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. 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
The Community Health Centre (CHC) is the longstanding program that has served the downtown Nanaimo area for over a decade. The CHC provides primary and complex care for clients from all walks of life, including people who use drugs, people from the 2SLGBTQ+ community, people living with HIV, and people living with HCV. Apart from our medical care, we also offer personal support, counselling, social services, outreach, education, and harm reduction.
The Enhanced Harm Reduction Service (EHR) is a newer program operating out of our Community Health Centre in Nanaimo. The EHR is a flexible, community-based, harm reduction program that will provide pharmaceutical alternatives to the toxic street drug supply along with wrap around supports. Our services are delivered across the traditional territories of the Snuneymuxw, Stz’uminus, and Snaw'naw'as People.
Join our supportive, dedicated and client-centered 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.
JOB SUMMARY
The Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE) utilizes evidence and learning theory to develop, facilitate and evaluate educational programs. The CNE acts as a research and clinical resource for nurses, practicum students, and the interdisciplinary team in the AVI offices. They collaborate with leaders including the Clinical Nurse Leader, Clinical Nurse Specialist, program managers, and administrators to ensure that the educational needs of nursing and non-clinical team members are met. The CNE supports the Clinical Nurse Leader in their work to orient, mentor and support direct care nurses daily. The focus of the Clinical Nurse Educator is to support interdisciplinary orientation and education across the different programs at AVI Nanaimo.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Determine education priorities by completing learning needs assessments of individuals or groups in collaboration with the Manager/CNL
- Develop and revise educational programs through a process of research, consultation education development monitoring and updating.
- Deliver certification courses in topics such as phlebotomy, harm reduction fundamentals, basic counseling skills, wound care, assessment skills, etc. to staff by means such as preparing written materials, facilitating workshops, and overseeing clinical practice sessions.
- Organize and deliver orientation sessions for new nursing employees as part of a network of Nurse Educators by means such as presenting clinical skills, practice tools and other related information.
- Support Clinical Nurse Leaders to orient, preceptor, mentor and support direct care nurses/other staff in their clinical responsibilities.
- Supports leadership and front-line staff in the daily operations of the program, including spending time in the clinic space to support to service users and deliver direct patient care, monitoring and ordering supplies, monitoring workplace safety and facilities, and maintaining the clinic space.
- Contributes to mentorship and modeling of practice for staff that is in line with principles of social justice, trauma‐informed care, and cultural humility.
- Maintains the safety of all program spaces by following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents.
- Participates in the development, implementation, and maintenance of administrative and operational policies and procedures.
- Performs related duties as required.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Graduation from an approved school of nursing with a baccalaureate in nursing with current practicing registration as a RN with the British Columbia college of nurses and midwives (bccnm). Master’s degree in a relevant discipline preferred.
- At least three (2) years of recent experience in harm reduction or addictions medicine, as well as two to three (2 – 3) years of healthcare education experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- Certified practice in STI and/or OUD an asset.
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice principles and practices, including harm reduction, anti‐ racism, decolonization, combating stigma related to drug use, HIV, heterosexism, HCV, and ableism.
- Experience working in solidarity with diverse populations including people who are criminalized for their drug use; people who are denied housing/precariously housed/warehoused; racialized identities; indigenous & metis persons; 2slgbtq+ identities; sex workers; people with disabilities.
- Relevant or applicable training/experience in anti‐racism and a demonstrated commitment to reconciliation and anti‐colonial learning/unlearning.
- Strong analysis of colonialism and the ways in which historical and ongoing colonization impacts indigenous people intergenerationally.
- Knowledge of local indigenous and non‐indigenous social services including housing, income and food security supports that may benefit persons served.
- Experience responding to critical incidents including overdose/toxic drug poisoning.
- Employment subject to criminal record check for working with vulnerable populations.
- 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.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Apply learning theory and evidence to teaching practices.
- Establish educational priorities to meet identified program, organization, and learner needs.
- Implement education based on changing practices (i.e. Legislation and technology).
- Utilize and demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills
- Foster effective teaching and learning relationships.
- Facilitate learning and create effective learning environments.
- Collaborate with a variety of stakeholders in preparing appropriate learner environments.
- Develop, utilize, and evaluate clinical practice resources.
- Develop and deliver teaching/learning modalities and education materials that promote evidence informed/best practice.
- Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Provide leadership and work direction in a coaching/mentoring role.
- In‐depth understanding of current systemic barriers and violence faced by people who use drugs and a working knowledge, both theoretical and practical, of anti‐oppressive practice.
- Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to coach and mentor staff, facilitate conflict resolution, foster empathic communication, and demonstrate clear boundaries.
- Demonstrated commitment to the policy and practice of harm reduction, cultural safety and trauma and violence informed practices in the provision of health and social services.
- Demonstrated understanding of the continuing and on‐going impact of colonization, and anticolonial, anti‐racist practices and principles.
- Demonstrated understanding of the importance and role of people who use drugs in the development, delivery, and evaluation of services intended to benefit them.
- Positive approach, flexible, resourceful, and enjoys working in a dynamic, informal, and relational workplace.
- Excellent communications skills including in‐person and via technology (i.e. video calls, Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams).
- Excellent organizational, prioritization and time management skills.
- Ability to work with diverse groups of stakeholders including people impacted by poverty, substance use, criminalization, people who use drugs, service providers, funders, and other community members.
- Experience utilizing non‐violent communication.
- Demonstrated ability to be flexible and versatile in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency.
- Ability to work in a variety of settings on a regular basis, including on‐site at the Enhanced Harm Reduction Service, occasionally accompany staff on community outreach, and work offsite either from a home office or co‐working space.
POSITION DETAILS:
- Pay: per BCNU pay grid, Level 4 CNE ($47.77 - $61.62) and all applicable premiums apply.
- Position Type: Regular, Part Time
- Hours and Schedule: 0.8 FTE- Days to be determined. Potentially shifts falling between Monday to Sunday- 9:30am to 5:30pm
- Union: AVI is a union environment under the Collective Agreement: HEABC & Nurses’ Bargaining Association 2022-2025 and this role is an Included Position.
- Location and Department: This position will be working out of the AVI Nanaimo Community Health Centre and can work in both the Enhanced Harm Reduction and the Health Clinic departments and work in the community as needed
- Benefits: This position will be eligible for extended health, life and AD&D coverage in compliance with the BCNU Collective Agreement. AVI pays for the entire cost of the plan on behalf of its staff.
- Pension: This position is eligible to join the Municipal Pension Plan (MPP) after 487.5 hours at AVI. At this time, AVI contributes an additional 9.31% towards your pension account.
- Other Perks: This position gets 7.69% vacation (equivalent to 20 workdays, prorated for part time), receives Stat In Lieu payments of 5% on each paycheque and has a Sick Bank of 6.92%. Sick and Vacation banks are both accessible after your first 487.5 hours with AVI.
- Proof of Vaccination Required: AVI is under BC's Health Services Order and continues to require proof of vaccination.
- Hours of Work, Days Off and Work Area may be subject to change.
TO APPLY:
To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@avi.org .This posting is open until closed.
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.
As AVI is a union environment, internal staff will be prioritized in the hiring process.
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.