We're Hiring: Harm Reduction Educator (Peer Focused) - Courtenay

Summary of the Position:

Grid Level:  34, $25.40/hour

Work Location: 355 6th Street, Courtenay

Hours of Work: 30 hours a week, 4 days a week

Start Date: ASAP

End Date: March 31, 2021

To apply: Please submit your resume and cover letter to jobs@avi.org by 5:00pm on Sunday, August 9, 2020.

Job Summary:

The Harm Reduction Educator (Peer Focus) will be part of an Outreach Education Team that will provide weekly outreach based engagement and support to identified supported living units, private housing units and people living outside in order to reach priority populations of people who use substances and share drug-use equipment. This Team will also deliver peer education workshops related to prevention, transmission and reducing risks of HIV and Hepatitis C for priority populations including people who use substances, women who use substances and indigenous people who use substances.

The Outreach Education Team will travel to rural and remote communities to determine priority locations for outreach and provide education to the people in these communities.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Manager or designate, the Harm Reduction Educator (Peer Focus) will be part of an outreach team engaged in the following activities:

  1. Provide weekly outreach based engagement and support to identified supported living units, private housing units and people living outside in order to reach priority populations of people who use substances and share drug-use equipment.
  2. Provide information, resources, and support to priority populations in knowledge of risk factors associated with HIV and Hepatitis C
  3. Provide support, referrals and accompaniment, as needed, to harm reduction and health care resources
  4. Determine and prioritize outreach to supported living units within BC Housing and John Howard Society North Island
  5. Work with Dawn to Dawn Care-A-Van and Positive Wellness North Island (collaborative STOP HIV project) to determine and prioritize outreach to priority populations who are homeless and precariously housed in order to provide education
  6. Consult with AVI Health Promotion Team to determine best practices and resources for delivering workshops on the transmission, prevention and risk factors of HIV and Hepatitis C to people who use substances and share drug-use equipment.
  7. Develop draft workshop content and instructional strategies and methods related to the transmission, prevention and risk factors of HIV and Hepatitis C to people who use substances and share drug-use equipment for priority populations
  8. Develop promotional materials and evaluation tools for workshop attendees and project participants
  9. Deliver peer education workshops related to prevention, transmission and reducing risks of HIV and Hepatitis C for priority populations including people who use substances, women who use substances and indigenous people who use substances.
  10. Consult with peers to determine how best to enhance skills, competencies and abilities to prevent HIV and Hepatitis C infection.
  11. Travel to rural and remote communities to determine priority locations for outreach, such as where people are gathering, living, congregating and provide education to the people in these locations
  12. Consult with a broad range of peers and Client Education and Engagement within organization (AVI) and provincial resources in the development of a framework for peer knowledge exchange circles.
  13. Implement and deliver peer knowledge exchange circles
  14. Consult with provincial and national organizations and peers to determine existing resources, content and methods of delivering information/resources related to delivering one on one and group workshops on the transmission, prevention and risk factors of HIV and Hepatitis C to people who use substances and share drug-use equipment
  15. Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

Education, Training, and Experience:

  • University degree in health or social services (Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health and Addictions Support Worker, etc.), or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Valid BC Driver’s License and a reliable vehicle that can be used for work. Mileage to be reimbursed as per the BCGEU Collective Agreement.
  • Applicants must have current First Aid certification

Harm Reduction Educator (Peer Focus) will have a minimum of two years relevant work experience and will demonstrate the following minimum requirements:

  • Have lived experience with drug use and related health and social conditions such as poverty, sex work, homelessness and/or other physical or mental health issues
  • Have lived experience with HIV, hepatitis C, and/or illicit substances would be an asset.
  • Have personal experience accessing harm reduction services for safer drug use support and/or accessed other services designed to meet the needs of people who use substances
  • Have a current knowledge of the local street scene and cultural norms related to street life, and can relate as a peer
  • Previous experience in the a similar position, an asset
  • Direct service delivery experience in the community social services sector with a demonstrated working knowledge of community-based programs and related provincial and community support services systems;
  • Demonstrated experience planning, promoting and launching public education and development activities and events, such as forums and workshops
  • Strong public speaking and group facilitation skills
  • Experience working with and training peer educators
  • Demonstrated cultural safety and humility practices 
  • Demonstrated ability to establish rapport with a diverse range of clientele including individuals who are actively using substances and living with significant health challenges;
  • Demonstrated skills, experience and knowledge in the areas of safer drug use, addictions, safer sex, sex work, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, mental health, etc;
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required to work effectively with co-workers, clients, community, and other service providers;
  • Strong working knowledge of local health and social services;
  • Demonstrated knowledge of group process and facilitation techniques
  • Demonstrated knowledge of social justice, health promotion and public health approaches and models of social support and health care;
  • Demonstrated understanding and commitment to harm reduction principles and practices as well as trauma informed practices;
  • Experience managing hostile interactions, utilizing non-violent communication and diffusing techniques;
  • Ability to problem solve with creativity, flexibility and assertiveness in dealing with complex issues;
  • Demonstrated understanding of the importance and role of people who use drugs in the development, delivery, and evaluation of services intended to benefit them;

Skills and Abilities:

  • Advocacy skills
  • Leadership experience
  • Ability to work with a diverse and often unpredictable street involved clientele
  • 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
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • Demonstrated cultural safety and humility practices 
  • Ability to work under pressure and in crisis situations
  • Understanding of diversity issues
  • Understanding of the psycho-social issues affecting people who use drugs

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.