AVI HEALTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES (AVI) is a multi-disciplinary community based organisation providing HIV, hepatitis C and harm reduction services out of 5 locations across Vancouver Island. AVI provides services to people living with HIV and hepatitis C and harm reduction clients. We take evidence-based action to prevent infection, provide support, and reduce stigma. We work within a social justice and health promotion framework to ensure equity and access to services for all.
At the core of what we do is our ability, and commitment to, creating meaningful connections. Every day, we strive to create meaningful connections between clients and staff, between peers, between staff members, between organizations, between communities, and between funders and impactful programs. 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.
The Intensive Case Management Team (ICMT) is a multi-disciplinary team that operates as a partnership between AVI Health and Community Services and Island Health. People are hired as AVI employees and work in cooperation with Island Health staff.
The Front Desk Harm Reduction Support Worker is the first point of contact for people wishing to access services at AVI during the times of 10:00am and 3:00pm. The Front Desk Harm Reduction Support Worker provides harm reduction supplies and education to individuals requesting these supports. The position also contributes to the operations of the Front Desk providing: a welcoming, engaging and non-judgmental environment for clients and people accessing services at AVI.
This position builds and maintains relationships with clients of AVI’s various programs as well as people who use drugs and who are experiencing other health and social issues such as poverty, homelessness, involvement in sex work, and living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C.
The Positive Wellness Program Victoria is located on the territories of the Ləkʷəŋən peoples (Esquimalt and Songhees nations).
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Greets and engages clients and the general public at the Front Desk in person and on the phone in a friendly and welcoming, non-judgmental manner
- Directs clients and the general public to appropriate staff member or program
- Distributes safer drug use and safer sex supplies and collects data on the distribution
- Provides harm reduction information (including drug and steroid) and referrals for other services
- Provides coverage to the Front Desk, and drop in spaces, including monitoring activities in the stairwell and Access Health Centre lobby/cage
- Provides Support to the Positive Wellness Program
- Responds to critical incidents maintaining client dignity and safety.
- Able to maintain safe and organized Front Desk area
- Provides a point of contact for service users wanting to access their Intensive Case Management Team support worker (calling the info line or the worker)
- Offer peer support through active listening skills and non-judgmental attitude
- Share up-to-date information about drug use trends and practices in the city with coworkers and peers as they emerge
- Works with and supports volunteers at the Front Desk
- Attend regularly scheduled team meetings and individual supervision meetings
- Participate in ongoing job training at AVI and in the community
- Keep records (statistics) about services provided
- Performs other duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Have lived/living experience with drug use and related health and social barriers. Have personal experience accessing harm reduction services for safer drug use support and/or accessed other services designed to meet the needs of people who use substances. Have a current knowledge of the local street culture and cultural norms related to street life, and can relate as a peer with people who access AVI’s Services
- Able to provide a welcoming, respectful and engaging space
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Demonstrated understanding of the ongoing impacts of colonialism and racism, and where your personal privilege and power as a service provider intersect with it.
- Demonstrated understanding of relational, empathetic, person centered approaches.
- 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.
- Comfortable approaching and initiating conversation with others and ability to build good rapport
- Good working knowledge of local health and social services
- Experience managing potentially hostile interactions, utilizing non-violent communication and de-escalation skills
- Demonstrated experience with overdose response, including administration of naloxone, oxygen and rescue breathes.
- Ability to stay grounded and use creativity, flexibility, and assertiveness when working through complex and often urgent situations
- First Aid training and experience responding to critical incidents
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Ability to work independently and in cooperation with others
- Ability to carry out physical duties of position
- Ability to work independently and in cooperation with others
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
- Ability to organize and prioritize
- Ability to establish and maintain rapport with clients and recognize changes in folks
- Ability to analyze and resolve issues through conflict resolution and crisis interventions skills
- Comfortable approaching and initiating conversation with others and ability to build respectful rapport.
- Ability to work under pressure and in crisis situations
POSITION DETAILS:
- Pay: $30.64/hour to start with stepped increases based on your seniority with AVI. (Pay for this role is based on the BCGEU paygrid 34)
- Hours and Schedule: Casual basis with potential shifts falling Monday to Friday, 9:45 am to 2:15 pm
- Location: 713 Johnson Street, 3rd Floor, Victoria BC
- 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.
- 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 send your resume and cover letter to jobs@avi.org by 5 pm on July 10, 2023.
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 colour, 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.
Accommodations are 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.