Position Summary

OnPoint NYC is looking for a full-time Linkage to Care Specialist who will work in a non-traditional, mobile medical unit (Winnebago) setting to conduct participant assessments, providing HIV and HCV testing, referrals and follow up to treatment and prevention such as PrEP and PEP, and benefits navigation using low-threshold, nonjudgmental, and culturally relevant methodologies. This position at OnPoint is NOT office based. Services are rendered from a street-based outreach mobile unit stationed in neighborhoods of high need. This individual must be comfortable providing services on a mobile outreach unit, in public spaces such as parks and under bridges during all weather conditions. 

Reports to: Director of Clinical and Holistic Health
Pay Rate: Hourly: $27.47 – $32.96
Position Type: Full Time 
Hours Per Week: 35

Responsibilities

• Conduct HIV/HCV testing to OnPoint NYC participants and community members in mobile medical unit – Winnebago.
• Conduct assessment upon program intake to identify risks and health service needs, coordinate with team members to provide assistance and support to individuals seeking medical care and treatment, and liaison with medical providers to ensure access and retention in healthcare services.
• Provide crisis intervention and harm reduction counseling.
• Provide housing navigation.
• Provide benefits navigation.
• Assisting with securing ID, birth certificates, social security cards, and other vital pieces of identification.
• Provide rapid HIV and HCV testing and linkage to care.
• Liaise with HIV treatment/PrEP/PEP providers to ensure immediate (preferably same day) linkage to care. Facilitate linkage, benefit navigation and linkage to other services (such as syringe exchange, HCV testing and treatment, buprenorphine, housing support, etc.).
• Promote client safety and wellness by assessing their ability to reduce risk associated with using drugs 

• Deliver non-judgmental education around: overdose prevention/naloxone, infectious disease prevention and/or management, basic wellness.
• Provide referrals and linkages to detox and treatment, as requested by participants 
• Conduct case conferences and case closure as needed. 
• Work collectively with the care coordination team to identify effective systems-level needs to improve quality and efficacy of services 
• Conduct follow up communication with participants and providers to ensure linkages are complete. 
• Maintain a friendly, welcoming, and warm atmosphere at all sites, including crisis intervention and conflict resolution between participants. 
• Conduct community outreach to foster good community relations, educate about program services and assess need. 
• Document and report any incidents or accidents within 24 hours of occurrence. 

• Perform other related tasks and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bilingual (English and Spanish) is highly preferred.
• 2 to 3 years of experience working with marginalized populations (people who use drugs, sex workers, mentally ill, homeless, and/or formerly incarcerated).
• Experience working in community health with marginalized populations preferred. Including HIV positive individuals, active drug users, unstably housed individuals, sex workers or formerly incarcerated individuals. 
• Pragmatic and competent problem solving and conflict resolutions skills.
• Experience in supportive counseling and crisis intervention.
• Organized, outgoing, creative team player who learns and applies information quickly 
• Able to conduct street-based and park-based outreach; physically able to climb stairs, hills, trenches.
• Positive attitude, good sense of humor and people skills are a must.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Must have computer proficiency including but not limited to Microsoft Office and online search engines.
• Ability to work with diverse communities (gender, ethnic, generation, lingual, political) as well as enthusiasm working with individuals who are current substance users.