Career Opportunities

COMPETITION NO. 23-022

Position: Part-time Overdose Prevention Worker

Location:  Peace Point Overdose Prevention Site

Hours: 25 hours/week M/T/F 6:00pm to 11:00pm

Saturday and Sunday 11:00 am to 4:00 pm

We are looking for a Part-time Overdose Prevention Worker to join our Sources Peace Point Overdose Prevention team! This individual must be compassionate, empathetic, and flexible.

About Sources

SOURCES is a community-based non-profit organization providing support and hope to communities in the Lower Mainland, on Vancouver Island, and across Northern BC.  Sources strives to create vibrant and resilient communities through support to adults, children, youth, and families facing challenges in life such as mental health, disability, poverty, substance use, and conflict. We support our communities through leadership, education, and volunteerism.

Sources is committed to learning about, celebrating and incorporating Indigenous knowledge into our practices as we continue our work in truth and reconciliation. People of all races, cultures, ethnicities, LGBTQ2S+, and abilities are welcomed to work with us. We value diversity, respect, and collaboration as we promote our mission: social wellness for our community.

We value diversity, respect and collaboration as we are all striving to promote the same mission—social wellness for our community.

Sources Overdose Prevention and Peer Support Services

Reporting to the Manager of Overdose Prevention and Peer Support Services, the Overdose Prevention Worker is a permanent employee of Sources Community Resources, providing witnessing of consumption of substances, overdose response, harm reduction supports, supplies and information to people who use substances.  Overdose Prevention Services will be provided 3 weekday evenings and both weekend days within the Fraser Health Mental Health and Substance Use Services building on the campus of Peace Arch Hospital.

General Responsibilities:

• Provide an environment of acceptance, compassion and cultural safety to people who use substances.
• Set up and take down consumption stations at the beginning and end of each shift
• Set up and take down of inhalation tent at the beginning and end of each shift
• Being present while people use substances via injection and inhalation
• Provide overdose response, including the SAVE ME steps which may involve administering Naloxone
• Provide safer use and harm reduction supplies and resource information when desired by program participants
• Work with service partners and other external service providers to ensure the programs are coordinated and integrated with the larger continuums of care, including integration between the OPS and the Peer Support Network
• Promote the interest of substance users and the program with systems of care, external service partners, and community resources.
• Provide program utilization data and stats
• Casual employees must be available for all shifts (Monday, Tuesday, Friday 5:15-11:15pm and Saturday and Sunday 9:45am to 4:45pm, though there are no guaranteed shifts).

Competencies:

• Relationship building
• Ability to work efficiently and with minimal supervision
• Client-centred care that empowers and motivates the client
• Ability to work with a team
• Ability to network and interact with other service providers and allied colleagues
• Sensitivity in a culturally diverse environment
• Understanding and compassionate spirit in supporting people who use substances
• Destigmatizing language and practices
• Trauma and Resilience Informed Practice
• Cultural Safety and Humility awareness

Qualifications:

• Many forms of education and experience are valued, including volunteering and lived experience of mental health challenges / substance use/ homelessness;
• Preferred: Diploma in community social services, the social/human sciences, addictions or in law/justice.
• Preference will be given to those who have post-secondary education and training relevant to the social service field. Alternately, pursuit of certification in social work, counseling, criminal justice or a related field, or the equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered for this position.
• 1 year of related experience with emphasis on mental health, substance use, homelessness and/or social services
• Effectively utilize Office suite including Excel, Word, Outlook and central data systems
• Demonstrated knowledge of social justice, health promotion and public health approaches and models of social support and health care
• Effectively communicate professionally, verbally and written in English
• Demonstrated ability to establish rapport with diverse range of cliental including individuals who use substances and living with significant health and behavioral challenges
• Demonstrated understanding of the spirit of harm reduction and safer use practices
• Standard First Aid and CPR (Training may be accessed through Sources)
• Overdose Prevention, Recognition and Response Training, including Naloxone Administration
• Non-violent Crisis Intervention Training (Training may be accessed through Sources)
• Criminal Records check through the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Criminal Records

Start Date: April 1, 2023 (tentative)

Salary: $22.50/hour

Benefits (if applicable):

100% employer paid coverage for extended health and dental
Long term disability, life insurance, critical illness insurance, accidental death & dismemberment coverage
Employee & Family Assistance plan
Pension plan
Generous paid time off, starting at 3 weeks

Closing Date: March 27, 2023.  Internal candidates will be contacted by March 29th, 2023

How to apply: Please email your cover letter and resume to lutendale@sourcesbc.ca. Please include where you saw this job posting in your email. Thank you.