SAFER Systems Navigator

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

SAFER is a flexible, community-based, harm reduction program that provides safer, pharmaceutical alternatives to the currently toxic drug supply. SAFER is located on the territories of the Ləkʷəŋən peoples (Esquimalt and Songhees nations).

JOB SUMMARY:

Under the direct supervision of the SAFER Program Manager, the SAFER Systems Navigator will work on a multidisciplinary team to provide a range of psychosocial and health-related supports to SAFER participants. They will practice harm reduction in their relationships to build trust and assist participants with their engagement with SAFER and connect them to other health and social supports.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Work both independently (under the Working Alone Policy, when appropriate) and collaboratively with the SAFER team to provide psychosocial supports for participants in the community, as well as at the program site as appropriate/if required for minimum staffing.
Provide information regarding access to pharmaceutical alternatives to street drugs, conduct assessments and intakes, and develop care plans.
Provide outreach-based supports in the community including accompaniment to appointments, home visits, and advocacy in accordance with the established care plans.
Use brief assessment, crisis response, and counselling skills to help meet immediate, basic needs (eg. applications and follow-up regarding housing, income, identification, etc) and make appropriate referrals to other health and support services.
Distribute safer drug use supplies, safer sex supplies and naloxone kits, and provide information on harm reduction practices, overdose prevention and overdose response.
Work with SAFER participants and team to navigate administrative and financial requirements for access to pharmaceuticals according to care plan.
Liaise between SAFER participants and SAFER team members to support participants and assist with collaborative and proactive problem-solving as needed.
Maintain confidential records in accordance with privacy requirements.
Engage in planning, evaluation, reporting, and program development as directed.
Foster safety by following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents.
Assist with overdose response other medical emergencies as required.
Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

University degree in health or social services, Counselling, Social Work, Psychology, etc or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum of four years of demonstrated experience in the direct delivery of social services, ideally in harm reduction services including case management and safe supply programs.
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.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required to work effectively with co-workers, program participants, community, and other service providers.
Direct service delivery and advocacy experience with community-based and provincial support services and systems (income, housing, healthcare, legal systems, etc.).
Demonstrated practice of social justice, anti-racism, decolonization and trauma-informed
Demonstrated understanding of public health and equity-oriented models of social support and health care.
Commitment to harm reduction principles and practice, with experience working alongside coworkers, and with program participants, who experience intersecting systemic oppression.
Commitment to honor local indigenous communities and to recognize the ongoing impacts of colonial violence.
Demonstrated ability to provide support and advocate for a diverse range of individuals who are actively using substances and living with significant barriers to their health and well-being.
Demonstrated empathic observer invested in respectful relationship-building.
Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge in the areas of harm reduction/health promotion practices, safer sex and safer drug use practices, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, poverty, trauma and mental health.
Experience managing hostile interactions, utilizing non-violent communication and diffusing techniques.
Ability to problem solve with creativity, flexibility, assertiveness and a ‘cool head’ in dealing with complex issues.
Experience with data collection and reporting tasks.
First Aid certification and experience responding to critical incidents and overdose, including administration of naloxone.
An Asset but NOT required: Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License and use of own vehicle for work purposes.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position and operate related equipment.
Practiced advocacy skills and ability to effectively navigate complex and convoluted systems access requirements of various health and social supports (eg. income, housing, healthcare, treatment options, etc).
Excellent prioritization and time management skills, including ability to triage crises, urgent demands and complex situations within assigned working hours.
Ability to work with diverse groups of stakeholders including people impacted by poverty, substance use, criminalization, people who use drugs, service providers, funders and other community members.
Case Management skills including advocacy and referral
Demonstrated ability to be flexible and versatile in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency.
Ability to establish and maintain respectful rapport with individuals who have experienced trauma and abuse due to structural violence, stigma and discrimination.
Ability to anticipate and identify challenges and proactively address through collaborative problem-solving.
Crisis intervention skills with a diverse population facing significant structural barriers.

Ability to work outdoors during all types weather in all seasons.

POSITION DETAILS:

Pay: $28.56/hour to start with stepped increases based on your seniority with AVI. (Pay for this role is based on the BCGEU paygrid 38)
Union: AVI is a union environment under the Collective Agreement: HEABC & Health Services & Support Community Subsector Association 2019-2022 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.
Hours and Schedule: This position could be a part time (15 to 20 hours/week) or a casual position (less than 15 hours/week), based on the availability of the candidate.
End Date: March 31, 2023

Part Time Position Option Details:

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.
Other Perks: This position gets 6% vacation (equivalent to 3 weeks), receives Stat In Lieu payments of 4.6% on each paycheque and has a Sick Bank of 6.9%. Sick and Vacation are both accessible after your first 488 hours at AVI.

Casual Position Option Details:

Hours and Schedule: Casual basis with potential shifts falling between between Monday and Sunday, 9:00 – 5:00 pm.
Other Perks: This position gets paid an extra 5% in lieu of vacation and 4.6% in lieu of stats, meaning your hourly rate is actually 9.6% higher than listed.

TO APPLY:

To apply, please send your cover letter and resume to jobs@avi.org This posting is open until filled

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.

Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

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