Referral Specialist

**Position Title**:Referral Specialist

**Reports to**:Program Manager

**Hours of Work**: 35 hours weekly (Tuesday/Thursday/Friday)

**Employment type**: Permanent contract

**Job Purpose**:To contribute to the work of the multi-disciplinary team in promoting respect and dignity for all through education and support relating to sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) associated with high-risk behaviours, such as IV drug use and unprotected sex; as well as providing systems navigation, personalized supports and referrals to clients.

**Actively promoting Turning Point as a resource for people who use drugs, while providing holistic STBBI prevention services and wrap-around supports, responding to the target population's specific health issues including**:

- Systems navigation support
- Psycho-social support
- Facilitate linkage to health and social services, including transportation, with a focus on indigenous people, those experiencing or at risk of homelessness and people living with STBBIs.
- Provide relevant health information and referrals based on individual need
- Provide safer substance use information, capacity building and tools
- Safety information related to sexual and/or substance use risks (i.e. STBBI transmission prevention, overdose prevention, )
- Develop/maintain trusting, caring, non-judgmental and supportive relationships with individuals accessing Turning Point services
- Encourage testing and treatment for STBBIs

**Provide holistic STBBI support services responding to the target population's specific health needs**:

- Systems navigation support
- Provide STBBI information, capacity building and tools
- One on one support to all people on the Harm Reduction case load, including providing transportation.
- Safety information related to their sexual and/or drug engagement risks
- Emotional support, establishing supportive and trusting relationship with service users
- Provide health information, relevant referrals and supports based on individual need
- Facilitate linkage to health and social services
- Facilitate access to and encourage testing for STBBIs
- Facilitate access to and retention in treatment of STBBIs
- Facilitate access to telehealth services

**General Duties**
- Contribute to the work of the multi-disciplinary team
- Participate in staff meetings
- Supervise students, contractors or volunteers as identified
- Adhere to established goals and objectives
- Support the participation of individuals affected by STBBI’s and services users in all aspects of Turning Point
- Maintain current knowledge and skills
- Cleaning, stocking and supplying designated areas (including seating area and client restroom)
- Monitoring the space within office to ensure safety of services users, staff, volunteers, and community members
- Responding to emergency situations as they arise
- Attend agency functions as required
- Other tasks as assigned by the Leadership Team
- Manage communications (calls, faxes and mail, etc.)
- Support other team members as time allows

**Program Development, Evaluation and Reporting**:

- Maintain program delivery records
- Participate in evaluation and reporting activities, including program planning that is evidence-based and locally relevant
- Projects related to funded activities
- Submit required reports to the Program Manager
- Meet regularly with supervisor for consultation and activity updates

**Community**
- Promote and facilitate the participation of target populations in regional, provincial and national activities
- Create awareness about STBBIs and related issues in the community
- Teach interested people about and share accomplishments of Turning Point
- Collaborate on common activities

**Qualifications**
- A diploma in social sciences, health or related field and/or combination of education and work experience is preferable
- Experience working with marginalized individuals
- Commitment to harm reduction principals
- Knowledge, experience or willingness to learn about substance use, substance use disorders, drug practice and culture, communicable diseases, sexual health, vulnerable populations, affected populations, mental health, and concurrent disorders
- Knowledge of community based resources and experience with systems navigation
- Flexibility, creativity, motivation, enthusiasm, and an inclusive and equitable non-judgmental attitude
- Ability to demonstrate self-awareness of own beliefs and biases
- Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team setting
- Valid CPR/First Aid
- Training in suicide intervention, non-violent crisis intervention, and FOIP is an asset
- Fluency in English and written communication skills

Indigenous people, people with a past history of drug use and/or are living with HIV are strongly encouraged to apply.

Regular working hours are Monday-Friday 9-12 & 1-5, closed weekends and holidays. All applicants must be available to occasionally accommodate evening shifts, should the need arise.

**Job Type*