Recovery Coach- Boston Police Co-Response Program

Boston Medical Center (BMC); Boston (MA); On-site; USD 35,101 - 50,998; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

403(b) savings match

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Boston seeks a Recovery Coach to support patients with serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The role involves engaging patients, developing wellness plans, and providing ongoing support and resources to aid in recovery. Candidates should have an Associate's degree and at least 2 years of relevant experience. Bilingual skills and knowledge of community resources are preferred. The position offers a salary range of $25.48 to $37.02 and various employee benefits.

Qualifications

• Must have at least 2+ years of experience in a healthcare/substance use treatment setting.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications is required.
• Understanding of recovery principles and community resources.

Responsibilities

• Engage patients in outpatient settings.
• Develop and implement wellness plans.
• Provide ongoing support and follow-up for recovery.

Skills

Community health knowledge

Multicultural needs assessments

Effective communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Associate's degree in community health

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Boston Medical Center (BMC) is more than a hospital. It´s a network of support and care that touches the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in need each year. It is the largest and busiest provider of trauma and emergency services in New England. Emphasizing community-based care, BMC is committed to providing consistently excellent and accessible health services to all—and is the largest safety-net hospital in New England. The hospital is also the primary teaching affiliate of the nationally ranked Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and a founding partner of Boston HealthNet – an integrated health care delivery systems that includes many community health centers. Join BMC today and help us achieve our Vision 2030 which is a long-term goal to make Boston the healthiest urban population in the world.

Position: Recovery Coach

Department: Psychiatry

Schedule: Full Time

Position Summary

The Recovery Coach (RC) will work within BMC’s Boston Police Co Response Program to provide peer recovery support services to patients with serious mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorder (SUD). The RC will assist patients in achieving sustained recovery by facilitating access to recovery-oriented SUD treatment, resources, and community recovery groups. The role bridges the segmented treatment system into a more holistic care model through support across multiple systems and frameworks of care. The RC will maintain ongoing patient support regardless of relapse, serving as a motivator, ally, role model, problem-solver, and advocate for patients.

Essential Responsibilities / Duties

• Engage patients in outpatient settings and explain the role and services of the recovery coach.
• Develop and implement wellness plans with patients in collaboration with colleagues, targeting populations with SUD, mental health, or dual diagnoses.
• Provide recovery information, referrals, and linkages to help individuals improve recovery and reduce risk behaviors, including healthcare support services, social work, financial assistance, child‑care, housing, food, entitlements, clothing, transportation, and community resources.
• Provide ongoing support and follow‑up as necessary to support recovery and healthy lifestyles; support and understand different paths to recovery.
• Help patients navigate the healthcare system and social service system; accompany patients to appointments, community organizations, recovery‑oriented events, and meetings as needed.
• Initiate and sustain trusting relationships with individuals and families.
• Provide recovery support groups on a weekly basis.
• Establish and maintain open communication with community‑based organizations, other BMC departments, providers, services, and potential resources.
• Use language that conveys caring and is non‑judgmental, and utilize motivational enhancement techniques and motivational interviewing to encourage patients to identify and prioritize personal needs.
• Gain and share information about specific health topics most relevant to the population served.
• Document patient encounters, resource development efforts, and interventions for each patient, including date, time, and signature in the electronic medical record.
• Collect patient information and outcomes through state and grant‑required documentation; schedule and maintain tracking for all data collection appointments and deadlines.
• Perform clerical duties such as answering phones, checking voicemail, scheduling appointments, and providing reminder or follow‑up calls as needed.
• Conform to hospital standards of performance and conduct, including patient rights and privacy.
• Utilize hospital policies and standards to support decision making and the hospital’s mission and goals.
• Perform other duties assigned or as necessary.

Must adhere to all of BMC’s RESPECT behavioral standards.

Education

Associate's degree (or equivalent combination of formal education and experience in community health) plus a minimum of 2 years in healthcare/substance use treatment is required. May waive experience requirement for candidates with a Bachelor's degree or higher.

Experience

At least 2+ years of experience working in a healthcare/substance use treatment setting.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, e‑mail, and the internet. Requires ability to research community resources independently.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of community, social, and health resources, particularly substance‑use‑related resources.
• Understanding of recovery and principles of recovery; lived experience preferred.
• Current or previous experience as a recipient of mental health services preferred.
• Empathic understanding of patients and skilled in performing multicultural needs assessments and developing concrete service plans.
• Expertise in establishing working relationships with patients, families, professionals, and the community, including collaboration with a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
• Computer competency, including access and data entry.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment with strong organizational skills, critical thinking, and problem‑solving abilities.
• Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills to facilitate interactions with healthcare team members, patients, and families.
• Bilingual or multi‑lingual skills beyond English, appropriate to the patient population served, are preferred.
• Demonstrated flexibility with client priorities, evolving needs, and goals.
• Sensitivity to ethnic, cultural, gender, and sexual orientation diversity and values.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and problem‑solving ability.

IND123

Compensation Range

$25.48 – $37.02

This range is based on minimum job qualifications. Base pay is determined by a comprehensive review of education, experience, skills, certifications/licensures, business/organizational needs, internal equity, and market competitiveness. BMC also offers generous total compensation including benefits (medical, dental, vision, pharmacy), discretionary annual bonuses, merit increases, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) savings match, paid time off, career advancement opportunities, and resources to support employee and family well‑being.

NOTE: This range is based on Boston‑area data and may be modified based on geographic location.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans. According to the FTC, there has been a rise in employment offer scams. Our current job openings are listed on our website, and applications are received only through our website. We do not ask or require downloads of any applications, or “apps”; job offers are not extended over text messages or social media platforms. We do not ask individuals to purchase equipment for or prior to employment.