Systems Navigator

**AVI Health & Community Services (AVI)** is a multi-disciplinary community based organization, providing HIV, hepatitis C and harm reduction services out of 5 locations across Vancouver Island. AVI provides services to people living with HIV and hepatitis C and harm reduction clients. We work within a social justice and health promotion framework - ensuring equity and access to services for all - and from a harm reduction perspective, understanding that clients are the best sources of knowledge regarding the services and supports they need.

Join our supportive, dedicated and client-centred team in promoting the health, dignity and well-being of all people affected by HIV, HCV and substance use by delivering sex-positive and harm reduction-based education, prevention and/or support services.

**JOB SUMMARY**:
The Harm Reduction Systems Navigator will provide support to individuals to identify and provide short term counselling, psychosocial and health-related supports and referral services to individuals struggling with substance use, mental health. The Harm Reduction Systems Navigator will be responsible for supporting individuals with supportive case management services that are offered within a harm reduction and health promotion framework and works in consultation with AVI clients to assess needs and develop client directed goals. The Harm Reduction Systems Navigator will assess situations and provide psychological crisis support, information, referral, advocacy, and when possible transportation to the next step in treatment.

Our Victoria Harm Reduction Response Team works on the territories of the Ləkʷəŋən peoples (Esquimalt and Songhees nations).

**KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Identifies clients who are seeking access to support and referrals.
- Provides outreach and support in a variety of settings including parks, encampments, shelters, drop in centers, people’s homes, community services and to people living outside and/or in temporary and fixed Overdose Prevention sites and other areas of Victoria
- Provide support for people in the community that are experiencing mental health crises.
- Provides outreach-based supports in the community including accompaniment to appointments, home visits, and advocacy in accordance with the established care plans.
- Uses brief assessment, crisis response, and counselling skills to help meet immediate, basic needs and make appropriate referrals to other health and support services.
- Provides advocacy to clients by working with them on issues such as housing, medical, legal and other support agencies.
- Liaises between various AVI team’s members to support participants and assist with collaborative and proactive problem-solving as needed.
- Conducts individual or group information sessions, and develops educational materials to meet clients’ needs, as required.
- Provides information related to harm reduction, HIV/AIDS, and hepatitis C to other service providers, such as government and community-based agencies, and within medical and educational settings.
- Provides program development and staffing support
- Maintains both paper and electronic confidential client files.
- Fosters safety by following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents such as overdose and other medical emergencies.
- Engages in planning, evaluation, reporting, and program development as directed.
- Performs other duties as assigned.

**QUALIFICATIONS**:
Education, Training, and Experience:
University degree in Health or Social Services, Counselling, Social Work, Psychology, etc.), or equivalent combination of education and experience.

A valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License.

The Harm Reduction Response Team Systems Navigator will have a minimum of four year’s relevant work experience and will demonstrate the following minimum requirements:

- Direct service delivery and advocacy experience with community-based and provincial support services and systems (financial aid, housing, healthcare, justice system, etc.).
- Demonstrated skills, experience, and commitment to harm reduction principles and practices.
- Demonstrated ability to establish respectful rapport, provide support and advocate for a diverse range of individuals who are actively using substances and living with significant barriers to their health and well-being.
- Demonstrated empathic observer invested in respectful relationship-building.
- Demonstrated practice of social justice, cultural humility, trauma-informed and public health approaches and models of social support and health care.
- Experience managing hostile interactions, utilizing non-violent communication and diffusing techniques.
- Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated commitment to working within a collaborative team approach.
- Organized and able to triage crises, urgent demands and complex situations.
- Demonstrated knowledge of group process and facilitation techniques
- Un