Peer Support Specialist

The Peer Support Specialist is responsible for the coordination of educational and peer support programming for Boston Living Center members as well as the delivery of services that support ongoing engagement and retention in services. The Peer Support Specialist reports to the Milieu Engagement Manager for support and Supervision.

Location : The Boston Living Center is a non-residential community center/resource program in Boston’s Back Bay for individuals living with chronic health conditions (e.g. HIV/AIDS), substance use disorder, those experiencing homelessness, food insecurity and/or those at risk of experiencing street-based trauma.

Essential Functions

• Act in accordance with Victory Programs, Inc.’s Standards of Excellence & Philosophy Care always including maintaining professional ethics, boundaries and client confidentiality and working from a strength based.
• Support clients in housing navigation and resources to barrier remediation.
• Assist members in connecting to services through individual and group level support and referrals.
• Facilitate verbal and written harm reduction counseling related to safer injection practice, wound care, overdose prevention, sexual health, vein and abscess care, and prevention of infectious disease transmission to clients.
• Provide syringe services, naloxone, and harm reduction supplies for individuals at risk for overdose or infectious disease transmission.
• Recruit, plan and facilitate groups and workshops on issues relevant to HIV/AIDS health, social support and other issues relevant to the community.
• Actively follow up with members that have engaged in updates and peer support through milieu support and follow-up phone calls and wellness checks
• Coordinate and Complete outreach and recruitment activities for the identified populations of focus
• Participate in the intake process and orientation of new members
• Engage in relationship building, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, Motivational Interviewing and conflict de-escalation as needed in the milieu space.
• Comply with agency protocols for data collection and record management, including but not limited to sign in sheets, reminder calls for appointments, individual progress notes, milieu support notes, group notes and individual action plans in the electronic health record within 24 hours of service.
• Remain in good standing with agency and funder required training
• Attend weekly supervision, monthly staff meetings, and periodic professional development training and workshops as requested by the supervisor.
• Participate and support the agency in program events, State House rallies, fundraising and advocacy events, rallies, walks and any additional functions.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two years of experience working in harm reduction, community health, or human services.
• The successful candidate is someone who has accepted his/her HIV diagnosis, has learned to live with HIV and manage its daily challenges, and has attained a level of personal growth and healing that gives him/her the understanding, insight and motivation to help others.
• Phlebotomy and specimen collection training/certification or a willingness to be trained.
• Working knowledge of HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis, homelessness, substance use, STIs, and sex work as well as health-related social issues faced by persons who use drugs.
• Competency working with individuals of diverse race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex and drug cultures, age groups, religion, country of origin, disability and economic status.
• Excellent verbal communication skills including an ability to have open and affirming conversations about sex and substance use risk.
• Ability to work in an environment that involves potentially hazardous materials (blood borne pathogens, discarded syringes, etc.) and situations that require safety precautions and/or the use of protective equipment.
• Prior experience in a milieu or drop-in environment serving homeless and/or people who use drugs required.
• Proficient computer skills.
• Must be CPR certified (may be obtained upon hire)
• Completed TB screening (may be obtained upon hire
• Three work related professional references; at least 2 from manager or supervisor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Conversational Spanish.
• Previous experience in nonviolent crisis intervention, de-escalation, and milieu management.

Position Type: Full Time (40 hours) Monday to Friday 7:30am to 3:30pm. On-site.

Rate: $26.00/hr

At Victory Programs, we value a diverse workforce and strive to create welcoming, inclusive, and accessible environments for our employees and the individuals’ accessing services. We are committed to sustaining healthy and functioning communities that respect and celebrate diverse experiences, identities, cultures, and ideas.

For 50 years, Victory Programs has assisted individuals and families in crisis. Each year, thousands turn to us for shelter, sustenance, recovery, care, and compassionate professional support. Many of our clients struggle with homelessness, substance use, and mental health issues, and a significant number live with HIV/AIDS. Our dedicated team of over 350 staff members work across more than 25 programs to help people to develop and implement creative and safe solutions to the challenges they face.

Our benefit program includes a 75% health and 25% dental employer premium contribution, 100% employer paid disability and life insurance. Victory Programs offers a generous paid time off package to employees working 20+ hours a week including vacation, sick, and personal time as well as holidays. Upon hire, employees working 20+ hours a week are entitled to up to: 4 personal days, 160 sick hours, 10 holidays and 3 1/2 weeks of vacation. These figures adjust based on full time or part time status and allocated vacation time increases with length of employment.