EMT - Tenderloin Linkage Center

Job Overview

This is a union position.

Program participants are 18 and over adults who are under the influence of substances and need short term assistance and support. HR360 will be operating the Privacy Area at the Tenderloin Linkage Center in a manner that treats all participants with compassion, dignity and respect. Shifts are staffed with a supervisor, EMT, health workers, and safety navigators. The team works to ensure the safety of ‘participants who use drugs’ in the Privacy Area.

The program is a welcoming, compassionate, trauma-informed, culturally attuned, and user-responsive space that focuses on the principles of harm reduction. Alongside providing a safe, comfortable space for clients, our emphasis is on supporting people at increased risk of substance use-related high-risk behaviors and trauma, homelessness, and death due to overdose. Priority will be given to clients’ safety, and all staff will be trained in OD Prevention, Recognition, Response and Narcan Administration

EMT’s in Harm Reduction Services provide direct care medical evaluation of client, including but not limited to vital signs and assessment of acute symptoms or emergency. EMT’s also engagement, support, and provide documentation as appropriate for participants in the HR360 SoMa RISE program. As a part of a collaborative team, along with health workers, safety navigators, and supervisors, EMTs will ensure participant safety and comfort while supporting them in adhering to the participant guidelines of the program. EMTs will model and demonstrate healthy COVID transmission prevention behaviors, wearing appropriate PPE and practicing physical distancing, while they observe and monitor participants, and support them in meeting their needs in accordance with the program. EMT’s may be required to complete minimal documentation, such as recording vital signs, and assist in connecting our participants to ongoing services and supports, and others as they arise. The EMT may be required to work nights and weekends. The EMT may also be designated to fill the role of Health & Safety Representative including monthly safety trainings, emergency drills, maintain safety supplies, update emergency response plan, and attend safety meetings.

Shifts available: Day 7:30am – 4:00pm, Sun – Thurs/Tues – Sat, rotating and Swing 11:30am – 8:00pm, Sun – Thurs/Tues – Sat, rotating

Key Responsibilities

Direct Service Responsibilities:

• Treat program participants with respect and dignity, interacting with them in a caring, non-judgmental manner, utilizing harm reduction and trauma-informed care principles.
• Take participant vital signs as appropriate.
• Evaluate participants for any urgent medical needs and refer to supervisor or provider for higher level of medical care as needed.
• Under the supervision and support of the medical provider may triage clients based on urgent/emergency clinical assessment to higher level of medical care.
• Monitor TENDERLOIN LINKAGE CENTER safety adherence and general well-being of all participants and call 911 when needed.
• Monitor for and take the lead for any medical emergencies and call 911 when needed.
• Engage participants in compassionate ways to build motivation toward health initiatives in their own lives.

Administrative/Compliance Responsibilities:

• Engage with community partners around participant referrals.
• May need to assist in completing participant observation logs, documenting rounds, and occasionally observing the milieu for interval checks.
• Attending internal program staff meetings and administrative supervision including regular shift meetings and various ad hoc meetings.
• Along with Team, taking ownership.

Training Responsibilities:

• Participate in ongoing trainings on radical hospitality, harm reduction, OD Prevention/Narcan Administration, anti-stigma, crisis response and de-escalation.
• Basic drug knowledge, motivational interviewing, customer service, trauma-informed service provision, team-based care, and other related topics.

Education and Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

MUST HAVE COMPLETED COVID VACCINATION PRIMARY SERIES AND BOOSTER SHOT.

Education and Experience:

• Certified as an EMT with active current certification.
• Lived experience of homelessness, illicit drug, and alcohol use (preferred).
• Experience working with people who use drugs and people experiencing homelessness.
• Experience working successfully with issues of substance abuse, mental health, criminal background, systemic racism, poverty, and other potential barriers to economic self-sufficiency.
• Proficiency with harm reduction, restorative justice, and trauma-informed care.
• Bilingual in SF threshold languages (preferred).
• Overdose Prevention and Narcan Administration trainee.

Tag: IND100.