To Apply: Please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@avi.org by 5pm on Tuesday, July 30, 2019.
Work Location: 713 Johnson Street
Hours of Work: 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday
End Date: January 10, 2020 or the return of the incumbent
Job Summary:
Reporting to the Director of Programs and Practice and the Executive Director, as required, the Harm Reduction Services Manager is responsible for the management, supervision and administration of all aspects of the operations and programming of the Harm Reduction Services Program in the AVI Victoria office.
The Harm Reduction Services Manager will provide supervision and support to the Harm Reduction Services team in providing a broad range of low barrier, harm reduction supports/services to individuals accessing harm reduction programming at AVI. The Manager will also provide oversight, support, and overdose response.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Manages the drop-in and harm reduction services
- Provides ongoing supervision to the Harm Reduction Support Workers and Harm Reduction Peer Workers including providing feedback, support and performance reviews. Follows and acts on disciplinary process when necessary
- Schedules program staff, including ensuring appropriate staffing levels to ensure program operations
- Schedules, coordinates and facilitates staff meetings and trainings
- Participates in recruitment, hiring and orientation of staff
- Oversees the planning, evaluation, and program development of the Harm Reduction Services Program in the AVI Victoria office
- Maintains the safety of all program spaces by following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents (such as overdose prevention and response)
- Works in Harm Reduction Drop-in and Overdose Prevention Room providing direct support and services to service-users alongside Harm Reduction staff members
- 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 within the community
- Participates in relevant committees and community networks, including participating in projects with other AVI departments and community partners
- Works in collaboration with partner agencies to provide a continuum of services within AVI and the Island Health Authority
- Prepares statistical and program information, and reviews staff’s statistics and program reports
- Reviews and authorizes visa, petty cash, timesheets, and leave management and monitors expenditures related to program budgets
- Provides education and support to clients on safer drug use and safer sex, HIV, Hepatitis C, and STIs
- Provides overdose prevention education and first aid response, including education on the administration of Naloxone
- Engages with clients in a collaborative, person-centered approach grounded in harm reduction and trauma and violence informed practice
- Performs related duties as required
QUALIFICATIONS
Education, Training, and Experience:
- University degree at bachelor’s level in relevant field i.e. Education, Social Work, Social Sciences, or equivalent combination of related experience and education
- 3 - 5 years senior experience and demonstrated leadership with program management and supervision of diverse staff and volunteer team
- Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge in the areas of mental health, addictions, harm reduction/health promotion practices, safer using practices, blood borne infections and diseases, and issues of poverty
- Experience working with and providing education to diverse populations including street involved communities; Indigenous Persons; queer communities; people who use drugs; sex trade workers; multicultural and disability communities
- Demonstrated experience in managing human resources in a union environment
- Demonstrated experience providing comprehensive client support, harm reduction, health promotion services and substance use services
- Employment subject to criminal record check for working with vulnerable populations
- First Aid training and experience responding to critical incidents
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- In-depth understanding of current psychosocial issues affecting people living with HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, addictions and mental health issues and a working knowledge, both theoretical and practical, of anti-oppressive practice with diverse groups with diverse needs
- Demonstrated skills, experience and knowledge in the areas of mental health, substance use, harm reduction/health promotion practices, safer using practices, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and poverty and other social justice issues
- Demonstrated leadership experience in program management and supervision of diverse staff and volunteer teams
- Excellent inter-personal skills including the ability to coach and mentor staff, facilitate conflict resolution and positive communication
- 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 ability to work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance service effectiveness
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Demonstrated understanding and commitment to harm reduction principles and practices
- Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships, both within the agency and in the community, to achieve the goals set for the services
- Experience managing hostile interactions, utilizing non-violent communication and diffusing techniques
- Demonstrated understanding of the importance and role of people who use drugs in the development, delivery, and evaluation of services intended to benefit them
- Ability to monitor expenditures and assists with required financial documentation
- Ability to work with diverse groups of stakeholders including people living with HIV and/or hepatitis C, people who use drugs, service providers and other community members
- Demonstrated ability to be flexible and versatile in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency
- Good computer skills, including use of word-processing and excel
- Ability to research and prepare reports or other correspondence as required
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.