Job Summary: The ICM Harm Reduction Support Worker will work on a multidisciplinary team to provide a broad range of psychosocial and health-related supports to individuals in accordance with the Team’s goals and objective
Grid Level: Grid 11, $23.19 /hour
Hours of Work: 37.5 hours/week – Sunday to Thursday from 1:00pm to 9:00pm
Work Location: AVI Victoria, 713 Johnson Street
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Actively engages with people who use substances and individuals who are living with, or at risk for, HIV/Hepatitis C, using a collaborative, person-centered approach grounded in harm reduction
- 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
- Establishes client care plan in collaboration with the client, and the team
- Provides outreach-based supports in the community including accompaniment to appointments, home visits, eviction prevention, and advocacy in accordance with the established client care plans
- Distributes and recovers harm reduction supplies, and provides education and support on safer drug use, safer sex, HIV, hepatitis C, and STIs
- Works in collaboration with partner agencies to provide a continuum of services within AIDS Vancouver Island and the Island Health Authority
- Maintains confidential paper and electronic case notes and communicates clearly to coworkers in the communication log
- Fosters safety by following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents (such as overdose and other medical emergencies), including the ability to use a cell phone
- Engages in planning, evaluation, reporting, and program development as directed
- Performs other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
Education, Training, and Experience:
University degree in health or social services (Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health & Addictions Support Worker, etc.), or equivalent combination of education and experience
Support Workers will have a minimum of two years relevant work experience and will demonstrate the following minimum requirements:
- Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License and use of own vehicle for work purposes
- Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge in the areas of harm reduction principles and practices
- Demonstrated ability to establish rapport, provide support and advocate for a diverse range of clientele including individuals who are actively using substances and living with significant health challenges
- Direct service delivery and advocacy experience with community-based and provincial support services and systems (financial aid, housing, healthcare, justice system, etc.)
- Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge in the areas of safer drug use, addictions, safer sex, sex work, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, mental health, etc.
- Demonstrated knowledge of social justice, health promotion and public health approaches and models of social support and health care
- Experience managing hostile interactions, utilizing non-violent communication and diffusing techniques
- Ability to problem solve with creativity, flexibility, assertiveness and a cool head in dealing with complex issues
- Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, and demonstrated commitment to working within a collaborative team approach;
- Demonstrated time management and personal organization skills to effectively support a full caseload within a case management model
Skills and Abilities:
- Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position
- Ability to work independently and in cooperation with others
- Ability to operate related equipment
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
- Ability to organize and prioritize
- Ability to observe and recognize changes in clients
- Ability to establish and maintain rapport with clients
- Ability to analyze and resolve problems
- Conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills
- Advocacy skills
- Leadership experience
- Ability to work with a diverse clientele facing significant structural vulnerability
- Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge in the areas of harm reduction/health promotion practices, safer using practices, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, poverty issues, mental health concerns and addictions
- Ability to work under pressure and in crisis situations
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Understanding of diversity issues
- Understanding of the psycho-social issues affecting people who use substances
We encourage applications from, but not limited to, Indigenous persons, persons of colour, persons living with disabilities, persons who use/d illicit drugs, persons with experience of sex work, and persons representing diverse genders and sexualities.
To apply: please submit your resume and cover letter to [email protected] by 5:00pm on Thursday, September 13, 2018.
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