Summary of the Position
Grid Level: Grid 38, $27.29/hour
Work Location: 111-2787 Jacklin Rd, Langford
Hours of Work: Variable shifts on: Monday 12:30 -7pm, Tuesday 9-am-9pm, Thursday 730am-5:30pm, Friday 9am-5pm
Start Date: ASAP
Job Summary:
Under the direct supervision of the Manager of Community Health – Victoria and Westshore, or designate, the Casual Westshore Social Worker is responsible for the delivery of support, advocacy, harm reduction and outreach services to individuals accessing the Westshore AVI Health Centre. The Casual Westshore Social Worker will work as part of a multidisciplinary health team to provide a broad range of psychosocial and health-related supports to individuals in accordance with the clinic’s goals and objectives. This role is key to the clinic’s goal of keeping people engaged in care and maximizing treatment outcomes.
The Casual Westshore Social Worker will carry a caseload of clients and will be responsible for ensuring supportive case management services are offered within a harm reduction and health promotion framework. The Casual Westshore Social Worker works in consultation with the patient to assess needs and develop goals.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the direct supervision of the Manager or designate, the Casual Westshore Social Worker will be engaged in the following activities:
- Proactively engage with people who use/have used opioids and individuals who are living with, or at risk for, HIV/hepatitis C using a collaborative, person-centered approach grounded in harm reduction and trauma-informed practice.
- Proactively support patients of the clinic to remain connected in care including early identification of at-risk clients, regular reviews of client charts, assessments of clinic policies and procedures etc.
- Provide intake assessments and follow up for patients that could include motivational interviewing, short term solution focused counselling, crisis intervention, harm reduction education and/or resources, and advocacy, referral and outreach via email, phone, text, or in person.
- Provides advocacy to patients by performing duties such as speaking on their behalf in areas such as housing, medical, legal and other support and government agencies.
- Makes appropriate referrals to patients and their family to other health and support services.
- Assists patients with the paper work required to obtain disability status.
- Provides education on recognizing and responding to overdose, including providing Naloxone training and distributing Naloxone kits to clients, as well as their families, friends and loved ones.
- Provides outreach services as needed in the community including home and hospital visits as appropriate.
- Distributes and recovers harm reduction supplies, and provides education and support on safer drug use, safer sex, HIV, hepatitis C, and STIs.
- Works in collaboration with partner agencies to provide a continuum of services within AVI and the Island Health Authority.
- Completes and maintains related records and documentation such as statistical reports for submission to the program manager.
- Maintains both paper and electronic confidential client files in the clinic’s EMR. Maintains the safety of all program spaces by following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents (such as overdose and other medical emergencies).
- Provides support to peer workers, MOA, and physicians as needed.
- Assists in providing a welcoming atmosphere for patients including tasks such as preparation of snacks provided at reception.
- Participates in regular supervision, staff meetings and staff development opportunities.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Professional Registration:
Registered as a Social Worker with the BC College of Social Workers
Qualifications:
- University degree in Social Work and registered as a Social Worker with the BC College of Social Workers
- Minimum of three years’ relevant work experience
- Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License and use of own vehicle for work purposes
Skills and Abilities:
- Demonstrated understanding of and experience working with people living with opioid use disorder and seeking or receiving opioid substitution therapies, and ability to proactively reach out and engage clients in care to maximize treatment outcomes.
- Demonstrated skills, experience and knowledge of OAT and harm reduction both theoretical and practical, including basic medical terminology, and knowledge in the areas of safer drug use, safer sex, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, mental health, etc.
- Demonstrated knowledge of social justice, health promotion, client-centered/harm reduction focused and empowerment models and public health approaches and models of social support and health care.
- Commitment to harm reduction, and trauma and violence informed 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 a demonstrated working knowledge of community-based and provincial support services and systems (financial aid, housing, health care, justice system, etc.).
- Case Management skills including treatment/care planning, advocacy, and referral.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated commitment to working within a collaborative team approach.
- Ability to problem solve with creativity, flexibility and assertiveness in dealing with complex issues.
- Excellent organizational, time and general management skills.
- Knowledge of relevant formal counselling and assessment techniques (for example, non-violent communication, Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction Psychotherapy, Stages of Change, etc.).
- Experience diffusing and de-escalating potentially hostile interactions.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Excellent written communication skills including the ability to accurately document and report.
- Knowledge of electronic medical records (preferably MOIS).
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.