Respite Technician

Who We Are:

Since 1985, BHCHP’s mission has been to ensure unconditionally equitable and dignified access to the highest quality health care for all individuals and families experiencing homelessness in greater Boston. Over 10,000 homeless individuals are cared for by Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program each year. We are committed to ensuring that every one of these individuals has access to comprehensive health care, from preventative dental care to cancer treatment. Our clinicians, case managers, and behavioral health professionals work in more than 30 locations to serve some of our community’s most vulnerable—and most resilient—citizens.

From our earliest days as a program, we have always sought to do work that is transformational: recognizing our shared humanity; centering dignity, compassion, mutual respect and supporting the right of every individual to access the highest levels of health care and every staff member to reach their fullest potential. We continue to be committed to building bridges and breaking down barriers, including systemic racism which harms us all. We provide community-based health care services that are compassionate, dignified, and culturally appropriate, incorporating social determinants of health, with the goal of breaking down the physical and systemic barriers that our patients face.

Bilingual, Bicultural, LGBTQIA identifying, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are encouraged to apply.

To learn more about working at BHCHP, watch our video Please Click Here.

Job Summary:

Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) is seeking a full-time Respite Technician to work evening hours at the Stacy Kirkpatrick House (SKH), our 20-bed medical respite facility in Boston.

With direction from the team RN, the Respite Technician will offer clinical support services to the patients and will offer assistance and support to the SKH team RNs. These duties are essential to the overall functioning of the Stacy Kirkpatrick House clinic. The position is crucial to assure the continuity of patient care, providing an essential link for communication involving all departments.

The ideal candidate for this role is a compassionate and self-motivated individual who embraces the mission of BHCHP and is committed to delivering high quality clinical care utilizing a harm reduction approach in a medical respite facility.

Hours: Full-time; 40 hours per week, 3:00 pm -11:30pm, weekdays and weekends

Responsibilities:

Treats patients in a manner that preserves and supports patient confidentiality, patient rights, and patient’s dignity

Acts as a member of the team of caregivers; collaborates with the team RN throughout the shift to determine appropriate work assignments and priorities, as well as communicating the status of delegated task completion and outcome of patient data findings

Maintains timely ongoing verbal communication to the team RN in order to assure good patient care and the effective running of the specific team

Assists nurse/provider during complex treatments/ dressings/ procedures, including but not limited to, doing preps and set-ups for examinations/treatments, assisting during procedures when requested or required

Accurately collects requested patient data (e.g. vital signs, weights and reason for visits), notifying the team RN of abnormalities

Performs basic patient testing, including but not limited to urine dip, glucose finger stick and FIT testing

Assists patients with personal hygiene, including bed baths and showering; assist with patient transfer from wheelchair to bed or to shower

Provides personal care and one-to-one support for safety for patients needing end-of-life care

When necessary, escorts patients to off-site appointments; maintains diabetic cart; maintains the oxygen supply for the patients in their care

Cleans the oxygen condensers; collects, labels, and sends specimens to the lab (stool & urine) with appropriate laboratory slips and/or requisitions

Checks inventories on a weekly basis, order clinic supplies and stock them in their appropriate location upon arrival in order to avoid a shortage or misplacement of necessary supplies

Maintains appropriate equipment logs and records per standards; copying, faxing and filing as neededQualifications:

Commonwealth of Massachusetts EMT Certification

Minimum of 2 years EMT or paramedic experience strongly preferred

Strong assessment skills

Understanding of substance use disorder and behavioral health issues

Interest and experience with underserved population preferable

Experience in understanding the effects and management of sedating medications and polysubstance use

Individuals with lived experience encouraged to apply

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation is $31.11 per hour.

BHCHP full time employees are eligible for our competitive time off policy of 4 weeks’ vacation, health, dental and vision insurance, 403B retirement savings plan and employer retirement contribution, and pre-tax MBTA pass program with 40% discount. In addition, eligible employees will receive yearly increases, additional compensation of seven thousand five hundred added to your base hiring rate for demonstrated bilingual proficiency and the opportunity to work with local hospitals and community health centers.