**THE VICTORIA SAFER INITIATIVE (‘SAFER’)** is a flexible, community-based, harm reduction program that provides safer, pharmaceutical alternatives to the currently toxic drug supply. SAFER is located on the territories of the Ləkʷəŋən peoples (Esquimalt and Songhees nations).

**JOB SUMMARY**

Under the direct supervision of SAFER Project Director or designate, the SAFER Clinical Nurse Lead (CNL) is responsible for the development and delivery of SAFER’s daily clinical operations. The CNL provides supervision, leadership and functions as a role model and coach to all SAFER nursing staff. They work in partnership with the Program Manager to ensure support for SAFER’s multidisciplinary team, and with the SAFER MD physician team to continuously develop and ensure quality program nursing practice and protocols. This position provides person-centered healthcare including assessment, screening, and education to support SAFER participants. They will use a harm reduction, trauma-informed approach and demonstrated clinical skills and experience to independently assess individuals with complex primary care health needs and active poly-substance use. This position requires a professional who is experienced with harm reduction and requires a commitment to collaboration with multiple stakeholders including, first and foremost, people with lived/living experience of criminalized drug use.

**DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**:
Staff and Operational Leadership
- Provides supervision and functions as a role model and coach to all SAFER nursing staff to ensure quality clinical care is delivered and attends to principles of social justice, trauma-informed care and cultural humility.
- Works with other SAFER leadership staff to ensure open communication and coordination across SAFER’s multidisciplinary team.
- Works with the SAFER Program Coordinator to identify and respond to nursing staff support needs, participant concerns, and issues related to clinical practice.
- Maintains responsibility, with support from SAFER Program Coordinator, for scheduling nursing staff and liaises with the Program Manager to ensure appropriate staffing levels across the multidisciplinary team.
- Authorizes leave management, overtime and ensures payroll responsibilities are met via Inclusion for all nursing staff. Authorizes and approves clinical expenditures in consultation with Project Director.
- Follows up on performance concerns and acts on disciplinary process when necessary.
- Leads recruitment and hiring of nursing staff and leads orientation and training of new nursing staff with support from Program Manager.
- Monitors and supports nursing staff needs, the work environment and relevant risks ensuring appropriate resources are in place.
- Models conflict resolution skills and works with SAFER leadership staff to mediate issues that arise within SAFER team.
- Evaluates equipment, products and supplies; and is responsible for ensuring efficient and effective inventory and purchasing processes, as well as the identification and follow-up of maintenance issues.
- Promotes and facilitates a safe and therapeutic environment for the provision of care including addressing and documenting and following up on any risk management, critical incidents, and emergency-related issues.
- Compiles qualitative and quantitative statistics and reports throughout the year, as required and in collaboration with Project Director and other SAFER leadership staff.

Clinical Practice
- Provision of direct participant care as needed in the case of staffing shortages. Weekend work may occasionally be required.
- Regularly meets with SAFER leadership staff to review and incorporate feedback from SAFER Research Committee regarding participant experiences, and identified safe supply priorities from local, provincial and national networks of People Who Use Drugs (PWD).
- Regularly reviews and leads development and implementation of SAFER’s clinical protocols in collaboration with SAFER MD physician team, and partnering pharmacy, and agency Clinical Nurse Leads.
- Coordinates participant flow in consultation with interdisciplinary team members.
- Collaborates with Program Manager, Systems Navigators and/or others to ensure timely intakes and discharge of participants.

Community Relations and Partnerships
- Acts as a representative of AVI and SAFER on relevant committees and working groups, in collaboration with other SAFER leadership staff as needed.
- Maintains key relationships with integral partners and networks with a focus on harm reduction nursing and clinical practice as needed.
- Performs other related duties as required as needed.

**QUALIFICATIONS**
- Registration with BC College of Nurses and Midwives as a practicing RN/RPN registrant.
- Minimum 3-5 years recent full scope nursing experience working with people with high levels of poly-substance use.
- 3 years of experience in program coordination and supervision of staff in the community health