AVI Health & Community Services (AVI) increases health equity by providing highly responsive, harm reduction -based HIV, hepatitis C, substance use, sexual health, mental health, and other community health services, and is informed by the voices of people with living experience. We envision a community where people can experience optimal health and wellness, and be free from stigma, marginalization, and criminalization. For more information see www.avi.org (http://www.avi.org/)
The Front Desk Harm Reduction Support Worker is the first point of contact for people wishing to access services at AVI during the times of 10:00am and 2:00pm. In addition to providing low-barrier, harm reduction supports and education, the Front Desk Harm Reduction Support Worker supports the daily operations of other AVI Teams, including the Positive Wellness Program. The position also contributes to the operations of the Front Desk providing a welcoming, engaging and non-judgmental environment for clients and people accessing services at AVI.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Front Desk Harm Reduction Support Worker will provide a range of low barrier, harm reduction supports and peer-based services for persons/communities marginalized from equitable social and health care services. Service and supports provided may include harm reduction education, crisis intervention, supply distribution and overdose prevention/response. Confidence in overdose response and in-reach or place-based harm reduction programming are essential to this position. This position will also provide accurate information regarding the transmission and prevention of HIV, HCV, and other blood-borne illnesses, as well as evidence-based educational and harm reduction intervention to individuals and priority populations to increase knowledge of overdose prevention and response strategies as well as safer substance use.
This position relies heavily on the abilities of the worker to connect and develop relationships of trust and rapport with service users while maintaining personal and community boundaries. A thorough understanding of the principles and practices of harm reduction, the impact of colonization and system inequities on health, and trauma- and violence-informed practices are essential. This position requires a high level of self-awareness, empathy, and an ability to provide non-judgemental support.
The ideal candidate will have lived/living experience with drug use and related health/social barriers and will be open to discussing the expertise that their living experience has given them within their work.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum of 2 years experience that includes the following:

• Direct service delivery within harm reduction settings.
• Responding to overdose and adverse reactions to substances, including naloxone and oxygen administration.
• Establishing rapport with a diverse range of clientele including individuals who are actively using substances and living with significant health challenges.

Education and Training:

• Diploma in the field of health or social service or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• First Aid training with CPR-C.
• Training or experience in a non-violent and anti-oppressive approach to de-escalation and crisis intervention.
• Strong working knowledge of local health/social services resources, safer drug use, safer sex, sex work, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, mental health, etc.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to respectfully engage and support Indigenous relationships, with a trauma-informed and decolonial lens.
• Demonstrated understanding of the importance and role of people who use drugs in the development, delivery, and evaluation of services intended to benefit them.
• Ability to apply harm reduction principles and health promotion framework to support work with a focus on social justice, relationality, cultural humility, and trauma-informed practice.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to a supportive team environment, including excellent communication, self-reflection, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Computer skills including ability to navigate client files, databases, email, and word-processing.
• Ability to receive feedback from supervisors and integrate into goal setting and future practice.
• Capacity to work in a highly self-directed environment and respond to community needs and problem solve with flexibility, creativity, and assertiveness.

AVI IS COMMITTED TO EQUITY AND DIVERSITY, AND WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE APPLICATIONS FROM, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FOLKS WHO IDENTIFY AS INDIGENOUS PERSONS, PERSONS OF COLOUR, RACIALIZED, PERSONS LIVING WITH A DISABILITY, PERSONS WHO USE/D DRUGS, PERSONS WITH EXPERIENCE OF SEX WORK, PERSONS WHO LIVE WITH HIV AND/OR HEPATITIS C, AND PERSONS REPRESENTING DIVERSE GENDERS AND SEXUALITIES.

It is beneficial to identify in the cover letter if you are Indigenous and/or have lived/living expertise relevant to the position.
Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
As AVI is a union environment, internal staff will be prioritized in the hiring process.

• Provides coverage to the Front Desk, Positive Wellness Program and drop-in spaces, including monitoring activities in the stairwell and Access Health Centre lobby/cage.
• Greets and engages clients, service providers, and the general public both in person and on the phone in a friendly and welcoming, non-judgmental manner, directing them to appropriate staff people or programs.
• Completes administrative duties, including tracking statistics, restocking and organizing the reception area, and maintaining filing systems for incoming mail.
• Provides a variety of harm reduction-based supports and education, including distribution and recovery of harm reduction supplies, providing information on harm reduction (including drugs and steroids), and referrals for other services.
• Engages service users to offer peer support and education with a collaborative, person-centered approach grounded in harm reduction.
• Uses brief assessment, active listening, and crisis response skills to meet immediate, basic needs and make appropriate referrals for people who use substances, people with HIV/HCV, and those marginalized from equitable care.
• Shares up-to-date information about drug use trends and practices in the city with coworkers and peers as they emerge.
• Maintains the safety of all program spaces while supporting participant dignity by following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents (such as overdose response).
• Attends regularly scheduled team meetings, 1-on-1 check-ins, and ongoing job trainings.
• Maintains both paper and electronic files and logs. fills out critical incident and overdose report forms as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.