SAFER Workforce/713 PA Support Workers - Casual

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

For more info see www.avi.org

SAFER is a flexible, community-based, harm reduction program that provides pharmaceutical alternatives (PA) to the currently toxic drug supply.

SAFER is located on the territories of the Lekwungen peoples (Esquimalt and Songhees nations). The SAFER Harm Reduction Workforce program provides dedicated access to prescribed alternatives for people who work in harm reduction services and otherwise meet the criteria for the service.

The SAFER 713 Prescribed Safe Supply program provides access to prescribed alternatives for people who access the 713 drop-in on an as needed basis to those who meet the criteria for the program.

DOPES is a drop-in harm reduction program operating out of 713 Johnson Street. providing a range of services and support for people who use substances.

JOB SUMMARY :

Under the direct supervision of the Workforce / 713 PA Team Lead and SAFER Program Manager, the Casual SAFER Workforce / 713 PA Support Worker applies their lived / living or observed experience of criminalized drug use to build and maintain relationships with Workforce / 713 PA participants.

They will practice harm reduction in their relationships to build trust and provide support. The Workforce / 713 PA Support Worker will be integral to helping to establish and maintain a positive, respectful environment at the Workforce / 713 PA program space and to act as a SAFER ambassador in the community.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Work collaboratively with the SAFER Workforce / 713 PA team to identify potential participants, provide information regarding access to pharmaceutical alternatives to street drugs, and assist with assessments and intakes.
• Distribute safer drug use supplies, safer sex supplies and naloxone kits, and provide information and training about their use.
• Monitor and support people who are using substances. Assess for overdose symptoms and respond with SAFER Workforce / 713 PA team with rescue breathing and naloxone when necessary. Training is provided.
• Maintain the safety of all program spaces by following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents.
• Provide harm reduction information and referrals for other health and social services.
• Connect regularly with participants and offer support through active listening skills and non-judgmental attitude.
• Liaise between participants, systems navigators, nurses and physicians to support participants to be heard and assist with keeping communication open and accessible.
• Identify and develop safety plans with people who are using substances who are at increased risk of overdose.
• Contribute to a positive, respectful environment at the program space and act as a SAFER Workforce / 713 PA ambassador in the community.
• Attend regularly scheduled team meetings and individual supervision meetings.
• Keep records and participate in team charting' to assure comprehensive documentation.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS :

• Minimum two years' experience working within harm reduction settings. Experience working with safer supply programs preferred.
• Having lived / living or observed experience with criminalized drug use and related health and social barriers is preferred.
• Experience responding to critical incidents and overdose, including administration of naloxone. We can support to obtain first aid certificate is available if necessary.
• Have a current knowledge of the local drug trends and can relate with Workforce / 713 PA participants.
• Direct service delivery experience in the community social services sector with a demonstrated working knowledge of community-based programs and related provincial and community support services systems.
• Comfortable approaching and initiating conversation with others and ability to build respectful rapport.
• Interest in learning and eager to share information with a non-judgmental attitude.
• Demonstrated understanding of the importance and role of people who use drugs in the development, delivery, and evaluation of services intended to benefit them.
• Working understanding of the importance of confidentiality and boundaries.
• Working knowledge in the areas of harm reduction, safer drug use, OAT, safer sex, sex work, HIV / AIDS, Hepatitis C, mental health, etc.
• Commitment to honor Indigenous communities and ways of knowing, and approach learning about the ongoing impacts of colonial violence with humility.
• Demonstrated understanding and commitment to harm reduction principles and practices.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES :

• Ability to work in cooperation with others.
• Ability to have punctual attendance.
• Ability to communicate clearly and with respect, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain rapport with participants and observe for changes in their health and well-being.
• Ability to work in settings that can be high energy and stressful with self-awareness.
• Ability to keep a cool head' when tense situations arise and willingness to engage in proactive problem solving.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position and operate related equipment.
• Role is apart of being minimum staffing. Absences results in program closure.

POSITION DETAILS :

• Pay : $31.56 / hour to start with stepped increases based on your seniority with AVI. (Pay for this role is based on the BCGEU paygrid 34)
• Hours and Schedule : Casual basis with potential shifts falling between Monday to Sunday, 9 : 15am to 9 : 00pm.
• Position : This is a casual position
• Location : 713 Johnson drop in and the SAFER clinic
• Number of positions available : Multiple positions available
• Union : AVI is a union environment under the Collective Agreement : HEABC & Health Services & Support Community Subsector Association 2022-2025 and this role is a BCGEU union position.
• Pension : If you are already a member of the Municipal Pension Plan (MPP), you can continue with them at AVI immediately.

At this time, AVI contributes an additional 9.31% towards your pension account. If you are not already a member of the Municipal Pension Plan, part time staff may become eligible after 2 years with AVI.

• Other Perks : This position gets paid an extra 5% in lieu of vacation 5% in lieu of stats, meaning your hourly rate is actually 10% higher than listed.
• Hours of Work, Days Off and Work Area may be subject to change.

TO APPLY :

Please click on Apply To Position and attach your resume and cover letter (optional) before 5 pm on Sunday, November 17, 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.

It is beneficial to identify in the cover letter if you are Indigenous and / or have lived / living expertise relevant to the position.

Accommodations are 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.