Education Coordinator - Peer Education

at  Lift Community Services

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Lift Community Services focuses on helping all people thrive in the qathet region by reducing social inequities and by providing support and advocacy for anyone who needs it. Our vision is a welcoming, inclusive, and diversity-affirming community that is free of poverty and full of heart. At Lift, we believe a thriving, sustainable community comes from a collaborative, equitable, future-focused approach.
Our programs and services include employment services, supportive housing and homeless outreach, temporary shelter services, literacy programs, health services, outreach, immigrant services, adult and family on-demand support. We also provide community leadership and development in overdose response planning, poverty reduction planning, and other projects that develop a more connected and resilient community. Lift operates many resource centres in our community, including the local WorkBC Centre, the Community Resource Centre, qathet Complex Care Housing, the iOAT Clinic, the Family Place, and the Dr. Elsie Paul Literacy Centre located at the Powell River Public Library.
Lift Community Services serves a diverse community, and our goal is to build a team reflects that diversity. People of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives are encouraged to apply.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Past lived experience of substance use is an asset
• A strong working knowledge of learning styles and group dynamics related to people who use drugs
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
• Demonstrated ability to plan work independently and adhere to planning and timelines
• Understanding the intricacies and nuances related to working alongside people who use substance
• Passion for group facilitation and learning together with people who experience persistent and multiple barriers to inclusion
• Possession of or desire to learn critical debrief skills for people who use substances
• Ability to consistently upgrade knowledge and learn from VCH educators to facilitate healthy and respectful group dynamics and discussion
• Demonstrated ability to recognize and overcome barriers specific to rural and remote settings
• Relationship building with community partners is essential
• Strong working knowledge of harm reduction, OAT therapies, naloxone intervention and recovery models that are inclusive
• Proven ability to work in pressurized environments and in a multi-disciplinary environment
• Specialized knowledge relating to Opioid Agonist Therapy pathways, Toxic Drug Supply Public Health Emergency, Overdose response
• Ability to work with people who experience grief and loss
• Experience with Motivational Interviewing training is an asset
• Ability to design promotional materials and feedback surveys
• Communications skills such as writing and reporting
• Ability to coach and build capacity in persons who experience marginalization
• Ability to respond appropriately to crisis and problem solve in moments of pressure
• Experience with and/or a desire to work alongside people with lived and living experience of substance use

EXPERIENCE

• A strong working knowledge of support work related to people who use drugs
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
• Experience and/or a desire to working alongside people with lived and living experience of substance use

KEY TASKS AND COMPETENCIES

• Creation and implementation of a 12-month rotational education schedule for peers in qathet
• Delivers effective courses, including advanced overdose response training per VCH guidelines
• Facilitation of co-lead training for Street Degree leaders
• Direct co-facilitation of Street Degree Classes
• Facilitation of Peer Led Trauma Education intake, evaluation and cohort management
• Delivers information that is strictly evidence-based and adapted to rural substance use context
• Meets bi-weekly with SUSTAIN and Peers at the OPS to ensure needs and gaps in knowledge are being filled through Street Degree
• Development of new and emerging knowledge modules based on real-time feedback of qathet substance using community