Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families has the following position available:
Newcomer HIV Prevention Support Worker
Wage: Dependent on Experience
Location: Based out of Main Office at 40 Begbie Street, New Westminster. Requires extensive outreach in the entirety of the Fraser Health Region
Hours: Business hours Monday – Friday with flexibility to work evenings/weekends as required.
Start Date: April, 2018
The Newcomer HIV Prevention Support Worker performs a wide variety of supportive tasks to assist in the prevention of HIV and other STBBIs among at-risk newcomer populations in the Fraser Health Region. The Purpose Society is funded by Fraser Heath to provide services supporting people who are living with HIV, at risk of HIV, at risk of opioid overdose, as well as people who use drugs.
Duties:
- The primary duty of this staff is to work closely with the Team Leader to design and facilitate prevention services for newcomers at increased risk of acquiring HIV, through a case management approach
- Provide risk reduction counselling, one-on-one education and promote routine testing for STBBIs
- Outreach into community settings where vulnerable newcomers may be prevalent to promote role and sexual health literacy
- Promote HIV prevention among various newcomer population groups through participation in health fairs and facilitation of educational forums
- Partner with existing organizations that support refugees or newcomers to promote sexual health literacy and access to prevention information
- Create partnerships and initiatives with existing testing sites in FH to promote and support access to tailored programing for newcomers surrounding sexual health
- Assist with organizing appointments, travel and related accompaniments/outreach activities to support routine testing and engagement with primary care services
- Prioritize and support all aspects of securing and maintaining emergency and long term housing, income supports, employment support, and nutritional supports for individual clients
- Support referral and access pathways to PrEP, and promote retention in prevention care
- Maintain strong knowledge on core competencies and diversified models of care for targeted gbMSM and Trans population groups, substance using population groups, Women, Indigenous Populations and persons with mental health conditions, who are at risk of acquiring HIV.
Qualifications:
- 4 year degree in Health Sciences, Social Work, or equivalent field
- Lived experience with HIV risk-factors and/or newcomer settlement issues
- Experience facilitating health promotion and HIV prevention strategies
- Experience providing services for at-risk and/or marginalized populations, including gbMSM or injection drug users
- Strong understanding of issues relating to harm reduction practices, poverty, stigma, HIV/AIDS, mental health and substance misuse
- Ability to work both evenings and weekends
- Ability to function effectively in difficult and/or crisis situations is required
- Knowledge of local resources an asset
- Valid BC Class 5 driver’s license and exclusive use of a vehicle