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
Our work takes place in Kwakwaka’wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Coast Salish territorial regions on what is colonially known as Vancouver Island. The rich and beautiful lands and waters of this Island have been home to over 50 First Nations for time immemorial; we respectfully acknowledge their past, present, and future sovereignty.
AVI Crisis Response, Community-Led (CRCL)
The AVI Crisis Response, Community-Led (CRCL) is funded by the Province of British Columbia and the Canadian Mental Health Association. CRCL is a peer-assisted care program and a mobile crisis response team, led by persons with lived/living experience and mental health professionals who are able to de-escalate crises and develop community care plans with persons experiencing crisis.
The CRCL Team is an alternate approach to responding to someone in crisis that focuses on health, well-being and community support. Utilizing a community-based, client centered, trauma-informed response, a peer-assisted model of care has been proven to help individuals navigate mental and social care services and reduce engagement with the justice system and emergency services.
In the spirit of reconciliation and community empowerment, K’ómoks First Nation and AVI Health and Community Services have joined hands to support and create a comprehensive and culturally safe service initiative. KFN provides guidance through the CRCL program development to ensure Indigenous preceptive is woven throughout and supports Indigenous peoples accessing this service.
The CRCL team provides services on the territories of the K’ómoks First Nation.

JOB SUMMARY:

The CRCL 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 Systems, Screening and Dispatch Navigator is the first point of contact via the phone and is responsible for assessment and acuity triage and team dispatch. This role is responsible for determining the level of risk, deciding the most appropriate response, and dispatching/ maintaining communication with teams attending to crisis.
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.
• Undergraduate Degree in the mental health field (counselling, social work, psychiatric nursing).
• 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.

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.
We would like to thank all those that apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted

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 Systems, Screening and Dispatch Navigator 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 Code of Ethics