Van Community Worker- Needle Exchange &Safer Inhalation (Nesi) Van Service

Position Title: Van Community Worker- Needle Exchange &Safer Inhalation (NESI) Van Service

Department: Family and Community Services

Reporting to: Manager, Community Engagement

Type: Permanent -Part time

Pay Band: $21.73 - $26.15 per hour

Schedule: Shifts hours 4:45pm - 11:45pm: includes weekend hours

Application Deadline: Friday November 15, 2024, at 5:00pm EST

About SWCHC and ONHC

We are Somerset West Community Health Centre (SWCHC), a non-profit, community-governed organization that serves over 18,000 clients annually. Established in 1978, SWCHC provides a wide range of health care services such as primary health care, health promotion, community development, mental health, and harm reduction. We are deeply connected to the communities we serve and committed to removing barriers to accessing services for people who are vulnerable because of their age, income, ability, sexual orientation or gender identity, and language or culture.

SWCHC strives to ensure that our team reflects the communities we serve. We work within an anti-racist, anti-oppressive framework that acknowledges the existence and impacts of systemic racism and seeks to ensure that systems are fair and equitable for everyone.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Manager of Community Engagement and in collaboration with the NESI Team Lead, the NESI Van Community Worker (NVCW) will work closely with the NESI Van Harm Reduction Worker to support the delivery of harm reduction services to people who use drugs in the City of Ottawa. The NVCW provides peer support, harm reduction information and education, and needle/inhalation safer substance use supplies to drug users and their allies across the city, in order to reduce and avoid the risk of transmission of HIV and Hepatitis B & C. The NVCW may engage in other duties as assigned in support of the NESI service, Harm Reduction Department and Community Health Centre.

Community Workers collaborate as a part of the whole Harm Reduction Department (HRD). They work with other Community Workers, NESI Van Relief Staff, Harm Reduction Workers, Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Team Leads, the Manager, and other members of the department and Health Centre. The NVCWs also collaborate with the other services of the HRD to ensure collaborative, coordinated and integrated services for all clients of the HRD, as well as collaborate with and contribute to the overall services, programs and functioning of the Centre. Community Workers are persons with lived experience of drug use, well regarded and trusted by the drug using community, able to self-identify as a peer and to use their acquired skills and knowledge for the benefit of community well-being. We are so glad you're interested in working with us.

We work within an anti-racism, anti-oppression framework that acknowledges systemic racism exists and seeks to ensure that systems are fair and equitable for everyone.

Applicant Requirements:

• Applicants must clearly self-identify as a person with lived experience in their application to be considered
• Must have a valid Ontario G class driver's license with clean driving record
• Must have personal vehicle insurance (which will allow person to be placed on Organizational vehicle insurance)
• Preference will be given to applications with previous commercial vehicle driving experience

Your contribution:

• Conducts delivery and collection of harm-reduction supplies in a variety of non-conventional settings across the city of Ottawa
• Work collaboratively across the harm-reduction department
• Be a connector, facilitating the introduction of people to relevant and accessible supports and resources for people who use drugs.
• Support clients to set up appointments with other services as needed, providing reminders and accompaniments when appropriate.
• Build meaningful relationships with isolated drug users, who have no other access to new drug use supplies
• Provide service users with insight, mentoring and validation
• Identify areas for van service improvement and work to action those
• Support the planning and execution of identified van service priorities
• Undertake ongoing professional development and willingness to stretch into new areas, sometimes difficult ones, and sometimes at short notice. The goal is to be agile, flexible and striving to offer the best possible service.
• Records, tracks and documents all client contacts and program specific data on tablet
• Actively participate in operational regular check-ins as well as team/department meetings
• Work in a manner that is aligned with staff/ client safety practices, policies and procedures of SWCHC

Perform other related duties as assigned

Preferred Attributes:

• Lived experience of drug use
• Knowledge of and experience with a harm reduction, trauma-informed and person-centered approach
• Drug, sex and sex worker positive
• Understanding of homelessness, mental health and addictions
• Knowledge of related community resources
• Ability to communicate effectively and contribute to team wellbeing
• Excellent attendance, reliability and punctuality
• Basic knowledge of and experience with email, along with research using the internet
• Ability to multitask; answering phone calls, noting locations and recording data.
• Strong organizational skills/time management skills
• Ability to de-escalate conflicts in an effective manner
• Demonstrates an understanding of the differing beliefs and value systems of others and respectful of all
• Ability to ask for support/provide support when needed
• Fluency in English
• French and other languages an asset

Your strengths

In keeping with the Harm-Reduction Department Philosophy of Service, we seek candidates who are:

• Active listeners with strong personal boundaries.
• Self-reflective with the ability to identify personal strengths and areas for growth.
• Respectful of the knowledge and expertise of drug using clients and colleagues.
• Relationship builders who open doors, build rapport and support clients to access relevant opportunities.
• Passionate about the harm-reduction movement.
• Able to demonstrate integrity and ethics in decision making and in their relationships with colleagues and clients.
• Commitment to working within an anti-oppression, anti-racist, health equity and social justice framework

Working Conditions:

• Van hours are 4h45-11h45pm Monday-Saturday
• Drive an enclosed van on a daily basis, sometimes for the entire shift
• Use protective equipment when handling biohazardous materials such as used syringes
• May have to get into cramped positions
• Working closely with one other person for 7 hours
• Follows COVID safety practices, including the use of personal protective equipment

Preferential trainings:

• Needle exchange and safer inhalation training
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training
• CPR & Standard First Aid
• Overdose Prevention and Naloxone training
• Safe biohazard disposal training
• Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) training
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) training

Personal Suitability

Commitment to the principles of health equity, inclusion and anti-racism/anti-oppression

ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Contributes to the operationalizing the organization's anti-racism and anti-oppression policy

Please submit your resume and cover letter as one document by Friday November 15th, 2024, 5:00 PM EST

**It is the policy of SWCHC to require COVID-19 immunization for all employees, volunteers, and students, including those who work off-site with the following exceptions: Persons with a medical reason that prevents them from being vaccinated against COVID-19; Persons with other reasonable considerations pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code that restrict them from being vaccinated against Covid 19 vaccination. **

Somerset West Community Health Centre is an equal opportunity employer who values the diversity of individuals in our programs and services.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of Indigenous, Black and racialized communities, Two-Spirit, nonbinary, LGBTQ+ people; people with disabilities; and members of other equity deserving communities. Applicants are encouraged to share accessibility needs in the application process, and every attempt will be made to accommodate them.

Due to the high volume of applicants, we can neither confirm receipt of nor respond to inquiries regarding your application. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.