Job Description
Position Title: Harm Reduction Worker (HRW)/Mobile Greeter Consumption & Treatment Service (CTS)
Position: Term Full Time and Part Time Positions Available
Classification: Counsellor Level 2
Department: Family Community Health & Harm Reduction
Reporting to: Manager, Harm Reduction
Salary Band: $26.72 - $32.19
Reviewed: July 2023
Reviewed by: Manager, Harm Reduction
Deadline: Monday, July 31st, 2023
Submit: https://swchc.bamboohr.com/careers/564
Posting: INTERNAL and EXTERNAL
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About SWCHC
We are the Somerset West Community Health Centre (SWCHC), a non-profit, community-governed organization that serves over 16K clients annually. We provide a wide range of health care services such as primary health care, health promotion, community development, mental health and harm reduction. We are deeply connected to the communities we serve.
We make our work meaningful for our community by striving to ensure that our team reflect the community we serve.
We work within an anti-racism, anti-oppression framework that acknowledges systemic racism exists and seeks to ensure that systems are fair and equitable for everyone.
Role
Reporting to the Manager, Harm Reduction, the Harm Reduction Worker (HRW)/Mobile Greeter (MG) works as part of an interdisciplinary team to provide health care and treatment to clients of the Consumption & Treatment Service (CTS).
As a member of the Harm Reduction Team, the HRW supports all activities within the CTS, including but not limited to: intake & harm reduction gear distribution & disposal; supervision & health teaching for safer drug consumption including injection; crisis intervention; overdose prevention, identification & response including naloxone and oxygen administration; information and referrals; practical assistance; counseling based on self referrals; advocacy; log keeping & data entry; and case coordination with internal and external service partners in ensuring coordinated, wrap-around care for each CTS client. The HRW will also be responsible for supporting interdisciplinary CTS staff with overdose prevention and intervention, with a strong understanding of CTS client flow, an ability to build trusting rapport with CTS clientele, and intervene in crisis situations to support CTS staff with overdose interventions as needed.
The position will also be split with the role of Mobile Greeter, stationed primarily on the ground floor, indoors and outdoors. Working collaboratively the Client Engagement Worker, this position will have a focus on welcoming and supporting harm reduction clients in their access to the Centre, with a focus on supporting the smooth operations of the CTS within and around the Centre, including liaising internally with Centre staff, programs and peer workers, and externally with neighbours and the community as needed. This role will have key responsibilities relating to the management of the safety and security of the Centre and CTS clients, including but not limited to: directing client flow; doing regular space checks for clients; monitoring and attending to the outside of the building, including daily outdoor clean-ups, client flow management and maintaining designated smoke free outdoor areas. This role will have a key accountability in the identification, response, resolution, follow up and management of harm reduction client escalations and subsequent access plans/restrictions. This position will have a key responsibility in supporting, coordinating and supervising peer volunteers in their shift duties.
Requirements
- Degree in Social Work (BSW); Social Service Work; or related health discipline plus three years’ experience and passion for working with high risk populations and active drug users OR equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
- Create a welcoming presence to all clients of the Centre, and in particular welcome and support Harm Reduction clients and those accessing the CTS
- Work collaboratively with the Reception staff
- Early response to any situations that require de-escalation. Support harm reduction clients in particular with any symptoms they are having related to substance use, mental health or trauma, and getting team support when needed to quickly and effectively support de-escalations
- Ensuring the safe access and use of the Centre during evenings and weekends
- Commitment to working from a health equity and anti-oppressive lens
- Lived experience of drug use and/or experience in advocacy for persons who use drugs considered assets
- Excellent knowledge and experience regarding harm reduction approaches
- Good understanding of health promotion, HIV and HCV transmission, Hepatitis A,B and C, STI’s
- Experience in a drop-in, outreach or shelter setting is an asset
- Experience supporting people living with homelessness, mental health and addictions challenges
- Experience in overdose response is an asset
- Experience working within Medical Directives an asset
- Experience and knowledge in working with regulated health professionals an asset
- Certification in oxygen therapy and airway management an asset
- Must be available to work evenings and weekends, including 12-hr shifts
- Must be available to work rotational schedule
- Schedules are subject to change based on the operational needs of the service
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Superior positivity, commitment and passion for supporting the lives of the people who use drugs we have the honor of working alongside
- Superior skills in presenting a warm, welcoming and calming presence
- Superior skills in relationship-building, rapport-building, negotiation, de-escalation, and boundaries management
- Superior skills in non-violent crisis intervention and de-escalation
- Knowledge of best practice guidelines for individuals with substance use, supervised injection/consumption services, and suicide assessment.
- Demonstrate and advocate for welcoming practices that are anchored in trauma-informed practices
- Knowledge of substances frequently used in the CTS service user population, psychoactive properties & possible drug interactions
- Knowledge and ability to screen and assess for risk of overdose & withdrawal
- Skills in creating care plans for clients. Experience creating care plans for clients experiencing dysregulation, violence & aggression an asset
- Sound judgment and strong problem solving skills
- Ability to work independently, set priorities and manage time effectively
- Knowledge of health promotion, disease prevention, behaviour change and health teaching
- Strong clinical assessment skills
- Demonstrated ability and clinical expertise working with clients in crisis
- Knowledge of concurrent mental health distress presentations including psychosis, trauma and emotional dysregulation
- Knowledge of harm reduction approach and service delivery
- Effective organizational, critical thinking, problem solving and independent decision making skills
- Ability to delegate
- Ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team
- Ability to work with people with concurrent disorders
- Ability to work under stress with multiple demands
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Knowledge of legislation, acts and regulations that govern nursing practice
- Valid CPR and First Aid
- Successful completion of police record check for vulnerable populations
Language Capability
- Fluency in English required. Working knowledge of French an asset.
Please submit your resume and cover letter as one document to: https://swchc.bamboohr.com/careers/564
**It is the policy of SWCHC to require COVID-19 immunization for all employees, volunteers, students, and contractors, including those who do work off-site with the following exceptions: Persons with a medical reason that prevents them from being vaccinated against COVID-19; Persons with other reasonable considerations pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code that restrict them from being vaccinated against Covid 19 vaccination.**
Somerset West Community Health Centre is an equal opportunity employer who values the diversity of individuals in our programs and services.
We welcome and encourage applications from members of Indigenous, Black and racialized communities, Two-Spirit, nonbinary, LGBTQ+ people; people with disabilities; and members of other equity seeking groups. Applicants are encouraged to share accessibility needs in the application process, and every attempt will be made to accommodate them.
Due to the high volume of applicants, we can neither confirm receipt of nor respond to inquiries regarding your application. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
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