Westshore AVI Health Centre provides healthcare and support to people who have substance use disorders and are living in the Westshore area.
Peer Power: Westshore Leadership Training
Westshore AVI Health Centre, in partnership with Island Health and Langford City Council was successful in receiving funding from the Community Action Initiative to develop and roll out a peer education training program based in the Westshore that culminates in an Island wide training/resource sharing event.
Summary of the Position:
| Grid: Grid 31, $24.29/hour |
| Work Location: Westshore AVI Health Centre, 111-2787 Jacklin Rd |
| Hours of Work: 15 hours a week, schedule to be determined
Start Date: June 1 - 15, 2020 |
| End Date: Dec 1-15, 2020 |
To Apply: please submit your resume and cover letter to jobs@avi.org by 5pm on May 24, 2020
Job Summary:
Under the direct supervision of the Manager of Community Health, Victoria and Westshore, or designate, with support from the Peer Power Facilitator, the Peer Power Educator will identify, recruit, support and work closely with community members selected as potential peer educators. Duties may include: developing and facilitating peer education trainings, assisting with co-facilitation of other educational or support groups, providing education about harm reduction, opiate agonist treatment (OAT), overdose prevention, stigma, and more, and other health promotion/community development work as needed.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Leads focus groups and consultations with community members with lived experience to develop project content.
- Recruits participants for the peer education focus groups, workshops, support groups, and/or wellness activities.
- Assists with the design, implementation and delivery of educational workshops, projects, and events related to the Peer Power Project
- Develops and facilitates peer education sessions, focus and support groups and wellness activities with the Peer Power Facilitator
- Provides education about harm reduction, opiate agonist treatment (OAT), overdose prevention, stigma, and more.
- Assists with the design, production and distribution of promotional materials.
- Provides other health promotion/community development work as needed.
- Assists with the development and implementation of the pre-established goals and objectives, as laid out in the grant application.
- Maintains up-to-date and accurate knowledge of substance use, OAT, HIV, HCV and STIs including prevention, transmission, treatment, and emerging trends, in particular in relation to risk groups such as GBMSM, substance users, youth at risk, women, Indigenous people, and people in the criminal justice system.
- Liaises with community to maximize educational opportunities and services.
- Offers peer support using active listening skills, maintaining a non-judgmental attitude and keeping professional boundaries.
- Keeps records and statistics and make reports about services provided as requested.
- Attends education team meetings and individual supervision meetings as requested.
- Ensure up to date educational materials are being distributed.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Lived experience with illicit substance use, either personally or as a partner, parent or caregiver.
- A minimum of 2 years experience working within harm reduction, OAT, HIV/AIDS, HCV and/or STI prevention and awareness and/or community development and/or program development.
- Experience in delivering peer education and/or health related workshops and/or trainings.
- Good knowledge of harm reduction OAT, HIV/AIDS, HCV and/or STI prevention and awareness and/or community development and support.
- Good knowledge of health and social services, particularly in the Westshore area.
- Experience working with people from a diversity of backgrounds
- Comfortable approaching and initiating conversation with others and ability to build good rapport.
- Demonstrated understanding and commitment to harm reduction principles and practices
- Good communication and interpersonal skills required to work effectively with co-workers, clients, community, and other service providers
- Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with volunteers, co-workers and community partners.
- Good understanding of the importance of confidentiality and professional boundaries.
- Good basic computer skills
- Valid Class 5 BC Drivers’ License, an asset
Skills and Abilities:
- Ability to provide/receive feedback, and engage in proactive problem solving.
- Ability to apply conflict resolution and de-escalation skills when tense situations arise.
- Public speaking and group facilitation skills
- Ability to work independently or as part of a team
- Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends when needed
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.