AVI Health & Community Services (AVI) is a multi‐disciplinary community based organization providing HIV, hepatitis C, harm reduction and mental health services on Vancouver Island. AVI works within a social justice and health promotion framework to ensure equity and access to services for all. In the North Island, AVI provide services in the Comox Valley on the lands of the K’ómoks First Nation and in Campbell River on the lands of the Wei Wai Kum First Nation. Current programs include harm reduction education and distribution, positive wellness, health promotion and prescribed safe supply (PSS) with a mental health crisis team to be launched later this year.
At the core of what we do is our ability, and commitment to, creating meaningful connections. Every day, we strive to create meaningful connections between clients and staff, between peers, between staff members, between organizations, between communities, and between funders and impactful programs. 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.
The Peer Assisted Care Teams (PACT) is a community-led mobile crisis response to a mental health crisis conducted by individuals with mental health expertise and lived and living experience/expertise. This model uses a person-centered, trauma-informed approach to support individuals during a mental health and/or substance use crisis connecting them to community support and services. The team also facilitates follow-up support to specialised services, case management, primary health care, housing support, mental health and substance use services
About the Role:
This position is an exciting opportunity to lead the development of a new community led mental health crisis team in the Comox Valley. The team is being developed by AVI Health and Community Services Society in partnership with K’ómoks First Nation (KFN) with funding from the BC Canadian Mental Health Association and the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions.
Job Summary
The Senior Manager of the Peer Assisted Care Team is responsible for developing, implementing, managing and evaluating the program. This role requires leadership, clinical expertise, and the ability to collaborate effectively with a range of stakeholders to ensure the provision of high-quality, timely, and compassionate care to individuals experiencing mental health crises. The position also requires strong and commitment to cultural competency in health care, especially for indigenous people. The Senior Manager is responsible for supporting the PACT Manager in the direction, supervision and evaluation of the PACT program, in accordance with the standards set out by the agency and funders.
Key Responsibilities
1. Leadership and Team Management:
- Provide strong leadership and direction to team members
- Model a high degree of cultural competency to staff, including ensuring services are culturally sensitive and incorporate Indigenous knowledge, practices, and approaches to healing and wellness
- Manages staff recruitment, interviewing and hiring, work assignments, orientation, training and performance supervision according to work rules, regulations and collective agreements
- Conduct regular team meetings, performance evaluations, and professional development activities to support the growth and well-being of team members.
2. Program Development and Oversight
- Ensure that all crisis interventions and assessments are conducted in accordance with the program standards, evidence-based practices, clinical guidelines, and organizational policies.
- Ensure that the services promote health equity for Indigenous Peoples, addressing systemic barriers and the social determinants of health.
- Monitor the quality and effectiveness of crisis services through regular review of clinical documentation, case conferences, and outcome measures.
- Develop and implement protocols and procedures to manage and mitigate risks associated with crisis interventions, including safety planning, de-escalation techniques, and crisis response protocols.
- Respond effectively to critical incidents, complaints, or adverse events involving crisis team operations
- Ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations and standards
- Identify opportunities for program expansion, enhancement, and innovation to better meet the needs of individuals experiencing mental health crises.
3. Stake-holder Engagement and Collaboration
- Work in relational collaboration with K’ómoks First Nation Health Unit to uphold the partnership agreement and with KFN Health services to ensure KFN members receive culturally competent care from the team and other service providers
- Advocate for practices and policies with other service providers, that provide health equity for Indigenous People’s, support self-determination and are understanding of the historic and on-going impact of colonization
- Establish and maintain effective partnerships with local community organizations, emergency services, hospitals, law enforcement agencies, and other mental health providers to ensure effective services for individuals in crisis.
- Collaborate with community partners, stakeholders, and funding agencies to advocate for resources and support for mental health crisis services.
This is an evolving role so job duties may be subject to change as we learn from the implementation of the program.
Qualifications
- Strong understanding of colonialism and the ways in which historical and ongoing colonization impacts Indigenous People
- 5-7 years relevant leadership experience including, overseeing mental health programs and leading diverse staff teams
- 5-7 years’ clinical experience working in mental health and/or substance use services preferably in a community setting
- Post-secondary degree, preferably at a master's level, in a mental health-related field (e.g., social work, counselling, public health) is an asset
- Current practicing Registration with a Professional Practice Body is an asset
- An equivalent combination of education, training and experience will be considered.
- Valid BC Driver’s license and use of own vehicle
- Relevant or applicable training/experience in anti-racism and a demonstrated commitment to anti-colonial learning/unlearning
- Knowledge of mental health laws, regulations, and ethical standards governing crisis intervention and care is an asset.
- Able to respectfully engage and support Indigenous relationships, with a trauma informed and decolonial lens
- 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
- Demonstrated proficiency in mental health crisis assessment, intervention, and management and incident de-briefing.
- Ability to model cultural competency to staff, including ensuring services are culturally sensitive and incorporate Indigenous knowledge, practices, and approaches to healing and wellness
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse populations and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams
- Proficiency in data analysis, quality improvement methodologies, and program evaluation techniques
- Demonstrated commitment to trauma-informed care, recovery-oriented practices, and cultural competency in mental health service delivery
- Demonstrated an understanding of Canadian colonization, Indigenous specific racism and its impact on the current health and wellness of Indigenous Peoples.
- Knowledge of the significance to provision of culturally safe health care engagements and environments for indigenous Peoples.
- Demonstrated skills, experience, and commitment to harm reduction principles and practices.
- Ability to bring a positive, empathetic and relational approach, flexible, and enjoys working in a dynamic and informal workplace
- Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to coach and mentor staff, facilitate conflict resolution, foster empathic communication and demonstrate clear boundaries
- Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships, both within the agency and in the community
- Ability to effectively collect, interpret and summarize data and legal requirements
- Be able to effectively read and interpret information, present numerical data in a resourceful manner, and skillfully gather and analyze information
- Be adept at problem-solving, including being able to identify issues and resolve programs in a timely manner
- Ability to communicate effectively across different mediums, including using standard computer programs (e.g. Zoom, Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams).
- Organized, intuitive and able to balance multiple priorities while maintaining a high degree of professionalism, confidentiality and strong attention to detail.
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice principles and practices, including harm reduction, anti-racism, decolonization, combating stigma related to drug use, HIV, hepatitis C, and challenging gendered oppression, ableism, homophobia, and transphobia.
POSITION DETAILS:
- Pay :$46.00 - $49.50/hour, based on experience
- Hours and Schedule: 37.5 hours/ week and shifts falling on Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm
- Term: This position is ongoing based on funding
- Location: AVI Comox Valley office
- Reporting: This position reports to the Senior Director with support from the Director of Culture and Community Services
- Union: AVI is a union environment under the Collective Agreement: HEABC & Health Services & Support Community Subsector Association 2022-2025 and this role is an Excluded Position.
- Benefits: This position will be eligible for extended health, life and AD&D on the 1st of the month after this position begins. AVI pays for the entire cost of the plan on behalf of its staff.
- Pension: This position is immediately eligible to join the Municipal Pension Plan. At this time, AVI contributes an additional 9.31% towards your pension account.
- Other Perks: This position gets 8% vacation (equivalent of 4 weeks), receives a paid day off for eligible Stat Holiday, which includes Easter Monday, and accrues a Sick Bank of 6.9%. Sick and Vacation Days are both available to be used after your first 3 months at 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 by 5pm on April 1, 2024.
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.
Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
We would like to thank all those who apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.