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

JOB SUMMARY:

With the support of the Housing Overdose Prevention and Support (HOPS) Team Lead and Harm Reduction Teams Manager, the Housing Overdose Prevention and Support Worker provides harm-reduction based support to people living in supportive housing and shelter settings, including witnessed consumption, overdose response, safety planning, and safer use education. The HOPS Worker will utilize a relational approach to develop a sense of connection and community that promotes health and wellbeing of building residents. The team will also support ongoing peer and community-based responses to overdose, including through the provision of a peer resident responder program.

A high level of empathy, humility, and non-judgement is essential for relationship building in this role. The successful applicant will also be confident in overdose response and be knowledgeable on current harm reduction practices, sexually transmitted and blood borne infections, and local social support resources. This knowledge and approach will allow the team to build a network of support and care around building residents and to build the capacity of peer resident responders to provide harm reduction support to others in the building. This position relies on flexibility and self-motivation, including the ability to identify and respond to the needs of the residents and the larger community.

The Harm Reduction Teams work on the territories of the Ləkʷəŋən peoples (Xwsepsum and Songhees nations).

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides a variety of harm reduction-based supports to individuals living in supportive housing and shelter settings, including distribution and recovery of harm reduction supplies.
• Monitors and assesses symptoms of overdose and responds appropriately using naloxone, rescue breathing, and oxygen.
• Provides education on overdose response and safer substance use residents and develops individual safety plans around substance use.
• Supports the provision of a peer responder program by providing support and debriefing to responders and facilitates connection between residents and peer workers.
• Works in collaboration with partner agencies, including other HOPS providers, to provide training and skill development that builds the capacity of peer-led initiatives.
• Facilitates access to local services related to substance use, social issues, and health/wellness
• Uses brief assessment, active listening, and a non-violent approach to respond to and de-escalate crisis.
• Maintains both paper and electronic client files and logs. Fills out critical incident and overdose report forms as needed.
• Collaborates with housing operator to develop shared safety and care plans. Communicates resident concerns to the operator, and operator expectations to the residents.
• Maintain safety of all program spaces by following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents
• Performs other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Diploma in the field of health or social service or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 1-year relevant experience including harm reduction service delivery.
• First Aid training and experience responding to overdose and adverse reactions to substances, including administering naloxone and oxygen.
• Relevant training or experience in a non-violent and anti-oppressive approach to de-escalation and crisis intervention
• Strong working knowledge of local health and social services resources
• Valid Class 5 BC Driver's License with “Normal” driver status, and Driver's Abstract (AVI will review the past 1 year and driving records will need to have no suspensions or prohibitions and a Driver's Factor below 1.1) an asset.
• Able to respectfully engage and support Indigenous relationships, with a trauma informed and decolonial lens
• Demonstrated understanding of harm reduction principles and health promotion framework as they apply to support work.
• Demonstrated ability to provide support based in social justice, relationality, cultural humility, and trauma-informed practice.
• Ability to work in a variety of environments, including outdoors in all weather, around substance use, and inside of resident suites.
• Demonstrated capacity to consistently attend work and remain ready to work while on shift.
• Excellent communication and conflict-resolution skills. Experience working collaboratively within a team environment to support coworkers with differing skill sets and abilities.
• Ability to receive feedback from supervisors and integrate feedback into goal setting and future practice.
• Demonstrated capacity to work in an environment that is highly self-directed and requires flexibility to respond to community needs.

POSITION DETAILS:

• Pay: $31.56/hour to start with stepped increases based on your seniority with AVI. (Pay for this role is based on the BCGEU paygrid 34)
• Hours and Schedule: Casual shifts falling between Monday to Friday 12:00pm to 8:00pm
• Term: Starting as soon as possible and position runs until May 31, 2025, subject to ongoing funding.
• Location: Starting and ending at housing site to be determined, with work at the AVI Victoria office and in community as needed.
• Union: AVI is a union environment under the Collective Agreement: HEABC & Health Services & Support Community Subsector Association 2022-2025 and this role is a BCGEU union position.
• Pension: If you are already a member of the Municipal Pension Plan (MPP), you can continue with them at AVI immediately.  At this time, AVI contributes an additional 9.31% towards your pension account.  If you are not already a member of the Municipal Pension Plan, part time staff may become eligible after 2 years with AVI.
• Other Perks: This position gets paid an extra 5% in lieu of vacation 5% in lieu of stats, meaning your hourly rate is actually 10% higher than listed.   
• Hours of Work, Days Off and Work Area may be subject to change.

TO APPLY:

To apply, please click on 'To Apply' and attach your resume and cover letter(optional) by April 6, 2025 5pm.

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.