Harm Reduction Worker

Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (SCHC) is dedicated to providing accessible, equitable, and transformational health and social service choices for the well-being of Scarborough's diverse communities. We cultivate vital community services by promoting healthy lifestyles while delivering a comprehensive range of culturally competent health and social services programming. Our I2CARE values ensure that we, as a work community, treat all with, inclusivity, innovation, collaboration, accessibility respect and equity.

As an employer, we strive for excellence as a workplace and are committed to building a workforce that enhances our capacity to meet the needs of the diverse communities we serve.

We are currently looking to hire a:
**Harm Reduction Worker**

**1 - Full-Time Permanent Position (35 hours per week)**

**Reporting To**:Manager, Community Health Teams (IPPC)

**Purpose**:
The Scarborough interprofessional primary care access model is a partnership to enhance care for the vulnerable, complex clients living in the Scarborough.

SCHC operates with an integrated and interdisciplinary approach. All roles collaborate with and contribute to different teams and programs to support the community's needs.

Bring your passion for community-based healthcare to this fast paced and dynamic environment, as well as your program development and implementation experience to this role.

**Key Areas of Responsibility**:
The Harm Reduction Worker (HRW) works within the philosophy of reducing harm. They provide oversight of harm reduction supplies throughout the organization, orienting, and supporting staff to carry out their duties within the harm reduction framework. The people we serve may have a variety of challenging and often overlapping problems including serious mental illness, substance use disorder (including IV drug use), hygiene issues, treatment (medical, psychiatric and rehab), and increasingly HIV+/AIDS/HCV. The HRW provides the necessary support for the needle distribution program, support for meeting the needs of clients, as well as education on harm reduction methods and distribution of harm reduction supplies. The Harm Reduction Worker deals with the public, other service agencies and professionals involved in the support of clients.

**Educational and/or Professional Qualifications**:

- Social Services diploma (in addictions or harm reduction is preferred).
- Current registration with OCSWSSW.
- Minimum 5 years of experience, case management experience, and/or front-line experience with vulnerable populations.
- Commitment to working from a health equity and anti-oppressive lens.
- Lived experience of drug use and/or experience in advocacy for persons who use controlled substances considered assets.
- Excellent knowledge and experience regarding harm reduction approaches.
- Strong clinical assessment skills.
- Excellent understanding of health promotion, HIV, and HCV transmission, Hepatitis A, B, and C, and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
- Experience in a drop-in, outreach, or shelter setting is an asset.
- Experience in overdose response or Naloxone Training is an asset.
- Knowledge of best practice guidelines for individuals with substance use, notably harm reduction, outreach, case management, trauma informed care and treatment for substance use and concurrent mental health.
- Self-directed and independent; ability to work effectively as an inter-disciplinary team and in collaboration with other community professionals.
- Excellent communication, writing and documentation, and organizational skills.
- Maintain effective and timely documentation of client records.
- Understands and maintain clientele/worker boundaries.
- Strong written and verbal English language communication skills; other languages an asset.
- Ability to speak a second language of our priority populations is an asset.
- Current HCP CPR and First Aid.

**Significant Working Conditions**:

- Flexibility of hours - evening or weekend work may be required.
- Flexible working sites - working in the community.
- **Valid driver’s license required.**:

- **Vehicle required.**

**Remuneration**:$24.13 - $27.25

**Pay Band**:H

**Please note**:All other conditions of employment are set out in the collective agreement between SCHC and SEIU.
- We would like to thank all applicants; only those invited to interviews will be contacted._

**If you require any accommodation, please advise Human Resources. As a condition of employment all new hires must be legal to work in Canada. You will also be required to undertake a Vulnerable Sector Screening with Police Services.**

**SCHC is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for all stakeholders including our clients, employees, job applicants, suppliers and any visitors who may enter our premises, access our information or use our services. We respect and uphold the requirements set forth under the **_**Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, **_**and i