South Riverdale Community Health Centre is a non-profit, multi-service organization that provides primary healthcare, social and community outreach services with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention primarily to people of East Toronto. Our mission is to improve the lives of people that face barriers to physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being. We do so by meaningfully engaging our clients and communities, ensuring equitable access to primary health care and delivering quality care through a range of evidence informed programs, services and approaches. As a leader in community health, our locally and internationally recognized community services include cutting-edge primary health services, health promotion, harm reduction, environmental health, community food centre and population-based community programs for marginalized peoples. We value health equity and inclusion and respect in our work and in the delivery of our services.
In response to the ongoing opioid crisis and as a complement to the Downtown East Collaborative – Safer Opiate Supply Program (DEC-SOS), the CHW – SOS will be a member of an interdisciplinary mobile team of providers who offer prescriptions for safer opioid supply as well as therapeutic and supportive treatment for people who use substances in the further east part of Toronto. Team members will work closely and collaboratively with colleagues, partners as well as service users with a focus on addressing the needs of equity-deserving communities in a variety of neighborhoods where overdose risks are high and resources limited. The role requires the flexibility to work in a variety of settings on a daily basis.
The Community Health Worker – SOS works within a variety of locations in East Toronto as part of the Mobile Team. This position will assist with the program activities, respond to overdoses, distribute harm reduction supplies, provide harm reduction education and make referrals to additional services. This position is further responsible to provide informal counseling and work on community engagement and capacity building through outreach activities and organizing and facilitating groups and workshops. The position will be part of the Centralized Intake Team.
This position will be required to work some flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends. This position will also be involved in shelter outreach work and working with clients who are COVID-19 positive.
This position is expected to work onsite.
Responsibilities:
- Seeks out opportunities to provide supportive counseling, education and referrals to health and social services
- Works on community engagement, capacity building through outreach’ and organizing and facilitating workshops
- Supports service users to access safer supply services – assesses service user knowledge of safer drug consumption processes and works with service users to achieve the best possible outcomes
- Assesses, responds to and manages Safer Supply events and provides overdose prevention education and supports
- Supports and conducts intake and referral processes
- Assists with day-to-day SOS coverage, collaborative program planning and knowledge transfer activities
- De-escalates conflict with or among participants, according to established protocols
- Maintains a hygienic, organized, comfortable and respectful environment
- Works collaboratively with other team members, participates in interdisciplinary case conferences and team meetings and shares knowledge of drug using community with other staff
- Attends mandatory training as applicable
- Actively participates in the successful implementation of the strategic, operational and program plans
- Collaborates within own team and other teams across the organization to identify and provide health education to target groups
- All other duties as required
Qualifications:
- Post-Secondary education from a recognized University or College or equivalent experience
- 3 – 5 years relevant experience
- Proven experience with overdose prevention and response and training in/experience with Naloxone administration, ability to support safer supply principles and practices
- Ability to provide support in an overdose situation
- Experience and knowledge of drug use, specifically injection drug use
- Work experience with a harm reduction program and knowledge of harm reduction principles and strategies
- Outreach experience and experience facilitating groups and/or workshops
- Experience providing peer-to-peer support
- Demonstrated ability to de-escalate crisis situations and other conflict
- Confidence in asserting oneself and maintaining strong boundaries
- Knowledge of community services and resources; strong advocacy skills
- Proficiency in the use of computer technology and various software applications
- Strong communication skills; able to actively and accurately listen
- Demonstrated display of sensitivity to others
- Open, non-judgmental and willing to learn
- Commitment and ability to work with equity deserving communities
- Lived and/or work experience with people who reflect our priority client population (racialized people, indigenous people, people who engage in sex work, prisoners/ex-prisoners, people with mental health issues, people who have experienced trauma, people who have experienced homelessness or street involvement) would be an asset
- Police clearance documentation will be required for employment
- Proof of triple COVID-19 vaccination status will be required for employment
Please mail in your cover letter and resume in confidence to:
The Hiring Committee – Community Health Worker – SOS
South Riverdale Community Health Centre
955 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON M4M 3P3
Or by email to: [email protected]
Please enter “Community Health Worker – SOS” in the subject line of your email.
No faxes, phone calls, or requests to meet please.
This is a bargaining unit position with CUPE Local 5399.
SRCHC welcomes applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
SRCHC is an equal opportunity employer. We would like to thank all those that apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
SRCHC encourages applicants who are racialized (IBPOC) and/or applicants who face any barriers as a result of systemic discrimination to apply for this position.
SRCHC encourages a scent-free environment. Employees, students, volunteers, and visitors are asked to refrain from wearing fragrances and other scented personal care products (i.e. perfumes, deodorants, lotions, hairspray, etc.) while at the Centre.
