Harm Reduction Manager – Ref #2024-105 - Sioux Lookout, Canada - Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority

Description

Harm Reduction Manager – Ref #

Job Summary:

The Approaches to Community Wellbeing is a regional resource to 31 First Nations communities. The Approaches to Community Wellbeing provides expertise, support, services, and programming in public health to the region. The program also supports communities in the development, implementation, and monitoring of their own Approaches to Community Wellbeing. Harm Reduction is a component of Preventing Infectious Diseases under the Healthy Living section of the model.

The objective of the Harm Reduction Manager is to support communities in the prevention of infectious diseases and deaths from through harm reduction services. Harm reduction is an important initiative in order to respond to the high prevalence of prescription drug use and associated harms (i.e. sexually transmitted and blood borne infections, overdoses/toxic drug poisonings) in First Nations remote communities. The program currently includes a distribution program for safe injection kits, naloxone training and kits, health promotion, and support for community-based Suboxone programs.

The Harm Reduction Manager is directly accountable to the Director of Approaches to Community Wellbeing.

Qualifications:

• Persons of First Nations ancestry will be given preference (OHRC, Part II, Special Employment)
• Degree in a health or related field (health sciences, mental health, public health, nursing, social work, etc.); a Masters degree is an asset
• Minimum three years' experience in public health and/or health management roles
• Experience planning, supervising, and evaluating projects
• Previous experience in harm reduction and/or public health
• Previous experience in health planning and project management
• Previous experience in health promotion and education
• Understanding of public health systems (including Health Promotion and Protection Act and the Ontario Public Health Standards), and First Nations health systems
• Understanding of the unique determinants of health for First Nations Peoples in northwestern Ontario, and the health landscape in which they seek services
• Experience managing budgets and fulfilling reporting requirements to funders
• Active interest in harm reduction as it pertains to individuals who use substances
• Excellent planning, organization, time management, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Professional integrity and the ability to maintain confidentiality is essential
• Experience working both independently and in a team-orientated, collaborative environment is essential
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment
• Ability to develop and maintain respectful/cooperative relationships with First Nations people, communities, service stakeholders, and health care providers to promote an integrated seamless delivery of service
• Excellent written, verbal, and computer skills
• Ability to complete reports and documentation
• Experience and training in cultural competency with First Nations
• Ability to communicate in one of the First Nations dialects within the Sioux Lookout Zone is an asset
• Valid Ontario G drivers licence
• Ability to perform requirements of the role on a regular basis

Roles and Responsibilities:

1. With support from the Director of Approaches to Community Wellbeing, create a strategic plan and vision for the Harm Reduction service, which includes (but is not limited to):
   • Culturally appropriate health promotion campaigns and strategies which help reduce stigma (aligning strategies across other health promotion efforts within Approaches to Community Wellbeing)
   • Distribution of safe injection/inhalation supplies, condoms, and naloxone kits
   • Capacity building and training initiatives of community-based workers around harm reduction (i.e. testing initiatives, distribution of harm reduction supplies, Suboxone programs, health promotion)
   • Support communities in the introduction, expansion, or improvement of harm reduction initiatives (i.e. testing, distribution of supplies, Suboxone, health promotion)
   • Regional policies, objectives, and standards for harm reduction
   • Mechanisms for communities to provide feedback on harm reduction services and overall monitoring and evaluation of the Harm Reduction program
2. Work with the ACW Director and Human Resources staff to recruit, interview, select, hire, and employ an appropriate number of employees to enhance Harm Reduction.
3. Provide supervision and direction to the Harm Reduction team by:
   • Ensuring communication practices are clear and in place
   • Providing effective problem solving and conflict resolution as required
   • Administering, monitoring, and ensuring adherence to organizational policies and procedures and developing and implementing harm reduction program specific policies
   • Appraising employee job results
   • Providing ongoing coaching, advice, and motivation
   • Identifying and supporting professional development and training of staff
4. Monitor work plan and finances of Harm Reduction program by:
   • Managing the development of annual work plans and reports
   • Conducting ongoing health planning with staff, including input from community members and the Health Services Advisory Committee whenever possible
   • Assisting in the preparation of an annual budget for each program area as per service goals and objectives
   • Monitoring budget variances
   • Monitoring and ensuring proper financial coding
   • Preparing funding proposals and reports, in collaboration with the Director of Approaches to Community Wellbeing as per funding requirements
5. Coordinate the ongoing promotion of Harm Reduction services
   • Managing preparation, maintenance, and submission of all correspondence, reports, and briefing notes
   • Conducting presentations as needed
6. Coordinate and supervise Harm Reduction services
   • Planning, developing, and implementing systems that perform the work and fulfill the goals of the program efficiently and effectively
   • Liaising with leadership, frontline workers, health care providers, and other service workers in communities to collaboratively strategize means to tackle priority issues related to harm reduction
   • Facilitating delivery of harm reduction services to support communities
   • Participating in and directing delivery of training, educational, and capacity building activities for all communities related to harm reduction
   • Actioning community concerns and requests appropriately
7. Support program and service evaluation and quality improvement
   • Evaluating the effectiveness, acceptability, availability, and cost efficiency of harm reduction programming in conjunction with Roots for Community Wellbeing staff
   • Ensuring that systems are in place to monitor the delivery of harm reduction services to the First Nations communities
8. Represent the organization as required in various settings:
   • Representing SLFNHA on external committees or at meetings as needed
   • Conducting presentations to various stakeholders and at conferences and meetings, as appropriate
   • Conducting community visits on a regular basis
   • Understanding the organization's mandate and conveying it in forums as required
9. Network and coordinate activities with other organizations working in Harm Reduction in the Sioux Lookout region
10. Provide assistance when required and any other duties assigned

Closing Date: Open Until Filled