We're Hiring: Casual SAFER Outreach Nurse - RN, LPN or RPN

Work Locations: 713 Johnson and outreach / in community and when determined the publicly accessible location, Victoria, BC.

Hours of Work: Casual, Varied hours Monday through Sunday, 4 - 8 hours/day between 9 – 5

Start Date: ASAP

To Apply: Please email your cover letter and resume to jobs@avi.org 

Job Summary:

The Victoria SAFER Initiative is a flexible, community-based, safe supply model with health care provider oversight. Its goal is to save and affirm the lives of people who use substances by providing safer, pharmaceutical alternatives to the currently toxic supply.

The SAFER Outreach Nurse will work in partnership with an interdisciplinary team to provide participant-centered healthcare including assessment, screening, and education to support participants who are accessing the SAFER Initiative. The SAFER Outreach Nurse will use a harm reduction, trauma-informed approach and is required to have demonstrated clinical skills and experience to independently assess individuals with complex primary care health needs and active poly-substance use. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

  1. Provide care and support for individuals with high levels of poly-substance use and a variety and complexity of acute and chronic conditions, related but not exclusive to conditions of poverty and criminalization.
  2. Support people contemplating or accessing pharmaceutical alternatives to illicit substances in a variety of settings (eg. parks, drop-in centres, shelters, supported housing, OPS/SCS, etc).
  3. Support participants to maintain ongoing access to pharmaceutical alternatives to illicit substances.
  4. Provide assessments, screening, education, referrals, and advocacy regarding substance use, acute and chronic health concerns, mental health, sexual health, wound management, and general wellness, including primary and specialist care, substance use services, diagnostic and laboratory services, and medication management.
  5. Provides harm reduction support through collaborative risk reduction strategy, education, distribution of harm reduction supplies, and naloxone trainings and distribution.
  6. Collaborate with participants and care team to develop and maintain individualized care plans, providing ongoing monitoring and support with participants in accordance with the care plan.
  7. Works closely with community partners to ensure seamless support of mutual clients/patients/participants.
  8. Provide screening and assessment and administer medications as ordered by program physicians.
  9. Provide education, information and appropriate referrals that are responsive to the self-identified needs of participants to manage their health, enhance understanding of their health status, and navigate through the various services and community supports related to their care.
  10. Active participation in staff meetings, trainings, educational forums, and engagement in community building and networking.

Qualifications:

  • Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse
  • Minimum 1-5 years’ full scope, outreach nursing experience working with people with high levels of poly-substance use and mental health challenges, an asset
  • Previous experience working in supervised consumption services/overdose prevention services or other harm reduction programs
  • Commitment to harm reduction and social justice principles and experience working with individuals who experience intersecting systemic oppression.
  • Strong knowledge of substance use disorder and opiate agonist treatment options.
  • Demonstrated commitment to person-centered healthcare service provision.
  • Works well under pressure and in stressful situations.
  • Capable, independent practitioner and committed team member.
  • Excellent communication, conflict resolution and crisis management skills.
  • Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License and use of own vehicle for work purposes.
  • Ability to work weekends

Skills and Abilities:

  • Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge in the areas of primary care, substance use, harm reduction, HIV, HCV, sexual health, mental health, health promotion, and impact of systemic poverty.
  • Understanding of the impact on individual health and well-being, as well as the considerations for service delivery related to systemic barriers associated with poverty, mental health, substance use, trauma, racism, ongoing colonialism, heterosexism, and gender discrimination.
  • Demonstrated commitment to the policy and practice of harm reduction, cultural safety, and trauma and violence informed practices.
  • Ability to establish and maintain respectful rapport with participants.
  • Ability to observe and recognize subtle changes in participants.
  • Strong advocacy skills.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both verbal and written.
  • Ability to organize and prioritize workload.
  • Ability to use related equipment including computer to complete documentation, data, and reports using Electronic Medical Records (EMR).
  • Practiced conflict resolution and non-violent crisis intervention skills.

We encourage applications from, but not limited to, Indigenous persons, persons of colour, persons living with disabilities, persons who use/d illicit drugs, persons with experience of sex work, and persons representing diverse genders and sexualities.