Overdose Prevention Worker

**Position Title**: Overdose Prevention Worker

**Program**:Outreach

**Position location**: Fraser Valley

**Reports to**: Program Manager

**Hours of work**: 15 hours per week, 10:30 AM - 3:30 PM, 3 days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday)

**This position requires UNION MEMBERSHIP**

**Internal / External Job Posting**

**Compensation will be in accordance with Appendix A of the BCGEU Collective Agreement.**

**Classification: Transition House Worker Grid Level: 10**

The Overdose Prevention Worker will provide a range of low-barrier, harm-reduction supports to individuals accessing Outdoor Inhalation Overdose Prevention Site. The Overdose Prevention Worker will provide support (including emotional support and debriefing following an overdose) to Peer Workers.

The Overdose Prevention Worker will provide evidence-based educational and harm reduction interventions to individuals and priority populations to increase knowledge regarding HIV, HEP C, and other blood-borne disease transmission and prevention strategies, COVID-19, and facilitate behaviour change to prevent transmission.

The worker will provide support, and overdose response, including the administration of Naloxone, to people using illicit substances in the Fraser Valley.

**Duties and Responsibilities**:
1. Monitors clients by methods such as observing client’s health condition and environment including functional ability, living arrangement, and family supports, documenting behavioural, physical and cognitive changes in accordance with standard procedures or specific directions. Reports significant and unsafe observations to Harm Reduction Coordinator and Program Manager.

2. Establishes a culturally respectful, dignifying and purposeful relationship with the client.

3. Arranges, plans, escorts and accompanies, as necessary, designated / marginalized individuals on medical appointments and errands, while providing emotional, moral support and physical assistance to further the development of self-management skills.

4. Creates linkages to other community resources and programs. Contacts relevant organizations /businesses / services, and assists clients with processing forms. Assists clients with access to other resources (food, supplements) and provides advocacy as needed.

5. Assists clients in accessing benefits or assistance, as appropriate. Provides information, advocacy and assistance related to substance use, opioid agonist therapy, overdose prevention and harm reduction, and social determinants of health such as income security, housing, social networks, self-efficacy and self-care. Acts in an advocacy role with government agencies, health care providers and property owners.

6. Identifies potential emergencies, and makes appropriate interventions to meet individual needs and situational requirements as necessary such as NARCAN, Calling 911, etc.

7. Acts as a liaison between various agencies by acting as an inter-agency link. Updates designated team on services currently available. Liaises with community agencies to provide information on services. Provides presentations and public awareness activities about services and issues of abuse/harm reduction.

8. Assesses client’s immediate needs for services and referrals, while assisting them with defining and implementing an action plan.

9. Provides basic health-promotion resources to clients such as crisis prevention and intervention around issues such as violence, loss / grief, harm reduction.

10. Encourages client empowerment and capacity to exercise choice and actively participate in decisions affecting their own health and healthcare.

11. Maintains an awareness of current community resources including culturally appropriate health care services, social, economic, recreational, employment, educational services, resources and agencies. Utilizes information to assist clients to access services and problem-solve with the client as required.

12. Provides emotional support, encouragement, goal setting, safety planning and problem-solving support to clients.

13. Identifies own learning needs / goals. Maintains and regularly updates knowledge in culturally relevant learnings in harm reduction, communicable diseases, mental health and substance use issues. Reviews information with manager. Engages in a variety of activities to meet these needs / goals and applies these to improve access, integration and coordination.

14. Maintains an accurate record of outreach activities and provide regular reports.

15. Carries out responsibilities in accordance with health and safety requirements. Immediately reports unsafe situations by notifying manager or other appropriate personnel.

16. Supports clients using substances by providing Overdose Prevention Services and facilitating drug checking. Engages in conversations about overdose risk and substance use safety options and planning, as needed.

17. Performs other related duties as assigned

**Qualifications**
- Education and Knowledge