We're Hiring: Harm Reduction Overdose Prevention Support Worker - Victoria

AVI Health & Community Services (AVI) is a multi-disciplinary community based organization, providing HIV, hepatitis C and harm reduction services out of 5 locations across Vancouver Island. AVI provides services to more than 500 people living with HIV and hepatitis C and more than 3000 harm reduction clients. We work within a social justice and health promotion framework – ensuring equity and access to services for all – and from a harm reduction perspective, understanding that clients are the best sources of knowledge regarding the services and supports they need.  

At the core of what we do is our ability, and commitment to, creating meaningful connections. between clients and staff, between peers, between staff members, between organizations, between communities, and between funders and impactful programs. AVI provides comprehensive, accessible and effective education, prevention, care, treatment and support services to residents of Vancouver Island with offices in Victoria, the Westshore, Nanaimo, the Comox Valley and Campbell River.  For more info see www.avi.org

Join our supportive, dedicated and client-centred team in promoting the health, dignity and well-being of all people affected by HIV, HCV and substance use by delivering sex-positive and harm reduction-based education, prevention and/or support services.

Victoria Harm Reduction Services Team provides services for people who use drugs and may be impacted by criminalization, systemic injustice and stigma. Relational care is foundational to the team in providing appropriate and accurate services. Folks accessing supplies for safer drug use, safer sex supplies, overdose   prevention, response and the training are met with care and intention. Harm Reduction services provides supports in various locations as we continue to look for a home for publicly accessible harm reduction services for all. Victoria Harm Reduction Services is located on the territories of the Ləkʷəŋən peoples (Esquimalt and Songhees nations).

Position Details:

  • Grid Level:  34, $26.42/hour
  • Work Location: 713 Johnson St, outreach and in community and when determined the publicly accessible location Victoria, BC
  • Hours of Work: 25 hours
  • Schedule: Monday – Friday 9:45am - 3:15pm
  • Start Date: ASAP
  • End Date: March 31, 2023
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

To Apply: Please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@avi.org by 5pm on Thursday, March 10, 2022

 

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Program Manager, the Harm Reduction Overdose Prevention Support Worker will provide a broad range of low barrier, harm reduction supports to individuals accessing harm reduction services at and through AVI. This includes episodic (sporadic and occasional) overdose prevention supports, witnessing and aftercare. This may include the administration of oxygen and/or rescue breaths, and Naloxone to folks experiencing overdose.

The Harm Reduction Overdose Prevention Support Worker will use a relational, trauma and violence informed approach to provide support to people using substances. Specifically, this position will work with folks accessing harm reduction supplies, meals and supports through our downtown Victoria location. This position will at times, work alongside the Front Desk Harm Reduction Peer Receptionist, and at other times will be providing supports independently to the community.

The successful candidate embodies collaboration, works from a relational perspective, is supportive and empathetic, upholds AVI’s harm reduction, social justice, trauma-informed care and cultural humility values with people accessing our services. They support and ensure that Harm Reduction Services promotes the dignity and respect of the people we serve.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

  1. Provide harm reduction supply distribution and recovery as needed
  2. Support and monitor people who are consuming substances on site and in the community. Assess for overdose symptoms and respond with rescue breathing and naloxone when necessary.  Training is provided.
  3. Provide on the spot training in overdose response and education on substances and safer use techniques
  4. Identify and develop safety plans with people who are using substances who are at increased risk of overdose
  5. Responsible for contributing to and supporting culturally safe practices and spaces with humility
  6. Provide information and support regarding safer drug use and safer sex, HIV, hepatitis C, and STIs
  7. Provide advocacy and referrals and works directly with folks on systemic issues
  8. Use brief assessment, active listening and crisis response skills to help meet immediate, basic needs and make appropriate referrals to other health and support services within the community
  9. Perform reception duties at the 713 Johnson site including answering phones, accepting deliveries and communicating information to various AVI programs as directed
  10. Engage in a collaborative, person-centered approach grounded in harm reduction
  11. Provides outreach and support in the community, when needed
  12. Maintain the safety by following protocols related to safety and critical incidents
  13. Works in collaboration with partner agencies to provide a continuum of services
  14. Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

  • Minimum one year’s experience working within harm reduction settings
  • Current first aid training and experience responding to critical incidents, including responding to overdoses and providing injection support
  • Experience in overdose, community witnessing and/or outreach
  • Priority will be given to folks with lived/living experience with criminalized drug use and related health and social barriers.
  • Have personal experience accessing harm reduction services, an asset
  • 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.
  • Demonstrated experience working within a harm reduction framework (paid or unpaid) within communities impacted by systemic injustice, colonialism, racism, and criminalization.
  • Experience with overdose response, including administration of naloxone, is 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 skills, experience and knowledge in the areas of safer drug use, safe supply, OAT, 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
  • Demonstrated cultural safety and humility, and trauma-informed principles and practices.
  • Demonstrated understanding and commitment to harm reduction principles and 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
  • Experience managing hostile interactions, utilizing non-violent communication and de-escalation skills
  • 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
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required to work effectively with co-workers, clients, community, and other service providers
  • Knowledge of the Victoria street community

Skills and Abilities:

  • Commitment to honor local indigenous communities and to recognize the ongoing impacts of colonial violence.
  • Committed to social justice, equity, anti-racism and decolonization
  • Physical ability to carry out the physical 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 establish and maintain rapport with clients
  • Ability to organize and prioritize
  • Ability to analyze and resolve issues through conflict resolution and crisis interventions skills
  • Advocacy skills
  • 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 addictions
  • Ability to work under pressure and in crisis situations
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
  • Understanding of the psycho-social issues affecting people who use drugs

 

AVI is committed to equity and diversity and 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.

It is beneficial to identify in the cover letter if you are Indigenous and have lived/living expertise relevant to the position.

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.