Outreach Support Worker - Campbell River, Canada - AVI Health & Community Services Society

AVI Health & Community Services Society

Verified Company

Campbell River, Canada

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Sophia Lee

beBee Recruiter

Description

Regulated Access to Drugs (RAD) is a flexible, community based, harm reduction program that provides safer, pharmaceutical alternatives to the currently toxic drug supply. This program operates in conjunction with AVI's existing programs and services, including the Positive Wellness Program for people living with or at risk of HIV/hepatitis C, health promotion education, youth advocacy and outreach, and drop-in harm reduction services. Our services are delivered on the traditional territory of the K'ómoks peoples.

JOB SUMMARY:

Under the supervision of the Program Manager or designate and alongside the Systems Navigator, the Outreach Support Worker applies their lived/living experience of drug use to build and maintain relationships with program participants.

They will practice harm reduction in their relationships to build trust and provide peer support.

The Outreach Support Worker will be integral to helping to establish and maintain a positive, respectful environment and to act as an AVI ambassador in the community.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Work collaboratively with the team to identify potential participants, provide information regarding access to pharmaceutical alternatives to street drugs, and assist with assessments and intakes.
Provide peer support in a variety of settings including at the onsite program space, parks, encampments, shelters, supported housing units, and dropin centres.
Assist with postdose monitoring for RAD program participants, assess for overdose symptoms and respond with rescue breathing and naloxone when necessary.
As needed, assess for overdose symptoms, and respond with rescue breathing and naloxone for service users onsite.
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 program participants to offer peer support through active listening skills and nonjudgmental 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 an AVI 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, an asset.
Have lived/living experience with drug use and related health and social barriers. Have personal experience accessing harm reduction services for safer drug use support and/or accessed other services designed to meet the needs of people who use substances.
Experience responding to critical incidents and overdose, including administration of naloxone.
To comply with current BC Public Health Orders, must be fully vaccinated for COVID19 or have an approved medical exemption. Proof of vaccination status will be required for successful applicants for positions covered by the order.
Able to respectfully engage and support Indigenous relationships, with a trauma informed and decolonial lens
Have a current knowledge of the local drug trends and can relate as a peer with program participants.
Direct service delivery experience in the community social services sector with a demonstrated working knowledge of communitybased programs and related provincial and community support services systems.
Interest in learning and eager to share information with peers with a nonjudgmental 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.
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 a variety of stakeholders, including coworkers, management, program participants, and community partners.
Ability to communicate clearly and with respect, both verbally and in writing.
Ability to approach and initiate conversations with others and build respectful rapport.
Ability to observe for changes in health and wellbeing in program participants.
Ability to work in a complex and dynamic work environment while keeping a 'cool head'.
Ability and willingness to engage in proactive problem solving when tense sit