Summary of the Position:
Grid Level: 34, $24.38/hour
Hours of Work: Variable hours on Monday through Friday 10:00 – 3:00
Work Location: AVI Victoria, 713 Johnson Street
Start Date: July 8, 2019
Job Summary:
The Support Worker is responsible for the provision and delivery of direct services to persons living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Actively engages with individuals who are living with, or at risk for, HIV/Hepatitis C, using a
collaborative, person-centered approach grounded in harm reduction
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
3. Advocates on behalf of clients with various Ministries and agencies to ensure clients receive
maximum information and support
4. Provides advocacy to clients by working with them on issues such as housing, medical, legal and
other support agencies
5. Distributes harm reduction supplies and provides education and support regarding safer
substance use and safer sex
6. Conducts individual or group education sessions, and compiles educational materials to meet
clients’ needs, as required
7. Provides onsite supervision, support and continues to develop the client drop-in program
8. Works in collaboration with partner agencies to provide a continuum of services
9. Maintains both paper and electronic confidential client files
10. Performs other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- University degree in health or social services (Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health Support Worker,
- etc.), or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Support Workers will have a minimum of two years’ relevant work experience and will demonstrate the
- following minimum requirements:
- Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License
- Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge in the areas of harm reduction principles and
- practices
- Demonstrated ability to establish rapport, provide support and advocate for a diverse range of
- clientele including individuals who are actively using substances and living with significant health
- challenges
- Direct service delivery and advocacy experience with community-based and provincial support
- services and systems (financial aid, housing, healthcare, justice system, etc.)
- Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge in the areas of safer drug use, safer sex, sex
- work, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, mental health, etc.
- Demonstrated knowledge of social justice, health promotion and public health approaches and
- models of social support and health care
- 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
- Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, and demonstrated
- commitment to working within a collaborative team approach;
- Demonstrated time management and personal organization skills to effectively support a high
- volume of client work
Skills and Abilities:
- Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position
- Ability to work independently and in cooperation with others
- Ability to operate related equipment
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
- Ability to organize and prioritize
- Ability to observe and recognize changes in clients
- Ability to establish and maintain rapport with clients
- Ability to analyze and resolve problems
- Conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills
- Advocacy skills
- Leadership experience
- Ability to work with a diverse clientele facing significant structural vulnerability
- Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge in the areas of harm reduction/health
- promotion practices, safer using practices, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, poverty issues, mental health
- concerns and substance use
- Ability to work under pressure and in crisis situations
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Understanding of diversity issues
- Understanding of the psycho-social issues affecting people living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C