| Salary and Benefits |
$44,000/year Enrolment in a comprehensive benefits package and a generous paid time off policy following 3 months of employment. Staff are eligible for raises & promotions each year on their contract anniversary |
| Hours of work |
Full Time – 35 hours/week Most hours are generally worked M – F, 8AM – 6PM. Approximately 80% of hours are spent providing support services, with 20% dedicated to meetings and administrative work.
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Location of work |
Lower Mainland, BC This role involves frequent travel within the lower mainland, primarily within the boundaries of the Fraser Health Authority. When not completing direct service work, the HIV Support Worker may work remotely at any location of their choosing.
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| Contract Length | May 2022 – March 2023, with extension pending confirmed funding |
About YouthCO
YouthCO is non-profit organization by and for youth impacted by HIV and Hep C in British Columbia, including youth living with HIV or Hep C, Indigenous youth, and queer and trans youth. We are committed to reducing the impact of HIV and Hep C stigma on youth in our communities through anti-oppressive approaches to peer education, peer support and community building.
The Positive Youth Program
The Positive Youth Program is a community-health-leadership and dedicated support program by and for youth with lived and living experience of HIV or Hep C. Our program works with youth as young as 6 and up to 29 years old. We take an anti-oppressive and harm reduction approach to our work, integrating youthcentred and culturally affirming care in all we do. Our program includes our low-barrier one-to-one support service for youth in the Fraser Health region, monthly online and in-person meetings, a volunteer program and an annual summer and winter camp.
Position Description
The HIV Support Worker works closely with the Positive Youth Program Manager, Fraser Health Authority STBBI (Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infections) Team, and community organizations in the Fraser Health region to ensure that HIV positive youth have access to the resources they need to navigate living with HIV and to meet their overall health & wellness goals. This role involves significant one-one-one work with youth ages 15 to 29, centering youth who are experiencing the most barriers to effective care and have the least stability. The HIV Support Worker provides mobile services meeting youth where they are at, and uses a combination of formal appointments, informal meetups, text communication and relationship building to support youth engaged in our services.
Shared Team Responsibilities
• Work closely with members of the Positive Programs Team to ensure the smooth planning and
implementation of all program activities
• Cultivate a welcoming and safe environment for positive youth where they feel safe to seek
support in navigating challenges related to HIV and Hep C, including sexual health and substance
use
• Build and maintain a strong up-to-date working knowledge of:
• the effects of colonization and stigma on HIV and Hep C in the lives of youth in BC
• services related to HIV and Hep C in BC
• the fundamentals of HIV and Hep C testing, treatment, transmission, and strategies for
• reducing the possibility of the viruses being passed
• safe and effective community wellness resources for positive youth in BC
• community involvement for positive youth in BC
• Document program activities required for program reporting and evaluation
Program Area Responsibilities
• Work closely with the Fraser Sexual Health and Blood Borne Infection (STBBI) Team and associated community services to identify youth most in need of additional support to facilitate continued engagement in care
• Build and maintain strong, positive working relationships with each youth engaged in our services
• Support youth in identifying barriers to access and engagement in care. Work directly with youth alongside the Fraser STBBI Team to navigate, mitigate and address those barriers
• Provide transport for youth to and from appointments, including scheduling and coordination
• Support youth with financial planning and securing housing, including completing applications for assistance programs, jobs, and education
• Support youth in accessing accurate and up-to-date information about HIV and HIV services
• Facilitate affirming and effective access to HIV services, supporting youth with identifying and communicating their needs and boundaries with community service and healthcare providers
• Provide informal one-on-one emotional peer support to youth navigating challenges related to HIV stigma, and marginalization
• Facilitate connection to community and personal/educational/professional development opportunities for youth relevant to their individual needs and personal goals
• Connect youth to additional health and wellness services relevant to their individual needs and personal goals
Requirements
• Education or work experience equivalent to a social services diploma.
• Completed SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (at least 2 doses)
• A valid Class 5 driver’s license. Access to a car during scheduled work hours OR eligibility for Modo car share program. Safe and confident driver, comfortable with driving youth to appointments.
• Ability to complete a criminal record check with no results prohibiting work with children or vulnerable adults (this is our legal organizational obligation to the Criminal Records Review Act)
Qualifications
• Works well with a wide spectrum of HIV positive youth including Black, Indigenous and youth of colour, immigrant youth, queer and transgender youth, and youth who use drugs.
• Shares our values as a youth-led organization committed to anti-oppression
• Responsible, reliable, punctual, and consistent in carrying out work duties
• Knowledgeable about HIV, approaches to one-on-one support, case management, developments in HIV care, mental health and the needs of young people impacted by HIV
• Experience in initiating and facilitating peer support conversations with others about a wide range of topics, including healthcare, sex, substance use, finances, mental health, and relationships
• Strong track record of building and maintaining positive relationships with youth, coworkers, and community partners
• Tactful, empathetic, and proactive relationship builder
• Resourceful, creative, and flexible problem solver
• Excellent communication skills. Takes initiative in ensuring clarity and mutual understanding
A note on remote work at YouthCO
This position may work remotely anywhere within the Lower Mainland. However, please note that a minimum of 80% of hours worked each week are spent in the Fraser Health Region working directly with youth and the STBBI team. Travel is reimbursed for driving within the Fraser Region, and when transporting youth between health authorities. We are unable to reimburse commuting to and from the Fraser Region. Staff typically find this role a better fit for them if they are living within the Fraser Region. We provide staff working remotely with access to a computer and digital meeting tools as well as supplies, an office chair and desk if needed. Additionally, we provide all staff working 20 hours or more with a phone benefit and internet benefit of $120/month to support access to communication services while working remotely. Most of our staff works remotely, with a few co-located at a small Vancouver office.
Hiring Process
As a peer-led organization, it is most important to us to hire someone who will connect with the
communities that we work with and is able to carry out the job responsibilities we have outlined here. We know that formal education and/or past jobs are not the only experiences that may make someone a great fit for this position on the YouthCO team. Informal education, traditional knowledge, volunteering, community organizing, and caregiving roles are just a few of the many experiences we welcome on our team.
We believe that peers are best positioned for the work we do at YouthCO. We strongly encourage
applications from youth under 30 with lived or living experience of HIV or Hep C, experience navigating
sexual health/substance use/harm reduction, Black and Indigenous youth, and youth from other racialized communities, youth who are Two-Spirit, queer, trans or non-binary and youth with experience navigating healthcare in suburban or rural communities.
Key Dates & Details
To apply, submit a resume and responses to the application questions below to
[email protected] by 11:59PM on March 20, 2022. A cover letter is not required and a single pdf of
your resume, followed by the application questions is preferred. As a guideline, please respond in
100 – 300 words for questions 1 – 3. Please include the title of the role you are applying for in the
subject of the email.
1. What about our organization interests you in working with us?
2. What about the HIV Support Worker role, in particular, interests you?
3. What non-professional life experiences, skills or qualities that might not be as easily
represented in a formal resume do you think make you a great fit for this role?
4. Do you have a valid Class 5 Driver’s license?
5. Do you have access to a vehicle or are eligible for Modo membership?
6. Do you have valid proof of vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 (minimum 2 doses)?
• We will let applicants know whether they have been selected for an interview by March 22.
• Where possible, interviews will be conducted via Zoom. Interviews take place March 28– April 1st
• We will make employment offers to successful candidates by April 8
• This position has a flexible start date of May 1 – May 15
If you have any questions, about the role we encourage you to contact our Positive Programs Manager,
Furqan at [email protected]