs are met.
• Ensure the safety of all residents by proactively addressing escalating behaviors and physical plant issues, by monitoring activities, by conducting and documenting checks, and by contacting on-call staff when necessary.
• Assist with completing documentation, faxing, and following up with referrals to providers, programs, and other levels of care including scheduling aftercare appointments with outpatient providers.
• Participate in general cleanliness and upkeep duties of the residence, assist in meal preparation and clean up, and complete room set up as needed.
• Conduct hourly safety checks and appropriately address any clinical or medical needs as they arise.
• Promote positive life skills with residents through guidance and mentoring in the provision of health self-care.
• Provide guidance and direction to residents in their orientation and adjustment to the house and the community.
• Assist residents with conflict resolution by providing guidance in acceptable group behavior, written grievance policies and milieu management.
• Lead and encourage resident participation in wellness and recreation activities.
• Serve as the Medication Specialist by providing oversight, storage, and coordination of self-administration of medication, including:
  • Maintain and stock the medication area with the appropriate supplies such as medication cups, counting tray, and spatula.
  • Clean the medication storage area and supplies regularly to prevent medication residue build up.
  • Observe and document medications being taken by residents.
  • Securely store all residents' medication in locked boxes and a locked cabinet including all refills, surplus, or oversized resident-owned medications.
  • Maintain an accurate record of medications which remain in the possession of the resident (self carry), such as rescue inhalers, lotion, shampoos, epipens.
  • Communicate with providers and prescribers when a new medication is introduced, when there is a change in dosage or instruction of current medications and update medications sheets to reflect these changes, reporting all changes and updates to the clinical team.
  • Ensure residents obtain timely refills by working prescribers, pharmacies, and residents to plan a timely medication refill schedule.
  • List, count, and pack all the residents' medications upon planned discharges.
  • Maintain accurate documentation of all medications stored and disposed.
  • Maintain accurate documentation of all medications on medication administration records/medication sheets.
  • Conduct and document medication counts accurately.
  • Ensure that the medication refrigerator is in working order and record the refrigerator temperature daily.
  • Report medication misuse concerns to the assigned Case Manager or Program Director.
  • Report serious medication events and errors to the Program Director or Senior Director and file an incident report as directed.
  • Collaborate with the team to create a medication support plan or behavioral contract for poor medication adherence.
  • Conduct urine drug screens and alcohol breathalyzer collection and document and report all outcomes to the team.
• Facilitate and promote patient's participation in wellness and recreational activities, as well as assisting in the facilitation of educational and recreational groups under the guidance of Case Managers and the Clinical Director.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings, supervision, and related professional development sessions.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.
• All BSAS licensed programs must have at least one staff member designated to serve as coordinator of one of the following three topics. If assigned, both supervisor and employee must initial to acknowledge the assignment:
• Serve as the program's Access Coordinator by developing and implementing the evaluation, plan, and annual review of the program's performance in ensuring equitable access to services as required by 105 CMR 164.040(A)(11).
• Serve as the program's HIV/AIDS Coordinator by overseeing confidential HIV risk assessment and access to counseling and testing; staff, patient, and resident HIV/AIDS and hepatitis education; and Department requirements for admission, service planning and discharge of HIV positive patients or residents.
• Serve as the program's Tobacco Education Coordinator by assisting staff in implementing BSAS guidelines for integrating tobacco assessment, education and treatment into program services.

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Six months experience in health and human service-related field preferred, preferably working with those with co-occuring mental health and substance use disorders.
• Flexibility to work weekends on a scheduled basis, and as-needed with reasonable notice when available.
• Demonstrated understanding of, and committed to adhere to, federal and state policies (42 CFR Part 2, HIPAA) and ensure appropriate releases are obtained prior to exchanging or disclosing necessary patient information.
• Demonstrated verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Individuals with lived experience are encouraged to apply.
• Basic proficiency in word processing and other computer functions using Windows, Word, and Google Email and Apps