Summary Position
Grid Level: 38, $27.84
Work Locations: AVI Courtenay, 355 6th Street
Hours of Work: 30 hours/week
Schedule: To be determine with the successful candidate
Start Date: November 23, 2020
End Date: April 20, 2022, or the return of the incumbent
To Apply: please submit your resume and cover letter to jobs@avi.org by 5pm on November 1, 2020.
Job Summary:
The Team Lead and Positive Wellness Support Worker is responsible for providing direction, supervision, support and administration to the harm reduction, health promotion and outreach Programs as well as is responsible for the provision and delivery of direct services to persons living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C. This position will spend 70% of their time performing Client Services duties and 30% Team Lead duties. The Team Lead and Positive Wellness Support Worker will report to the Campbell River Manager.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Team Lead
- Supervises staff and volunteers by performing duties such as assigning work, providing feedback, support and evaluation, and determining training requirements
- Schedules program staff, including ensuring appropriate staffing levels to ensure program operations
- Prepares statistical and program information, and reviews other staff’s statistics and program reports
- Reviews and authorizes visa, petty cash, timesheets, and leave management and monitors expenditures related to program budgets
- Acts as a liaison between program staff and the Campbell River Manager to communicate and manage staff support needs, client concerns, and issues related to facilities and operations, and critical incidents
- Performs office administration duties
Client Service
- Actively engages with individuals who are living with, or at risk for, HIV/Hepatitis C, using a collaborative, person-centered approach grounded in harm reduction
- 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
- Advocates on behalf of clients with various Ministries and agencies to ensure clients receive maximum information and support
- Provides advocacy to clients by working with them on issues such as housing, medical, legal and other supports
- Distributes harm reduction supplies and provides education and support regarding safer substance use and safer sex
- Conducts individual or group education sessions, and compiles educational materials to meet clients’ needs, as required
- Provides onsite supervision, support and continues to develop the client drop-in program
- Works in collaboration with partner agencies to provide a continuum of services
- Maintains both paper and electronic confidential client files
- Performs other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Social Work from a recognized university; current full registration with the BC College of Social Workers or ability to register
- Two years of experience in program coordination and supervision of staff or volunteers in the community social services sector
- Two years of experience working with and providing support services to diverse populations including street involved communities; Indigenous Persons; queer communities; people who use drugs; sex trade workers; multicultural and disability communities
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the areas of mental health, substance use, harm reduction/health promotion practices, safer using practices, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, structural poverty and other social justice issues
- Demonstrated knowledge 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 experience providing comprehensive client support, including client assessments, crisis intervention, short-term solution focused counselling, referrals, and advocacy
- Demonstrated experience working with community-based and provincial support services and systems (financial aid, housing, healthcare, justice system, etc.)
- Demonstrated experience managing hostile interactions, utilizing non-violent communication and diffusing techniques
- Employment subject to criminal record check for working with vulnerable populations
- Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License and access to vehicle
Skills and Abilities:
- Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to coach and mentor staff, facilitate conflict resolution and foster positive communication
- Excellent organizational skills including the ability to set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information and activities
- Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance service effectiveness
- 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
- Ability to establish rapport, provide support and advocate for a diverse range of clientele including individuals who are actively using substances and/or living with HIV/HCV
- Ability to respond to and manage crisis situations: overdoses, suicidal ideation, and aggressive behaviour
- Demonstrated ability to be flexible and versatile in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
- Ability to monitor expenditures and assist with required financial documentation
- 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.