Harm Reduction Support Worker- ROI

AVI HEALTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES (AVI) is a multi-disciplinary community-based organization, providing HIV, hepatitis C and harm reduction services out of 5 locations across Vancouver Island. AVI provides services to more than 500 people living with HIV and hepatitis C and more than 3000 harm reduction clients. We work within a social justice and health promotion framework – ensuring equity and access to services for all – and from a harm reduction perspective, understanding that clients are the best sources of knowledge regarding the services and supports they need.  

At the core of what we do is our ability, and commitment to, creating meaningful connections between clients and staff, between peers, between staff members, between organizations, between communities, and between funders and impactful programs. AVI provides comprehensive, accessible, and effective education, prevention, care, treatment, and support services to residents of Vancouver Island with offices in Victoria, Nanaimo, the Comox Valley, and Campbell River.  For more info see www.avi.org

Join our supportive, dedicated and client-centred team in promoting the health, dignity and well-being of all people affected by HIV, HCV and substance use by delivering sex-positive and harm reduction-based education, prevention and/or support services.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Harm Reduction Support Worker provides a broad range of low barrier, harm reduction supports to individuals accessing harm reduction programming and services. The Harm Reduction Support Worker will provide evidence-based educational and harm reduction interventions to individuals and priority populations to increase knowledge on harm reduction, substance use, overdose prevention, sexual health/sexual decision-making, HIV and other blood-borne disease transmission and prevention strategies, and facilitate behavior change to prevent transmission.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Responsible for harm reduction supply distribution and recovery at office site
2. Uses brief assessment, active listening, and crisis response skills to help meet immediate, basic needs and make appropriate referrals to other health and support services within the community.
3. Provides education, resources and support regarding safer substance use, safer substance techniques and safer sex, HIV, hepatitis C, and STIs
4. As needed, assess for overdose symptoms, and respond with rescues breaths and Naloxone for service users on site.
5. Provides overdose prevention education, including education on the administration of Naloxone.
6. Facilitates in office Naloxone distribution to service users and other community organizations.
7. Provides on the spot training in overdose prevention and response.
8. Provides support to Peer groups that work with AVI, including payment of honoraria.
9. Provides brief support, basic direction and appropriate referrals to other health and support services.
10. Engages with clients in a collaborative, person-centered approach grounded in harm reduction.
11. Maintains the safety of all program spaces by following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents (such as overdose prevention and response).
12. Works in collaboration with partner agencies to provide a continuum of services.
13. Keeps electronic records and compiles reports.
14. Maintains both paper and electronic confidential client files as required.
15. Assists with office ordering, supplier communication, stock records.
16. Manages community distribution of harm reduction supplies and maintain distribution records.
17. Engages in planning, evaluation, and program development as requested by the Manager.
18. Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Diploma in health or social services (Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health & Addictions Support Worker, etc.), or equivalent combination of education and work/lived experience.
2. Have a minimum of two years' experience working within harm reduction settings.
3. First Aid training and experience responding to critical incidents, including overdose.
4. Valid Class 5 BC Driver's License
5. Able to respectfully engage and support Indigenous relationships, with a trauma informed and decolonial lens
6. To comply with current BC Public Health Orders, must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have an approved medical exemption. Proof of vaccination status will be required for successful applicants for positions covered by the order.
7. Direct service delivery experience in the community social services sector with a demonstrated working knowledge of community-based programs and related provincial and community support services systems
8. Demonstrated experience working within a harm reduction framework (paid or unpaid) within communities impacted by systemic injustice, colonialism, racism, and criminalization.
9. Demonstrated understanding of the necessary ongoing involvement of people who use drugs in all aspects of the creation and delivery of harm reduction services, to ensure their relevance and success.
10. Demonstrated ability to contribute to a supportive team environment with a focus on developing trust, transparent communication and critical self-reflection while addressing interpersonal dynamics.
11. Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge in the areas of the local communities who use drugs, safer drug use, safer sex, sex work, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, mental health, etc.
12. Demonstrated understanding of the ongoing impacts of colonialism and racism, and where your personal privilege and power as a service provider intersect with it.
13. Demonstrated understanding and commitment to harm reduction principles and practices.
14. Demonstrated understanding of relational, empathetic, person-centered approaches.
15. Demonstrated ability to connect and build trust with a diverse range of folks accessing services; including people who are actively using substances and living with significant health challenges.
16. Experience managing potentially hostile interactions, utilizing non-violent communication and de-escalation skills.
17. Demonstrated experience with overdose response, including administration of naloxone, oxygen and rescue breathes.
18. Ability to stay grounded and use creativity, flexibility, and assertiveness when working through complex and often urgent situations.
19. Experience supporting Peer groups.
20. Ability to problem solve with creativity, flexibility, and assertiveness in dealing with complex issues.
21. Demonstrated understanding of the importance and role of people who use drugs in the development, delivery, and evaluation of services intended to benefit them.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to carry out physical duties of position.
• Ability to work independently and in cooperation with others.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required to work effectively with co-workers, clients, community, and other service providers.
• Ability to organize and prioritize.
• Ability to establish and maintain rapport with clients and recognize changes in folks.
• Ability to analyze and resolve issues thru conflict resolution and crisis interventions skills.
• Advocacy skills
• Leadership experience
• Comfortable approaching and initiating conversation with others and ability to build respectful rapport.
• Ability to work under pressure and in crisis situations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Understanding of the psycho-social issues affecting people who use drugs

POSITION DETAILS:

• Pay: $31.56/hour to start with stepped increases based on your seniority with AVI. (Pay for this role is based on the BCGEU pay grid 34)
• Number of Positions: 1
• Hours and Schedule: 31.5 hours/week. Monday to Thursday between 08:45am and 4:00pm, Friday 10:45-3:15pm
• Start and End date: As soon as possible and ending on return of incumbent
• Location: AVI Campbell River Office.
• Union: AVI is a union environment under the Collective Agreement: HEABC & Health Services & Support Community Subsector Association 2022-2025 and this role is a BCGEU union position.
• Benefits: This position will be eligible for extended health, life and AD&D coverage after 488 hours with AVI.  AVI pays for the entire cost of the plan on behalf of its staff.
• Pension: If you are already a member of the Municipal Pension Plan (MPP), you can continue with them at AVI immediately.  At this time, AVI contributes an additional 9.31% towards your pension account.  If you are not already a member of the Municipal Pension Plan, part time staff may become eligible after 2 years with AVI.
• Other Perks: This position gets paid an extra 5% in lieu of vacation 5% in lieu of stats, meaning your hourly rate is actually 10% higher than listed.   
• Proof of Vaccination Required: AVI is under BC's Health Services Order and continues to require proof of vaccination.
• Hours of Work, Days Off and Work Area may be subject to change.

TO APPLY:

To apply, please click on Apply to Position send your resume and cover letter (optional). This posting is open until October 20, 2024, 5pm.

AVI is committed to equity and diversity, and we strongly encourage applications from, but not limited to, folks who identify as Indigenous Persons, persons of color, racialized, persons living with a disability, persons who use/d drugs, persons with experience of sex work, persons who live with HIV and/or hepatitis C, and persons representing diverse genders and sexualities.

It is beneficial to identify in the cover letter if you are Indigenous and/or have lived/living expertise relevant to the position.

Accommodation is available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

As AVI is a union environment, internal staff will be prioritized in the hiring process.

We would like to thank all those that apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

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