Summary of the Position:
Grid Level: Grid 10, $21.94/hour
Hours of Work: Thursdays, 5:30 – 9:00pm; Specific dates to be determined (16 hours per session, with two sessions remaining in contract + 3 hours orientation)
Work Location: 713 Johnson Street, Victoria
Start Date: January 7, 2019
To Apply: Please submit your resume and cover letter to jobs@avi.org by 5:00pm on Thursday, January 3, 2019
Job Summary:
In collaboration with the Manager of Community Heath – Victoria and Westshore, the VIRCC Educator provides programming, education, referrals, and support relating to: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and STI testing, treatment, and prevention strategies; substance use and harm reduction; and overdose prevention, including the use of naloxone, to incarcerated individuals at Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre (VIRCC).
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Participates in the design of educational workshops related to safer substance use and harm reduction; overdose prevention and response; HCV, HIV, and other STIs
2. Facilitates presentations and workshops to incarcerated individuals, in keeping with AVI’s “Peer Education” contract with VIRCC
3. Provides prevention strategies as a means of increasing awareness and wellness
4. Maintains up-to-date and accurate knowledge of HIV, HCV and STIs, including prevention, transmission, treatment, and emerging trends, in relation to risk groups such as GBMSM, people who use drugs, Indigenous people, and people in the criminal justice system
5. Participates in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of educational activities as needed
6. Maintains files, stats and records related to the program, electronic and paper, and reports on program work
7. Performs other related duties as assigned
Qualifications:
Education, Training, and Experience:
• University degree in health or social sciences, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience working with HIV/AIDS, HCV and/or STI prevention and awareness and/or community development and support
• Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings
• Demonstrated experience planning and facilitating workshops
• Employment subject to criminal record check for working with vulnerable populations as well as security clearance to work within the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre
Skills and Abilities:
• Solid experience working with structurally vulnerable groups, including people who use drugs and individuals who are/have been incarcerated
• Holistic understanding of HIV/AIDS, HCV, and STIs (transmission, prevention, treatment, related psycho-social issues, etc.), substance use, harm reduction, sexual health, homophobia/heterosexism/transphobia, anti-oppression work and intersectionality, Indigenous health, population health and health promotion strategies
• Strong public speaking and group facilitation skills
• Excellent communication skills – both written and verbal
• Experience working with and training peer educators and volunteers
• Knowledge of community-based education strategies, those designed for PHAs, youth, GBMSM, Indigenous people, people who use drugs and people in the criminal justice system
• Experience designing workshops and presentations, including using related technological platforms (e.g. PowerPoint)
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings