Test Counselor

About Glide: 

GLIDE is a nationally recognized center for social justice, dedicated to fighting systemic injustices, creating pathways out of poverty and crisis, and transforming lives. Through its integrated comprehensive services, advocacy initiatives, and inclusive community, GLIDE empowers individuals, families, and children to achieve stability and to thrive. GLIDE is on the forefront of addressing some of society’s most pressing issues, including poverty, housing and homelessness, and racial and social justice. GLIDE’s mission is to create a radically inclusive, just, and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization. 

Position Summary: 

The Test Counselor executes all Health Empowerment & Access Team (HEAT) testing and phlebotomy services for HIV, HCV, and STI’s for clients referred to GLIDE’s Harm Reduction Program. This position is responsible for conducting outreach, providing HIV/HCV/STI testing, one-on-one risk reduction counseling, sexual health education, groups and referrals to healthcare and social support services.  

The Test counselors should understand how trauma and social determinants of health may impact client and community engagement and wellness. The Test Counselor provides support to individuals with a history of substance use and co-occurring disorders who are in immediate need of harm reduction supplies, health services, and other support. The job involves direct client contact with diverse, high-risk individuals with complex needs. This job also involves substantial community outreach including street and neighborhood outreach where potential and/or current clients may spend time and/or live. Regular and predictable on-site attendance is required. 

• Provide HIV, HCV, and STI risk reduction counseling, risk assessment and disclosure sessions to persons seeking confidential HIV/HCV/STI testing. 
• Build rapport, provide supportive counseling, and discuss/address barriers preventing client linkages to primary medical care and HIV/HCV-specific care. 
• STI Testing: collect appropriate samples, submit accurate and timely lab requisitions to our partner laboratory, and record test results for counselors. Complete CTL client records. 
• HIV/HCV Testing: collect appropriate blood samples, run rapid HIV/HCV tests, external controls, and record test results for counselors. Complete CTL client records. 
• Conduct HIV/HCV treatment readiness assessment with eligible clients and provide treatment education and supportive counseling to at-risk individuals who have not tested for HIV/HCV or to HIV/HCV-positive individuals that are out of care. 
• Perform blood draw collections regularly for STI testing and RNA confirmatory testing with all clients testing reactive for HIV or Hep C in community-based settings. 
• Process specimens and prepare samples for transport to an off-site laboratory. 
• Organize and store samples in accordance with all safety and other requirements of personnel and integrity of samples. 
• Educate, empower, and support clients to make informed decisions regarding their utilization of relevant services to achieve their safety, health and wellness goals. 
• Provide in-house and external referrals to clients as needed. 
• Conduct street and community outreach in settings where clients gather and/or live to provide testing services. 
• Document and maintain client records for services provided in accordance with all state and federal privacy laws. 
• Fulfill monthly documentation of testing services, activity reports, and other data in relevant databases. 
• Participate in internal staff meetings, in-service trainings, and other coordination meetings as it pertains to service delivery and operations.  
• Adhere to professional boundaries and standards. Understands and follows basic ethics, values and principles of clinical regulatory practices.  
• Adhere to all laws and requirements regarding HIPAA, confidentiality, child/adult protective services, contractual agreements, etc. 
• Assists Testing Manager in promoting testing services, linkages to care, health and wellness, prevention education, etc., (includes Dore Alley and Folsom Street Fair) and other services across HEAT and Glides programs and services department. 
• Assist with other Harm Reduction Programs activities, including syringe access services (SAS) and other provision of safer use supplies, street outreach, and community-based pop-up events and all other HEAT services. 

• 1-2 years of equivalent work experience providing HIV/HCV/STI prevention education and/or testing to similar populations,  or equivalent combination of education and direct service experience; 
• Demonstrates an understanding of Harm Reduction as a model of public health as social justice; demonstrates the implementation of Harm Reduction values and approaches in their interactions. 
• Familiarity with the social determinant of health and how it impacts people experiencing homelessness and other marginalized populations. 
• Experience with venue-based testing and “street-based” settings, e.g., Mobile Testing, SROs & Health Fairs. 
• Experience working with drug users providing harm reduction interventions. 
• Experience working with people who are diverse in sexual identity and orientation, gender identity and expression, ethnicity, race, living with HCV/HIV and other perceived differences. 
• Knowledge of motivational interviewing techniques, principles of counseling and health education, and behavioral patterns; basic principles of health promotion and/or disease prevention. 
• Must be comfortable working in an environment with potential exposure to blood borne pathogens (with the appropriate personal protective equipment). 
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and supportively as part of a large integrated team. 
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, maintain an objective attitude and exercise sound judgment. 
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy of persons, documents, data, and communications. 
• Excellent attention to detail, flexibility and adaptable to changes. 
• Demonstrates Cultural Humility. Has the ability to work effectively across cultures.  
• Valid California Driver’s license in good standing strongly preferred. 

• Experience facilitating Mobile Testing, SROs, Health Fairs, Health access special events.   
• Bachelor’s degree in public health or similar field; or 2-3 years equivalent work experience, education, and/or training that provides the required knowledge and abilities.  
• A Rapid HIV/HCV Testing and Counseling, Licensed Phlebotomist, and/or Harm Reduction certification preferred.  

• CA Rapid HIV/HCV Test Counselor certification strongly preferred (can obtain within the first 6 months); 
• Licensed Phlebotomist strongly preferred or interest in being trained and licensed as training is available within Glide.