Crisis Overdose Response Worker

Do you want to be on the cutting edge of behavioral health services? Do you desire to be present with those in crisis who need an understanding, skilled specialist to help them connect with effective treatment? Do you identify as someone in recovery with a commitment to wellness and a passion for helping those in recovery?

Join the Montgomery County Overdose Response Team (MCORT) as a Crisis Overdose Response Worker who will respond in the role of certified recovery specialist integrated with crisis response skills in partnership with the Department of Public Safety’s EMT’s. Access Services is an innovative human services provider, with a vision to build our programs in response to the needs of those we serve in our community.

As a Crisis Overdose Response Worker, you will be key member of the EMT team, responding immediately to individuals post overdose and in collaboration with other emergency responders. In this role, you will utilize your lived experience and skills to successfully engage overdose survivors and support them in connecting to treatment. You will partner with the Mobile Crisis leadership team, as an instrumental part of the building of effective relationships with substance use treatment settings and professionals, with the goal to always improve outcomes for individuals seeking treatment. As a certified recovery specialist, you will recognize you are critical to the success of the MCORT team, and you will be available and accessible to meet the shift, hours, and work demands of this “essential employee” position.

Schedule: Full time, with four 10 hour shifts including Saturday, Sunday, and two weekdays.

Crisis Overdose Response Worker Job responsibilities:

1. Travel with a Department of Public Safety EMT, responding to calls in Montgomery County to engage with individuals who have overdosed on a substance.

2. Engage overdose survivors using person-centered skills, non-judgmental peer support, and motivational interviewing with consideration of treatment options.

3. Coordinate care and deliver a warm hand-off to medical professionals and to substance use disorder treatment professionals.

4. Communicate with Mobile Crisis leadership in regard to follow-up care needs for individuals receiving overdose support and collaboration with other SUD treatment entities.

5. Provide de-escalation on scene as needed to support successful engagement and follow-up care.

6. Act as the point person for relational partnership with the Department of Public Safety Mobile Integrated Health team.

7. Keep required electronic health record documentation.

8. Provide on-scene assessment of level of care needed, and support individuals during medical assessment and evaluation.

9. Partner with other emergency responders on scene including police, and EMTs; and partner with other professionals to identify treatment options for individuals willing to receive treatment.

10. Maintain regular and predictable attendance, and work scheduled overtime, or be available for unplanned overtime as necessary, to meet program needs.

11. This position requires the ability to travel during a normal workday to successfully carry out the expectations of this position. The Crisis Overdose Response Worker will need to drive their personal vehicle and/or an agency owned vehicle, always drive safely and meet eligibility criteria in Motor Vehicle Policy.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Education: Associates degree required, Bachelor’s degree preferred.

• Certification: Must meet one of the following certification requirements:
• Certified Recovery Specialist certification (preferred) OR
• Lived experience of personal substance use recovery, which will give candidate eligibility for attending CRS training and completing certification within 6 months of hire

• Experience:
• Lived experience of personal substance use recovery is required, with an understanding of mental illness, and the principles of recovery.
• Two years of training and/or experience in crisis intervention with adults, children and families (preferred).
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Proficiency in, or ability to learn and use, an electronic health record, workplace applications, platforms and technologies.
• Openness and curiosity to learning, developing new opportunities, and to being shaped by new experiences.
• Strong relational and engagement skills to support client intervention, including the ability to communicate well in writing and orally.
• Ability to meet availability and hours commitment of an “essential employee” position including some evening and weekend assignments.
• Ability to meet the Duty Statement for a Public Safety Essential Employee as follows:
• Carries out essential job functions or assigned emergency duties which may involve assignments within the Emergency Operations Center, deployment to a field location to participate in emergency management activities, or other duties as required during periods of emergency. If received, emergency assignments may be performed under adverse conditions and continue for periods ranging from a few hours to several weeks.

Benefits

Pay:

• Starting at $21.70/ hourly, with increases for education and experience in the field.

Our full-time comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Health, Vision, Rx, & Dental insurances, HSA/FSA, 401k program.
• Tuition Reimbursement, Student Loan Assistance.
• 20 Days PTO (vacation, sick days), 9 paid holidays.
• Mileage/Toll Reimbursement, paid travel time between worksites.
• Life Insurance, Short/Long Term Disability, Catastrophic Sick Leave, Paid Parental Leave.
• Employee Assistance Program (telehealth/in person).
• Referral Bonuses up to $750 per hire.
• College tuition discounts, Credit Union perks, retail discounts.

Access Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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