Harm Reduction Support Worker - Courtenay, Canada - AVI Health & Community Services Society

AVI Health & Community Services Society

Verified Company

Courtenay, Canada

3 weeks ago

Posted by:

Sophia Lee

beBee Recruiter

Description

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 more than 500 people living with HIV and hepatitis C and more than 3000 harm reduction clients. We work within a social justice and health promotion framework - ensuring equity and access to services for all - and from a harm reduction perspective, understanding that clients are the best sources of knowledge regarding the services and supports they need.

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.

Job Summary:

The Harm Reduction Support Worker provides a broad range of low barrier, harm reduction supports to individuals accessing harm reduction programming and services.

The Harm Reduction Support Worker will provide evidence-based educational and harm reduction interventions to individuals and priority populations to increase knowledge regarding HIV and other blood-borne disease transmission and prevention strategies, and facilitate behavior change to prevent transmission.

The Harm Reduction Support Worker provides oversight, support, and overdose response training to Peer groups supported by AVI, including facilitating Peer work, payment of honoraria, and providing support to capacity building.

Also the Harm Reduction Support Worker assists in providing specific programming, education, and support relating to substance use, sexual health/sexual decision-making harm reduction and overdose prevention on an outreach basis.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Responsible for harm reduction supply distribution and recovery
Uses brief assessment, active listening and crisis response skills to help meet immediate, basic needs and make appropriate referrals to other health and support services within the community
Provides education, resources and support regarding safer substance use, safer substance techniques and safer sex, HIV, hepatitis C, and STIs
Provides overdose prevention education and first aid response, including education on the administration of Naloxone
Distributes Naloxone to high use areas in the Comox Valley both on the street and within existing services
Provides outreach to community services, camps, shelters, and to people's homes, as needed
Provides on the spot training in overdose prevention and response
Provides oversight, support, and overdose response training to Peer groups supported by AVI, including facilitating Peer work, payment of honoraria, and providing support to capacity building.
Consults with peers to determine how best to enhance skills, competencies and abilities
Provides support and referral to people who have survived overdose(s) including Opiate Agonist Treatment (OAT) and other resources
Collaborates and coordinate service delivery with other community partners including proactively building relationship with Indigenous led services in the Comox Valley
Develops and facilitates workshops and support groups related to increasing health and wellness
Engages with clients in a collaborative, personcentered approach grounded in harm reduction
Maintains the safety of all program spaces by following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents (such as overdose prevention and response).
Works in collaboration with partner agencies to provide a continuum of services
Keeps electronic records and compiles reports
Maintains both paper and electronic confidential client files as required
Oversees all office ordering, supplier communication, stock records
Manages community distribution of harm reduction supplies and maintain distribution records
Engages in planning, evaluation, and program development as directed
Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

Diploma in health or social services (Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health & Addictions Support Worker, etc.), or equivalent combination of education and work/lived experience
Have a minimum of two years' experience working within harm reduction settings
First Aid training and experience responding to critical incidents, including overdose
Valid Class 5 BC Driver's License
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.
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
Demonstrated experience working within a harm reduction framework (paid or unpaid) within communities impac