Syringe Services Coordinator (SSP)

Job Title:  Syringe Services Coordinator 

Department: Syringe Services Program (SSP) 

Reports To: Director of Harm Reduction Services 

Location: Harm Reduction Center 

Job Summary: 

The Syringe Services Program Coordinator plans, organizes the scheduling of SSP staff, management of all syringe services activities, staff scheduling and training,  The coordinator will manage peer delivered syringe exchange service by training peer workers and facilitating a peer support group. The coordinator will provide the scheduling and management of SSP street outreach to drug using participants and will provide syringe exchange on the streets. The Coordinator will provide overdose prevention education and response trainings and will facilitate other informal harm reduction groups for drug users. The Coordinator will perform administrative duties related to syringe exchange such as ordering and inventory of all syringe services supplies. The Coordinator will deliver services from a background of significant experience and act as a leader within our staff team on issues of drug user health and service access. The Coordinator may also be needed to provide general program services such as  monitoring in the milieu, conduct intake and assessment, counseling, referrals, syringe exchange, street outreach, escorts and the provision of concrete services (meal preparation participant, laundry, showers, ordering of and provision of supplies), and facilitate groups. 

Primary Duties & Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

• Learn and integrate a trauma-informed, participant-centered approach, using an anti-oppressive lens, into your work with participants. Coach and guide staff in their participant practice that reflects these approaches 

• Ensure all team members syringe services data collection forms and documents are reviewed, 

corrected and submitted in a timely manner to the data department 

• Provide overdose prevention education and response training to participants. 

• Manage peer delivered syringe exchange program. 

• Conduct weekly inventory of syringe exchange supplies. 

• Prepare monthly order for syringe supplies in accordance with amfAR’s ordering system 

• Order harm reduction supplies for purchasing via purchase order requisition on a monthly basis 

• Offer harm reduction expertise and perspective to program staff. 

• Provide intake to prospective participants 

• Provide crisis intervention and individual counseling using a comprehensive harm reduction approach 

• Provide comprehensive information and counseling to injection drug and drug using participants with a focus on risk reduction. 

• Provide overdose reversal training when necessary 

• Conduct post-overdose counseling sessions  

• Mediate and de-escalate participant conflicts. 

• Facilitate and conduct educational presentations on drug user health and well-being issues and engage participants in producing harm reduction informational materials in creative ways. 

• Coordinate walkabout and mobile street outreach activities and schedules. 

• Provide street outreach to IDU youth and adults and to displaced individuals 

• Provide syringe exchange and related injection drug user health education to participants. 

• Coordinate staff trainings related to drug user health and harm reduction. 

• Refer individuals to onsite testing (HCV and HIV) 

• Network with coordinators of harm reduction services at other harm reduction programs. 

• Facilitate access to daily living needs (food, clothes, hygiene supplies, space to rest) when needed 

• Represent the agency at the monthly 40th Precinct Community Council Meeting 

• Participate in 40th Precinct role calls when necessary 

• Provide wellness and recreational (engagement) activities in the drop-in-center 

• Coordinate services with other BOOM!Health staff and on-site mental health service providers 

• Interact with all internal BOOM!Health programs and departments that can comprehensively support the participant 

• Interact with all external agencies and organizations that can provide appropriate services to the participant 

Qualifications/Criteria: 

• Two years substantial experience working with injection drug using participants in a harm 

reduction program 

• Experience providing street outreach to people who inject drugs Experience in syringe exchange 

• Knowledge of the AIRS data system  

Education:  

• Minimum High School Diploma 

Knowledge and Skills: 

• Dynamic energy, able to multi-task and negotiate multiple demands on attention 

• Non-judgmental approach and ability to empathize with others 

• Clear and concise verbal and written communication skill, excellent interpersonal and organization skills 

• Understanding of and ability to work from a harm reduction perspective 

• Demonstrate the ability to work independently 

• Interest in and knowledge of injection drug user health  

• Understanding of computer and systems for managing case records