CRCL Community Crisis Responder CCR ROI EVENINGS

AVI Health & Community Services Society; British Columbia; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-based health organization in British Columbia seeks a Community Crisis Responder to provide acute mobile crisis support. The ideal candidate has experience in mental health services, strong crisis intervention skills, and an undergraduate degree in the mental health field. This full-time role offers a starting pay of $33.99/hour, benefits, and opportunities for seniority-based salary increases.

Benefits

Extended health coverage

Pension contributions

Vacation benefits

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in mental health services.
• Demonstrated experience with harm reduction and health promotion practices.
• Successful completion of the CRCL/PACT Training Curriculum.

Responsibilities

• Provide acute mobile crisis support and de-escalation services.
• Model a high degree of cultural competency in services.
• Develop comprehensive safety plans and establish post-crisis follow-up care.

Skills

Crisis intervention skills

Situational awareness

Mental health assessment

Cultural humility

Trauma-informed approaches

Education

Undergraduate degree in mental health

Job description

Overview

AVI Health & Community Services (AVI) is a multi‑disciplinary community‑based organization providing HIV, hepatitis C and harm reduction services out of five locations across Vancouver Island. AVI services people living with HIV and hepatitis C and harm reduction clients and works within a social justice and health promotion framework to ensure equity and access to services for all.

Role Summary

The Community Crisis Responder (CRCL) provides acute mobile crisis support and de‑escalation services for persons aged 13 years and older experiencing mental health and/or substance use related crises. The responder works in collaboration with all team members, providing rapid point‑of‑service mental health crisis management, suicide intervention, safety planning, and acute care planning and follow‑up.

Key Responsibilities

• Model a high degree of cultural competency, ensuring services are culturally sensitive and incorporate Indigenous knowledge, practices, and healing approaches.
• Respond to mental health and substance use related crises, triage and adjust responses depending on call acuity and severity.
• Think critically and respond quickly, especially in critical situations when deciding the next course of action.
• Attend back‑to‑back calls and remain responsive to incoming calls up until the end of shift.
• Communicate effectively with the CRCL team’s Dispatch/Coordinator or any supervisor.
• Demonstrate emotional resilience and center the needs of the person experiencing crisis.
• Work effectively as a team, including respectful communication throughout an emergency crisis response.
• Develop comprehensive safety plans and establish post‑crisis follow‑up care, centering the needs of the person in crisis.
• Utilize a trauma‑informed approach, situational awareness, assessment, de‑escalation, and mental health training to work safely within changing and unpredictable environments.
• Engage other care providers (police, ambulance, fire, healthcare providers) and critically assess the next course of action when required.
• Maintain ongoing assessment, rapport building, universal precautions, direct questioning, and motivational interviewing skills.
• collaborative support and relationship building with K'ómoks First Nation Community and adhere to all CRCL Program Policies and AVIs Policies.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of colonialism and the impact of ongoing colonization on Indigenous People.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in mental health services, crisis de‑escalation, and case management.
• Undergraduate degree in the mental health field (counselling, social work, psychiatric nursing).
• Crisis intervention skills, including situational awareness, mental health assessment, and suicide intervention.
• Demonstrated experience with harm reduction and health promotion practices.
• Proficiency in cultural humility, trauma‑informed and decolonial approaches to care.
• Relevant training in anti‑racism and analysis of colonialism.
• Successful completion of the CRCL/PACT Training Curriculum.
• Ability to lift 25 lbs and possess First Aid and CPR Level C certification.
• Valid Class 5 BC driver’s license with “Normal” status; driver abstract with no suspensions or restrictions (except 1‑passenger).
• Employment subject to criminal record check for work with vulnerable populations.

Benefits and Compensation

Pay: starting at $33.99 /hour with stepped increases based on seniority (BCGEU pay grid 38). Hours: 37.5 hours per week. The position is a BCGEU union role. Shift premiums apply: $0.25 /hour for afternoon (≥50 % between 4 pm‑midnight) and $0.50 /hour for weekend nights. Benefits include extended health, life and AD&D coverage after 488 hours, pension contributions for municipal pension plan members, a 6.4 % vacation (3 weeks), paid statutory holidays and Easter Monday, and a Sick Bank of 6.9 %. The role will be eligible for the first full hour of overtime and may work mandatory overtime as required.

Application

AVI is committed to equity and diversity and strongly encourages applications from Indigenous Persons, persons of colour, racialized persons, people with disabilities, people with lived experience of drug use, people with experience of sex work, people living with HIV and/or hepatitis C, and individuals representing diverse genders and sexualities. Accommodation is available on request for all selection process stages. As AVI is a union environment, internal staff will be prioritized in the hiring process. Thank you to all who apply; only those selected for an interview will be contacted.