Casual Part-Time Support Workers

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. The Drop-in & Overdose Preventions Services (DOPES) Team is responsible for operating both a harm reduction informed drop-in space and overdose prevention services that seek to address gaps in services for community members marginalized from equitable addition to providing low-barrier harm reduction supports and services the DOPES team supports the daily operations of other AVI Teams including the Positive Wellness Program and SAFER. From a social justice and health promotion framework the DOPES Team will provide minimum staffing for a safe accessible drop-in space for community members who use substances and/or who are marginalized from social care services. They ensure access to harm reduction supports as well as overdose prevention witnessed consumption and peer-based services that center the needs and agency of service user.
The DOPES Support Worker will provide a range of low barrier harm reduction supports and peer-based services for persons/communities marginalized from equitable social and health care services. Service and supports provided may include harm reduction education crisis intervention supply distribution and overdose prevention/response. Confidence in overdose response and in-reach or place-based harm reduction programming are essential to this position. This position requires a high level of self-awareness empathy ability to provide non-judgemental support with exceptional understanding of personal and community boundaries.
Provides a variety of harm reduction-based supports to individuals including distribution and recovery of harm reduction supplies.

• Provides on the spot training in overdose response and education on substances and safer use practices.
• Uses brief assessment active listening and crisis response skills to help meet immediate basic needs and make appropriate referrals for people who use substances and those who have survived overdose(s) to other health and support services within the community.
• Monitor and support people who are using substances. Identify and develop safety plans with people who are using substances who are at increased risk of overdose.
• Provide training and support to build capacity for peer lead initiatives
• Working within a team environment to support coworkers with differing skill sets and abilities.

Education and Training:
Diploma in health or social service field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
First Aid training with CPR-C.
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.
Ability to respectfully engage and support Indigenous relationships with a trauma-informed and decolonial lens.
Ability to apply harm reduction principles and health promotion framework to support work and to provide support based in social justice relationality cultural humility and trauma-informed practice.
Computer skills including ability to navigate client files databases email and word-processing.
Capacity to work in a highly self-directed environment and respond to community needs and problem solve with flexibility creativity and assertiveness.
Hours and Schedule: Casual call and shifts falling between Monday to Sunday 1:45pm to 9:15pm
As soon as possible and is an ongoing position subject to funding
Location: AVI Victoria Office and in community as needed
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.
This job posting is open until January 5 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.