Job Description

ABOUT RITTER CENTER:

For over 40 years, Ritter Center has been dedicated to preventing and resolving homelessness and improving the health, dignity, and well-being of people living in poverty in Marin.

When you join Ritter Center, you join a highly trained staff that combines national clinical best practices with a whole-person care approach to solving each person’s medical and mental health, housing, and food needs.

We are growing to meet the needs of our community. We are looking for staff who are ready for a career with a mission-driven organization, want to be valued, have diverse experience, and have compassion. If this sounds like you, we would love to have you join us!

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CURRENT OPENING:

Harm Reduction Outreach Worker

Full Time (40 hours weekly), Non-Exempt

Hourly Pay $30.00 + possible 6% Bilingual Differential once you pass Ritter Centers Bilingual Testing.

All positions at Ritter Center require a background check and Livescan fingerprinting.

Please visit our jobs page on our website for a complete list of our employee benefits.

Ritter Center is currently recruiting a Harm Reduction Outreach Worker for our Harm Reduction Team. This full-time, non-exempt position reports to the Clinic Manager based in San Rafael, CA, and operates out of our main Campus.

Please find the full job description below.

Under the direct supervision of the Harm Reduction Manager, the Harm Reduction Outreach worker will be accountable for assisting and supporting with the provision of harm reduction services. The harm reduction outreach worker will deliver high-quality, harm-reduction-focused prevention and screening services to populations at risk for HIV, STDs, and Hepatitis C. The position also assists with the creation and distribution of harm reduction supplies and other relevant resources as well as providing information and appropriate supports to clients accessing the harm reduction program.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Help to create and distribute harm reduction supplies (such as safer injection and inhalation supplies, naloxone kits, and condoms and lubes) to clients and encourage safer disposal of drug use equipment.
• Tracks and records supplies distributed and collected.
• Assists with stocking, organizing harm reduction inventory, risk reduction, and other relevant program supplies.
• Facilitate HIV/STI/Hepatitis prevention education, risk assessment, HIV/STI/VHP screening, linkage to care, and treatment.
• Provides clients with support, information, and referrals to harm reduction, overdose prevention, health, community, and drug treatment services (as appropriate) within and outside Ritter Center.
• Attend meetings, conferences, and trainings to expand knowledge of HIV/STI/Hep C, harm reduction, and other co-morbid conditions and related issues, and be current on new developments as required by supervisors.
• Establish rapport with unhoused and substance-using populations, creating an environment in which they can communicate their needs in a safe way.
• Maintain strong boundaries and the confidentiality of all client-identifying information.
• Perform other related work duties as needed or as required by supervisor or designee.

Qualifications:

• Per OSHA requirements, employment at Ritter Center requires compliance with being able to produce a negative TB test prior to the start of employment, as well as being vaccinated against COVID-19 (unless applying for an exemption) per the August 5th, 2021, State Public Order for Healthcare Facilities, providers, and employees.
• High school degree or equivalent.
• Working knowledge of addiction and harm reduction principles.
• Knowledge of HCV/HIV/pathogens and infectious diseases.
• Work experience with a harm reduction and/or relevant community-based front-line program; values aligned with a harm reduction approach to service delivery.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively listen and offer solutions without passing judgment.
• Ability to work from a sex positive, trauma-informed, anti-discrimination, and anti-oppressive approach.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and confidence in asserting and maintaining strong boundaries.
• Ability to listen actively and accurately, open to feedback and demonstrate a display of sensitivity to others.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Lived experience with drug use, homelessness or street-involvement is a considerable asset.
• Languages other than English are an asset.

Responsibilities of all Ritter Center Employees:

1. Demonstrates a clear understanding of the mission, purpose and philosophy of Ritter Center.
2. Places needs of the patient first at all times. Care management and service delivery are developed with the goals of the patient’s healing and support in mind.
3. Adheres to ethical business practices by striving to perform in a manner that conforms to the highest standards of ethical behavior, integrity and honesty.
4. Takes initiative and responsibility for decisions as an individual. Communicates information effectively both verbally and in writing.
5. Maintains confidentiality of all agency and patient related information. Protects patient rights as defined in the patient Bill of Rights.

Employment Practices:

Ritter Center is an Equal Opportunity institution and does not discriminate against any person in employment or in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs and benefits on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran’s status, marital status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable law.