Services & Recovery Specialist

Services & Recovery Specialist

Title:

Services & Recovery Specialist

Reports to:

Director of Homeless Services

Type:
Full Time/ Non-exempt

The Services & Recovery Specialist provides direct, person-centered support to individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use, mental health challenges, and barriers to housing stability. Working primarily across the Day Shelter and Sheehan Landing, this position coordinates harm reduction and recovery services, housing navigation, identification assistance, and community partnerships. Using a trauma-informed, harm reduction, and recovery-oriented approach, the Specialist meets clients at their current stage of change, promotes safety, and connects individuals to treatment, recovery, housing, and other supportive services when they are ready.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as an agency lead for opioid, substance use, harm reduction, and recovery-related programming.
• Provide direct support to clients experiencing Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), and Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
• Provide harm reduction education, services, and support at both the Day Shelter and Sheehan Landing, as well as through Street Outreach when appropriate.
• Provide comprehensive harm reduction services, including distributing naloxone (Narcan), fentanyl test strips, safer-use materials, and other approved supplies; coordinating syringe services/exchange; and educating clients and staff on overdose prevention, naloxone administration, safer-use practices, and available treatment and recovery resources.
• Maintain appropriate inventory, storage, distribution records, and documentation for harm reduction and recovery-related supplies.
• Assist clients with accessing detoxification, treatment, medication-assisted treatment, recovery programs, peer support, and other appropriate substance-use services.
• Build and maintain relationships with local treatment and recovery providers to create clear pathways for clients who are ready to enter recovery.
• Coordinate opportunities for recovery organizations and providers to offer programming and services onsite at the Day Shelter and Sheehan Landing.
• Assist with transportation coordination and other barriers that may prevent clients from successfully entering or remaining engaged in treatment and recovery services.
• Coordinate and facilitate the Gray Group, providing a safe, nonjudgmental space for individuals experiencing substance use to discuss challenges, safety, goals, and recovery options while receiving harm reduction education and support.
• Incorporate arts and crafts, wellness activities, life skills, and healthy coping strategies to encourage positive engagement, connection, and personal growth.
• Connect participants with treatment and recovery resources based on their readiness for change and build partnerships with recovery providers for onsite education, groups,
• Assist clients with obtaining state IDs, birth certificates, and other vital documents needed to access housing, benefits, employment, healthcare, and supportive services; coordinate and track requests with appropriate agencies and partners; and ensure all client contacts, services, referrals, harm reduction and recovery activities, Housing Navigation services, and outcomes are accurately documented in HMIS, Salesforce, and other required systems in accordance with agency, funder, confidentiality, reporting, and documentation requirements.
• Serve as a primary liaison for community partners providing services at the Day Shelter.
• Coordinate with partner agencies to support consistent and effective onsite service delivery.
• Maintain and track a current list and schedule of partners entering the Day Shelter and the services being provided.
• Ensure partner activities and onsite coverage are incorporated into the agency's daily coverage and service schedule so staff are aware of available resources.
• Welcome and orient new community partners to St. John Center's facilities, expectations, safety procedures, confidentiality practices, and client-centered service approach.
• Work alongside the Director of Homeless Services to onboard community partners.
• Assist with obtaining and maintaining required documentation from partners, including proof of liability insurance and signed partner agreements, before or during the establishment of ongoing onsite services as required.
• Maintain organized records of partner agreements, insurance documentation, schedules, contacts, and services provided.
• Serve as a point of communication between community partners and…