DOPES Support Worker- Casual Call

AVI Health & Community Services Society; Victoria; Hybrid; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A community health service organization in Victoria is seeking a DOPES Support Worker to provide harm reduction supports and peer-based services. This role involves crisis intervention, overdose prevention, and building trusted relationships with service users. The ideal candidate has experience in harm reduction settings and possesses strong communication skills. The position offers competitive pay and a union environment.

Benefits

10% additional compensation (5% in lieu of vacation and 5% in lieu of stats)

Municipal Pension Plan contributions

Union environment

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years in direct service delivery within harm reduction settings.
• Training or experience in non-violent and anti-oppressive de-escalation and crisis intervention.
• Strong working knowledge of local health and social services resources.

Responsibilities

• Provide harm reduction-based supports and peer-based services for marginalized communities.
• Monitor and support people using substances, assess overdose symptoms.
• Engage service users in a collaborative, person-centered approach.

Skills

Communication skills

Crisis intervention

Empathy

Conflict-resolution skills

Non-judgmental support

Education

Diploma in a health or social service field

First Aid with CPR-C

Job description

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. We are informed by the voices of people with living experience and 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.

Overview

The Drop-in & Overdose Preventions Services (DOPES) Team operates a harm reduction–informed drop-in space and overdose prevention services. The team addresses gaps in services for community members marginalized from equitable care. In addition to providing low-barrier harm reduction supports, 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 provides minimum staffing for a safe, accessible drop-in space for community members who use substances or are marginalized from social care services. They ensure access to harm reduction supports, overdose prevention, witnessed consumption, and peer-based services that center the needs and agency of service users.

Job Summary

The DOPES Support Worker provides a range of low-barrier, harm reduction supports and peer-based services for persons and communities marginalized from equitable social and health care services. Services 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. The role includes providing accurate information regarding the transmission and prevention of HIV, HCV, and other blood-borne illnesses, as well as evidence-based educational and harm reduction interventions to increase knowledge of overdose prevention and response strategies and safer substance use.

This position relies heavily on building trusted relationships with service users. A thorough understanding of harm reduction principles, the impact of colonialism and system inequities on health, and the trauma- and violence-informed approach are essential. A high level of self-awareness, empathy, non-judgemental support, and strong understanding of personal and community boundaries are required.

Key Duties And Responsibilities

1. Provide a variety of harm reduction-based supports to individuals, including distribution and recovery of harm reduction supplies.
2. Provide on-the-spot training in overdose response and education on substances and safer use practices.
3. Use brief assessment, active listening, and crisis response skills to meet immediate needs and make appropriate referrals for people who use substances and those who have survived overdoses.
4. Monitor and support people who are using substances; assess overdose symptoms and respond with rescue breathing, oxygen, naloxone, and CPR when necessary.
5. Engage service users in a collaborative, person-centered approach grounded in harm reduction.
6. Maintain the safety of all program spaces by following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents, including the use of communication devices.
7. Identify and develop safety plans with people using substances who are at increased risk of overdose.
8. Maintain both paper and electronic client files and logs; complete critical incident and overdose report forms as needed.
9. Provide training and support to build capacity for peer-led initiatives.
10. Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Training

• Diploma in a health or social service field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• First Aid with CPR-C.
• Training or experience in non-violent and anti-oppressive de-escalation and crisis intervention.
• Strong working knowledge of local health and social services resources.

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years in direct service delivery within harm reduction settings.
• Experience responding to overdose and adverse reactions to substances, including naloxone and oxygen administration.
• Ability to work in a team environment and support coworkers with differing skill sets.
• Ability to establish rapport with a diverse range of clients, including those actively using substances and living with significant health challenges.

Skills And Abilities

• Ability to engage Indigenous relationships with a trauma-informed and decolonial lens.
• Understanding the role of people who use drugs in development, delivery, and evaluation of services that benefit them.
• Apply harm reduction principles and health promotion frameworks to support work grounded in social justice, relationality, cultural humility, and trauma-informed practice.
• Excellent communication and conflict-resolution skills.
• Computer skills including navigating client files, databases, email, and word processing.
• Ability to receive feedback from supervisors and integrate it into goal setting and practice.
• Capacity to work in a highly self-directed environment, respond to community needs, and problem-solve with flexibility, creativity, and assertiveness.

Position Details

1. Pay: $31.56/hour to start with stepped increases based on seniority with AVI (BCGEU pay grid 34).
2. Hours and Schedule: Casual call shifts between Monday and Sunday, 1:45pm–9:15pm.
3. Start date: As soon as possible.
4. Location: AVI Victoria Office and in the community as needed.
5. Union: AVI is a union environment under the HEABC & Health Services & Support Community Subsector Association 2022-2025; this role is a BCGEU union position.
6. Pension: Municipal Pension Plan (MPP) contributions apply; AVI contributes 9.31% to the pension. Part-time staff may become eligible after 2 years.
7. Other Perks: This position includes an additional 10% to compensation (5% in lieu of vacation and 5% in lieu of stats).
8. Hours of Work, Days Off, and Work Area may be subject to change.

To Apply

To apply, please click on 'Apply to position' and submit your resume and (optional) cover letter. This posting is open until filled.

AVI is committed to equity and diversity and strongly encourages applications from Indigenous persons, people of colour and racialized groups, persons living with a disability, people who use/d drugs, people with experience of sex work, people living with HIV and/or hepatitis C, and people of diverse genders and sexualities. It is beneficial to indicate in the cover letter if you are Indigenous and/or have lived or living expertise relevant to the position. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Internal staff will be prioritized in the hiring process.

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