Responder (Community Crisis) – CRCL CASUAL

AVI Health & Community Services (AVI) is a multi-disciplinary community-based organisation providing HIV, hepatitis C and harm reduction services out of 5 locations across Vancouver Island. AVI provides services to people living with HIV and hepatitis C and harm reduction clients. We take evidence-based action to prevent infection, provide support, and reduce stigma. We work within a social justice and health promotion framework to ensure equity and access to services for all.

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 organisations, between communities, and between funders and impactful programs.

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.

AVI Crisis Response, Community Led (CRCL)

The AVI Crisis Response, Community Led (CRCL) is funded by the Province of British Columbia and the Canadian Mental Health Association. CRCL is a peer-assisted care program and a mobile crisis response team, led by persons with lived / living experience and mental health professionals who are able to de‑escalate crises and develop community care plans with persons experiencing crisis.

The CRCL team is an alternate approach to responding to someone in crisis that focuses on health, well‑being and community support. Utilizing a community-based, client‑centered, trauma‑informed response, a peer‑assisted model of care has been proven to help individuals navigate mental and social care services and reduce engagement with the justice system and emergency services.

In the spirit of reconciliation and community empowerment, K'ómoks First Nation and AVI Health and Community Services have joined hands to support and create a comprehensive and culturally safe service initiative. KFN provides guidance through the CRCL program development to ensure Indigenous preceptive is woven throughout and supports Indigenous peoples accessing this service.

The CRCL team provides services on the territories of the K'ómoks First Nation.

Job Summary

The CRCL team will provide acute mobile crisis support and de‑escalation services for persons 13 years of age and older experiencing mental health and / or substance use related crises. Working in collaboration with all team members, the Community Crisis Responder is responsible for providing rapid point‑of‑service mental health crisis management and de‑escalation, including assessment, suicide intervention and safety planning, as well as acute care planning and follow‑up.

Alongside the team, this role is grounded in person‑centered, harm reduction and trauma informed approaches to care, which centre the needs and agency of the service user.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• CRCL is an emergency response team, supporting persons and their community / family experiencing mental health and substance use related crises.
• Model a high degree of cultural competency, ensuring services are culturally sensitive and incorporate Indigenous knowledge, practices, and approaches to healing and wellness.
• Ready and able to respond to mental health and substance use related crises.
• Triage and adjust responses depending on call acuity, severity and other incoming calls.
• Think critically and respond quickly, especially in critical situations and when deciding the next course of action.
• Attend back‑to‑back calls.
• Communicate effectively with and follow the direction of the CRCL team’s Dispatch / Coordinator or any supervisor.
• Remain responsive to incoming calls up until the end of shift, and / or when Mandatory Emergency Overtime is in effect.
• Demonstrate emotional resilience, including and especially within complex situations.
• Work effectively as a team, including respectful communication throughout and following an emergency crisis response.
• Continuously centre the needs of the person experiencing crisis.
• Effectively and professionally engage other care providers, including when advocating for a person in crisis, and / or when critically assessing and determining the next course of action.
• Develop comprehensive safety plans and establish post‑crisis follow‑up care, centring the needs of the person in crisis.
• Utilise a trauma‑informed approach, including with persons who are escalated and who use language or express beliefs that could be offensive or triggering for staff.
• Decentre themselves to provide care to all persons accessing our services.
• Utilise situational awareness, assessment, de‑escalation, and mental health training to work safely within changing and unpredictable environments.
• Be prepared for and able to adapt to changing work environments, including all kinds of weather, extended periods, diverse types of substance use, respiratory illnesses, potentially hazardous dwellings, and unknown environments.
• Perform in‑person assessment to critically assess and determine the next course of action, including in cases where Dispatch was unable to provide detailed information.
• Remain on scene and able to critically assess, including when a situation escalates and / or requires a higher level of care.
• Professionally engage service providers including police, ambulance, fire and healthcare providers, etc.
• Utilise ongoing assessment, rapport building and universal precautions.
• Utilise direct questions (open and closed ended), direct feedback and motivational interviewing skills.
• Be open to feedback, engage in self‑reflective practices and humility.
• Understand and practice both collective and personal accountability.
• Be self‑directed and able to perform all duties and professional obligations, without prompting or reminding.
• Demonstrate and engage in collaborative support and relationship building with K'ómoks First Nation Community, and its members.
• Adhere to all CRCL Program Policies and Practices.
• Adhere to AVI’s Policies and Procedures and Code of Ethics.

Qualifications

Key Characteristics

Position Details

To Apply

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, racialised, persons living with a disability, persons who use drugs, persons with experience of sex work, persons who live with HIV and / or hepatitis C, and persons representing diverse genders and sexualities.

Accommodation is available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. As AVI is a union environment, internal staff will be prioritized in the hiring process.

We would like to thank all those that apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

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