RAD Support Worker - Part Time

at  AVI Health Community Services

AVI Health & Community Services (AVI) is a multi‐disciplinary community-based organization providing HIV, hepatitis C, and harm reduction services out of 5 locations across Vancouver Island. AVI provides services to more than 500 people living with HIV and hepatitis C and more than 3000 harm reduction clients. We work within a social justice and health promotion framework to ensure equity and access to services for all, and take an evidence-based approach to prevent infection, provide support, and reduce stigma for impacted populations. 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 information, please visit www.avi.org.
Regulated Access to Drugs (RAD) is a flexible, community based, harm reduction program that provides safer, pharmaceutical alternatives to the currently toxic drug supply. This program operates in conjunction with AVI’s existing programs and services, including the Positive Wellness Program for people living with or at risk of HIV/hepatitis C, health promotion education, youth advocacy and outreach, and drop-in harm reduction services. Our services are delivered on the traditional territory of the K’ómoks peoples.

JOB SUMMARY:

Under the supervision of the Program Manager and Clinical Nurse Lead, the RAD Support Worker will apply their lived/living experience of drug use to build relationships with program participants and support the delivery of flexible, participant-led safer supply. They will practice harm reduction in their relationships, assist with post-consumption monitoring at RAD and respond to overdoses using naloxone and rescue breathing when necessary. The RAD Support Worker will be integral to establishing a safe, respectful environment at the program site and acting as an ambassador to the AVI in the community.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum two years’ experience working within harm reduction settings. Experience working with safer supply programs preferred.
• Have lived/living experience with drug use and related health and social barriers. Have personal experience accessing harm reduction services for safer drug use support and/or accessed other services designed to meet the needs of people who use substances.
• Experience responding to critical incidents and overdose, including administration of naloxone
• Able to respectfully engage and support Indigenous relationships, with a trauma informed and decolonial lens
• Have a current knowledge of the local drug trends and can relate as a peer with program participants.
• Direct service delivery experience in the community social services sector with a demonstrated working knowledge of community-based programs and related provincial and community support services systems.
• Interest in learning and eager to share information with peers with a non-judgmental attitude.
• Demonstrated understanding of the importance and role of people who use drugs in the development, delivery, and evaluation of services intended to benefit them
• Working understanding of the importance of confidentiality and boundaries.
• Working knowledge in the areas of harm reduction, safer drug use, OAT, safer sex, sex work, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, mental health, etc.
• Commitment to honor Indigenous communities and ways of knowing, and approach learning about the ongoing impacts of colonial violence with humility.
• Demonstrated understanding and commitment to harm reduction principles and practices.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to work in cooperation with a variety of stakeholders, including coworkers, management, program participants, and community partners.
• Ability to communicate clearly and with respect, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to approach and initiate conversations with others and build respectful rapport.
• Ability to observe for changes in health and well-being in program participants.
• Ability to work in a complex and dynamic work environment while keeping a ‘cool head’.
• Ability and willingness to engage in proactive problem solving when tense situations arise.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position and operate related equipment.
• Ability to work outdoors during all types weather in all seasons.

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.

• Work collaboratively with the RAD team to identify potential program participants, provide information regarding access to pharmaceutical alternatives to street drugs, and assist with assessments and intakes for the program.
• Connect regularly with program participants to offer peer support through active listening skills and a non-judgmental attitude, as well as referrals to other health and social services.
• Assist with post-dose monitoring for program participants. Assess for overdose symptoms and respond with rescue breathing and naloxone when necessary.
• Liaise between participants, systems navigators, nurses and physicians to support participants to be heard and assist with keeping communication open and accessible.
• Distribute safer drug use supplies, safer sex supplies and naloxone kits, and provide information on harm reduction practices, overdose prevention and overdose response.
• Work with participants and the RAD team to navigate administrative and financial requirements for access to pharmaceuticals according to care plan.
• Identify and develop safety plans with people who are using substances who are at increased risk of overdose.
• Maintain the safety of all program spaces by following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents.
• Contribute to a positive, respectful environment at the program space and act as a an AVI ambassador in the community.
• Maintain confidential records in accordance with privacy requirements and participate in team charting to assure comprehensive documentation.
• Engage in planning, evaluation, reporting, and program development as directed.
• Attend regularly scheduled team meetings and individual supervision meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.