Harm Reduction Worker

We are a dynamic community-based health centre promoting social justice and health equity in the Regent Park neighbourhood and east downtown area of Toronto. We operate out of several locations and provide a wide variety of services including: primary health care, chiropody, physiotherapy, nutrition services and supports, social work, community health, immigrant and refugee services, housing assistance, harm reduction and homeless programs, Pathways to Education for high school students, infant and child development programs, parenting education and family advocacy.

**Position Summary**:
The CTS Harm Reduction Worker works as part of a multidisciplinary integrated Consumption Treatment Service (CTS) team and supports the day to day operation of the CTS and CTS client needs. This position will work collaboratively with other team members, health care professionals/service providers, and clients. As a member of the Community Health Team, the CTS Harm Reduction Worker reports directly to the CTS Coordinator.

The CTS Harm Reduction Worker is required to work in ways that are respectful and inclusive of all services users, staff and volunteers and that promote the mission and values of RPCHC. Hours of work for the position include both regular and extended hours of operation each week, including weekends and the requirement to work outside of regular hours from time to time, in locations identified by the Centre.

**Responsibilities Include**:
Provides family oriented medical care in a multi-disciplinary team, on or off site by:

- Greets and engages participants for the CTS.
- Monitors and ensures appropriate client flow and number of participants into and out of the post injection room and other service areas, in accordance with staff to participant ratios.
- Assists with orienting clients to service and supporting service eligibility assessment, as needed.
- Assists in maintaining a hygienic, organized, comfortable and respectful environment in the overdose prevention room.
- Assesses client knowledge of injection process and works to achieve the best possible health outcome for each client.
- Supervises CTS clients, who may present with a variety of acute and chronic illnesses, to administer their own injections.
- Provides overdose prevention education.
- Assist with response and management of overdose events.
- Maintains a clean working environment; sanitizes injection booths as needed.
- Helps to de-escalate conflict with or among participants, according to established protocols; communicates any concerns and dispatches staff or self to appropriate space when necessary.
- Provides education regarding best practice injection technique and the proper use of all injection supplies.
- Provides harm reduction materials and information to clients and ensures disposal of used equipment in according with established protocols.
- Promotes the voice of people using the service to be involved in the ongoing development, decision making and evaluation of the program.
- Assists with stocking/inventory of supplies.
- Communicates any concerns and dispatches staff or self to appropriate space when necessary.
- Works collaboratively with other staff members, participants in interdisciplinary case conferences and team meetings, and shares knowledge of drug using community with other staff members.
- Helps to ensure operations of the CTS comply with requirements and guidelines.
- Provides back up to other programs as needed, harm reduction room, women’s drop in program.
- Preserves confidentiality and seeks to minimize risk.
- Incorporates health promotion and harm reduction strategies and recognizes determinants of health.

**Qualifications and Skills required**:

- Degree/diploma in a related field or relevant work/lived experience
- Excellent understanding and commitment to harm reduction practices and principles
- Demonstrated experience with overdose prevention and response, and ability to physically intervene in an overdose situation
- Awareness of and sensitivity to the health issues of a diverse community
- Understanding of impacts of systemic oppression on marginalized individuals and communities
- Demonstrated interpersonal, decision making, conflict management, critical thinking, organizational skills and Ability to work collaboratively within and across teams
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Experience intervening in overdoses and/or training including Naloxone administration, is considered an asset
- Understanding of Anti-oppression principles and ability to work effectively with people of various cultural, age and economic backgrounds
- Knowledge of the Regent Park area and issues affecting the community
- Must be available for weekend and/or evening shifts.
- Must be fully vaccinated for the protection of clients and staff

Regent Park CHC is committed to equity in our hiring and employment practices. Applications are encouraged from qualified individuals who are Indigenous people, member