Engagement Specialist

BMC Company 100; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Part time

Job summary

BMC Company 100 in Boston seeks an Engagement Specialist to work in the Emergency Department, focusing on MVPP patients. You will build trust, identify care goals, and develop action plans with patients affected by chronic homelessness, substance use disorders, and severe mental illness, delivering non-judgmental, patient-centered care.

This part-time evening role collaborates with ED staff and MVPP team, requires documenting encounters in EPIC, coordinating with social workers, and promoting

Qualifications

• Two years of experience in social services or healthcare.
• Lived experience with addiction, mental illness, or homelessness is valued.
• Ability to work with chronically homeless patients and those with substance use disorders.
• Comfort with EPIC documentation and data entry.

Responsibilities

• Engage MVPP patients in the ED to build rapport and identify goals.
• Coordinate with overnight ED staff to support MVPP patients.
• Document patient encounters thoroughly in EPIC.
• Escalate concerns to MVPP leadership as needed.
• Adhere to data entry and RESPECT behavioral standards.

Skills

Motivational interviewing

Coaching

Patient-centered care

Cultural humility

Communication with diverse populations

Education

HS Diploma

Associate or bachelor's degree in social work/psychology or related field preferred

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY :

The MVPP Engagement Specialist will play a crucial role in engaging identified multi-visit patients within BMC's Emergency Department. This role will bring skills in patient engagement to build positive relationships, identify goals, and execute plans with the MVPP patient population. The Engagement Specialist should have a passion for working with patients affected by chronic homelessness, substance use disorders, and severe and persistent mental illness. This role requires practicing non-judgmental patient centered care and cultural humility in order to engage an impacted patient population who is often marginalized within the healthcare system.

Position : Engagement Specialist

Department : PHS Administration

Schedule : Part Time (Evening)

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Engage MVPP patients being seen in the BMC ED utilizing tracking/reporting tools within EPIC as well as rounding in the ED and waiting room
• Build rapport, trust and positive relationships with MVPP patients through collaborative and patient-centered approaches
• Utilizing approaches such as motivational interviewing and coaching, engage patients in identifying unmet needs and care goals
• Execute care management goals identified by patient and MVPP team such as getting ROIs signed, shelter referrals, housing paperwork, that can be accomplished during overnight hours
• Complete timely and through documentation of all patient encounters using template notes within EPIC
• Write thorough "end of shift reports" about patient encounters for MVPP Clinical Manager and MVPP interns working daytime hours
• Coordinate with overnight ED staff including providers, nurses, and social workers to support MVPP patients, advocating for unique needs of multi-visit patient population when indicated
• Escalate concerns regarding unmet patient population needs and ED workflows to MVPP Clinical Manager and Senior Manager of Behavioral Health, Population Health.
• Act as a representative for the Multi Visit Patient Program during overnight hours in the ED
• Comply with all data entry, data integrity, and data tracking requirements for BMC
• Must adhere to all of BMC's RESPECT behavioral standards.

(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required)

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

HS Diploma (or equivalent) required. Associate or bachelor's degree in social work, psychology or related human services field is highly preferred.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED :

License in relevant behavioral health discipline preferred but not required, such as CHW, CARC, LADC, etc.

EXPERIENCE:

• At least two years of experience working in social services or healthcare setting preferred.
• Personal lived experience with addiction, mental illness, and/or homelessness is valued in this program, but not required.
• Prior experience working with individuals experiencing chronic homelessness preferred
• Prior experience working with individuals impacted by substance use disorders and/or severe and persistent mental illness preferred
• Prior experience working in emergency services setting preferred

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Knowledge of community resources and healthcare systems commonly used by the patient population. Preference for individual with knowledge of Boston area resources specifically.
• Basic knowledge of common mental health diagnoses and skills/passion to engage individuals with untreated and/or symptomatic chronic mental illness
• Basic knowledge of substance use disorders and skills/passion to utilize a person centered and harm reduction focused approach
• Knowledge of homeless services and passion for serving individuals who are unhoused through a non-stigmatizing, patient-centered approach.
• Understanding of the social determinants of health impacting this patient population and importance in addressing them (housing, food insecurity, transportation, etc.).
• Ability to practice cultural humility and desire to work with diverse, multi-cultural and multi-lingual populations and colleagues
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate in a courteous, pleasant and professional manner with healthcare providers, patients and families, general public, staff members, external agencies, and other organizational leaders.
• Ability to work independently and to make decisions based on establ