Harm Reduction Worker

**STATEMENT OF PURPOSE**:
The Harm Reduction Worker provides individual support services to Tenants that use substances, using recovery and harm reduction principles to improve their mental and physical health.

Reporting to the Housing Support Manager, the Harm Reduction Worker proactively and responsively provides training and education to staff and Tenants in Harm Reduction Services within social determinants of health utilizing promotion, community engagement, and community development strategies.

**POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES**

**OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Provides harm reduction service delivery, including informal counselling, referrals to clinical and specialized services, and makes harm reduction supplies and Naloxone kits available to Tenants.
- Engage with services users, program participants and staff by providing harm reduction education, materials and guidance related to safer drug use and safer sex; disposal of used sharp objects, assist in reducing the risks of drug use, overdose and transmission of viruses/infections such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS.
- Educate and guide Tenants regarding overdose prevention and management, including using and administering Naloxone when necessary.
- Provide information and referrals to Health and Social Services support for service users.
- Assess the need for and provide support and referrals to Tenants regarding various needs related to mental health, crisis/trauma, sexual abuse/assault, life skills, sexuality, birth control, abortion, pregnancy, suicide prevention, grief and sexually transmitted diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDs and Syphilis.
- Work collaboratively with service users and health care professionals to identify and resolve health issues and facilitate the integration of care.
- Responsible for ensuring the availability of harm reduction supplies.
- Maintain clear, accurate and timely case notes.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Support Manager.

**ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Be knowledgeable about and act within the relevant legislation including the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), Mental Health Act, Child and Family Services Act, Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), Housing Services Act, and Ontario Fire and Building Codes.
- Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with NCH staff, tenants, referring agencies, and relevant community organizations.
- Model the organizational values, policies and professional ethics, and demonstrate commitment to the strategic direction.
- Demonstrate active support for organizational direction and priorities in own actions.
- Proactively engage in program and organizational change activities.
- Model and promote a culture where everyone is accountable for making sure decisions and goals are met and projects/tasks are completed.
- Identify and remove barriers to service excellence.
- Demonstrate personal commitment and culture to wellness.
- Embrace and demonstrate Neighbours values in your actions.
- Participate in a work culture of positive thinking, initiative and creativity.
- Commitment to improve professional knowledge to recognize trends and issues and deal with them effectively.
- Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with allied community agencies and professionals and participate in community committees and internal Neighbours committees as required.
- Comply with the policies of Neighbours including those pertaining to the confidentiality of client information.
- Represent the agency in a positive manner with clients, colleagues and the community at large.
- Attend regular supervision meetings with the Housing Support Manager for the purpose of reviewing work expectations and performance evaluation.

**WORKING CONDITIONS**
- Exposure to household pests, bodily fluids, individuals experiencing crisis, individuals who may under the influence of substances, cleaning chemicals and some smoking environments.
- Working hours are 35 hours per week.
- Work evenings and weekends as required.
- Requirement to travel to and work from other Neighbours locations as required.

**COMPETENCIES**
- Undergraduate Degree in Social Service, Social Work or related field or 3-year Diploma with minimum 2 years of work experience.
- 1-2 years’ relevant experience in a community setting and experience in program development, implementation, monitoring and a Certificate in Harm Reduction Training.
- Passion to work with population using substances, and the ability to conduct work in a non-judgmental way, using a harm reduction approach.
- Experience with overdose prevention and response.
- Trained in Naloxone administration.
- Experience in providing harm reduction services in a community/housing setting.
- Experience working with homeless and marginalized populations, including people who use illici