PACT Experiential Community Crisis Responder

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 take evidence-based action to prevent infection, provide support, and reduce stigma. We work within a social justice and health promotion framework to ensure equity and access to services for all.
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.

JOB SUMMARY:

The PACT team will provide acute mobile crisis support and de-escalation services for persons 13 years of age and older experiencing mental health and/or substance use related crises. Working in collaboration with all team members, the Experiential Community Crisis Responder is responsible for providing rapid point of service mental health crisis management and de-escalation, including assessment, suicide intervention and safety planning, as well as acute care planning and follow-up. Persons with lived/living experience provide a unique and essential perspective, and help to inform practice, structures, and care from this living knowledge.
Alongside the team, this role is grounded in person-centered, harm reduction and trauma informed approaches to care, which center the needs and agency of the service user.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong understanding of colonialism and the ways in which historical and ongoing colonization impacts Indigenous People
• Minimum 3 years relevant experience, including mental health services, de-escalation and crisis response, and case management.
• Demonstrated experience utilizing lived/living expertise in service delivery and advocacy.
• Living/lived experience of systems of oppression, including criminalization of illicit and street-based substances; victimization and persecution of mental health experiences; gender-, race-based and/or experiences of othering, particularly experiences of violent and/or harmful emergency services interventions.
• Crisis Intervention Skills, including extensive experiencing with situational awareness, mental health assessments and suicide intervention.
• Able to respectfully engage and support Indigenous relationships, with a trauma informed and decolonial lens.
• Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge of harm reductio and health promotion practices.
• Demonstrated practice of social justice, cultural humility, and trauma-informed approaches to care.
• Relevant or applicable training/experience in anti-racism and an analysis of colonialism and the ways in which historical and ongoing colonization impacts Indigenous People
• First aid and CPR level C
• Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License with “Normal” Drivers Status
• Driver’s Abstract (AVI will review the past year’s driving record. Drivers will need to have no suspensions or prohibitions or 1 passenger only restrictions or a Driver’s Factor of 1.1 or lower)
• Employment subject to criminal record check for working with vulnerable populations

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.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Community-Led responses to mental health and substance use related crises are a new and evolving approach to care, grounded in living knowledge and accountability to communities and individuals who use the service.

As such, the Experiential Community Crisis Responder is required to:

• Be open to feedback, engage in self-reflective practices and humility,
• Understand and practice both collective and personal accountability,
• Be self-directed and able to perform all duties and professional obligations, without prompting or reminding,
• Demonstrate and engage in collaborative support and relationship building with K’ómoks First Nation Community, and its members
• Adhere to all PACT Program Policies and Practices
• Adhere to AVIs Policies and Procedures and Code of Ethics