Community Capacity Project Coordinator

at  AVI Health and Community Services

AVI HEALTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES (AVI) is a multi-disciplinary community based organisation providing HIV, hepatitis C and harm reduction services out of 5 locations across Vancouver Island. AVI provides services to people living with HIV and hepatitis C and harm reduction clients. We work within a social justice and health promotion framework to ensure equity and access to services for all. We take a harm reduction perspective, understanding that clients are the best sources of knowledge regarding the services and supports they need. At the core of what we do is our ability, and commitment to, creating meaningful connections. Every day, we strive to create meaningful connections between clients and staff, between peers, between staff members, between organizations, between communities, and between funders and impactful programs. For more info see www.avi.org (http://www.avi.org)
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.
The Housing Overdose Prevention and Support (HOPS) Team works within supportive housing buildings to provide a broad range of low barrier, evidence-based harm reduction supports and education including overdose prevention and debriefing support, systems navigation and social support. The HOPS team also supports people living in the buildings to do Harm Reduction both alongside the HOPS team and when AVI is not there.

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Manager of Harm Reduction Teams, and working closely with the HOPS Team Leads, the Community Capacity Project Coordinator will lead the development of a curriculum and training program that aims to increase the knowledge and capacity of experiential workers living in supportive housing. The Coordinator will collaborate with community partners, HOPS providers, and people living in supportive housing to ensure the training is relevant, accessible, culturally appropriate, and based in best practice.
The Coordinator will supervise the Community Capacity Project Support Worker and will assist them in developing and later facilitating a mentorship program that provides people living in supportive housing with opportunities to do harm reduction work in community. The successful candidate will embody a philosophy and practice of collaboration, while working from a relational perspective that upholds values of harm reduction, empathy, social justice, cultural humility, and trauma informed care.
The Harm Reduction Teams work on the territories of the Ləkʷəŋən peoples (Esquimalt and Songhees nations).

QUALIFICATIONS

Three to five years of demonstrated experience in delivering services directly with program clients/participants.

Minimum of two years experience in the following areas:

• Program development, implementation, and evaluation in the fields of health and/or social services.
• Curriculum design and workshop facilitation.
• Leadership experience including experience coaching and mentoring staff, engaging in group process work (e.g. goal setting, debriefing), facilitating conflict resolution and collaborating effectively within an interdisciplinary team.
• Experience working in solidarity with people who have lived experience related to: living with HIV or Hepatitis C; the 2SLGBTQIA+ community; using criminalized substances; colonialism or racialized oppression; poverty and homelessness.

Education and Training:

• University degree in health or social services such as counselling, social work, psychology etc.. or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License with “Normal” driver status, and Driver’s Abstract (AVI will review the past 1 year and driving records will need to have no suspensions or prohibitions and a Driver’s Factor below 1.1). Access to a personal vehicle an asset.
• Experience responding to overdose and adverse reactions to substances, including administering naloxone and oxygen.
• Relevant training or experience in a non-violent and anti-oppressive approach to de-escalation and crisis intervention.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Strong working knowledge of systems navigation and advocacy in the context of local health and social services resources.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of HIV, hepatitis C, harm reduction, substance use and sexual health, or related facets of wellness that includes an intersectional perspective.
• Excellent organization, prioritization and time management skills, including ability to triage urgent demands and complex situations.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to communicate effectively across different mediums, including standard computer programs (e.g. Zoom, Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams).

1. Creates and manages a project workplan to ensure project deliverables and deadlines are being met.
2. Coordinates the development, evaluation, and implementation of educational programming, including the writing, production, and delivery of workshop curriculum related to harm reduction and support work.
3. Facilitate workshops and focus groups with relevant groups, including people living in supportive housing, experiential workers, and HOPS providers.
4. Researches and identifies effective educational strategies and best practice in harm reduction work.
5. Forms connections and relationships with community groups, Indigenous communities and health care professionals to identify trends, needs, and opportunities for collaboration.
6. Contributes to mentorship and modeling of practice with project staff and participants. Mentorship will be in line with AVI’s principles of social justice, trauma-informed care and cultural humility.
7. Oversees staffing of the project, including hiring, orientation, scheduling, and leave management.
8. Performs financial duties such as reviewing and authorizing petty cash and honoraria spending, and monitors expenditures related to program budget.
9. Performs related duties as required.