Community Response, Peer Support Worker

**SCOPE AND PURPOSE**:
The Community Response Peer Support Worker (CRPSW) provides supportive and mentorship to those accessing overdose prevention services, including those living with mental health and in active addiction while also providing on-going advocacy for the needs of those living vulnerability in the community. This role will work in conjunction with program staff (i.e., Harm reduction workers, Case Managers, and Program Manager) to help create stronger connections between staff, clients and community by being a leading example, as someone who has lived or living experience. The purpose of this role is to liaison between neighbouring businesses during business hours to provide support and respond to calls of individuals engaging in isolated substance use, loitering, and surrounding area clean up including but not limited to inappropriately discarded harm reduction supplies.

There are 2 openings for Monday to Friday 9:30am to 5:30pm and 2 openings for Saturday and Sunday 9:30am to 5:30pm.

**RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Respond to localized community calls for support in relation to individuals who have occupied space in front of their businesses.
- Assist those accessing the space in service navigation
- Assist clients to identify barriers and determine positive actions to overcome them
- Draw on personal experiences with incarceration, addiction, and/or mental wellness challenges to provide empathy and support to clients to live their most meaningful, authentic lives
- Always maintain client and organizational confidentiality, both while on shift and in community.
- Maintain professional boundaries with clients and staff members
- Practice and encourage respects, trust, empathy, and integrity in interactions
- Observe and support individuals accessing the overdose prevention site
- Provide support to the Harm Reduction workers, before, during and after an overdose response including but not limited to supporting during an overdose event with rescue breaths, naloxone administration or calling 911.
- Communicate with the Harm Reduction workers on important conversations with clients who may need extra support
- Accurately document interactions onsite, in surrounding areas, and with neighbouring businesses
- Assist staff with monitoring the general well-being of clients who might be experiencing substance-induced acute psychosis and/or mental health decompensation
- Liaison with community resources to provide referrals.
- Supporting the team in making sure surrounding community to the clinic is clean and free from garbage, human waste or harm reduction supplies to promote a safe neighbouring community.
- Providing addition support to the Harm reduction workers, while support the operations of the prevention assessment referral clinic.
- Work in collaboration with other services providers at the Abbotsford Community Hub, and in community such as IHART, ACT Team, Abbotsford police department, Abbotsford Probation, and the ministry of social development and poverty reduction to provide a continuum of care and wrap around supports.
- The Community Response Peer Support Worker will support the surrounding area listed, including the businesses located between : Ventura Avenue, Ventura Lane, Gladwin between South Fraser and Ventura Ave, Bourquin between Ventura Ave and South Fraser
- Other related duties as assigned

**COMMUNITY RELATIONS**:

- Participates in liaison activities with neighbouring community businesses to the Abbotsford community hub, to highlight and address concerns brought forward to the team through positive and proactive interactions and response.
- Maintains a thorough knowledge of social, economic, recreational and educational resources in the community.

**QUALITY ASSURANCE**:

- Identifies areas for improvement and increased efficiency to support neighbouring businesses.
- Identifies areas for improvement and increased efficiency in service delivery
- Follows and implements universal precautions and infection control
- Ensures safe handling of sharps, containers and other Harm reduction supplies
- Ensures that program regulations, policies and procedures are followed.
- Maintains up to date knowledge of internal policies procedures as well as other emergency procedures.
- Organizes and assembles reports as required
- Maintains agency standards of work quality.

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**QUALIFICATIONS**:

- Position requires a minimum of a 2-3 years of lived or living experience supporting those who are in active addiction, experience social and economical challenges, living with mental health or involvement in the criminal justice system. A diploma in the social/human sciences, addictions or in law/justice. Preference will be given to those who have post-secondary education and training relevant to the social service field, or equivalent knowledge.
- First Aid Certificate with CPR:

- Experience responding to active drug poisoning including, administering IM naloxone, rescue breaths and calling 911 mand