Safer Weekend Team Lead

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.
For more information see www.avi.org THE VICTORIA SAFER INITIATIVE is a flexible, community-based, prescribed safe supply model with health care provider oversight.
Its goal is to save and affirm the lives of people who use drugs by providing safer, pharmaceutical alternatives to the currently toxic supply.
SAFER is located on the territories of the L?k????n peoples (Esquimalt and Songhees nations).
JOB SUMMARY: Under the direct supervision of the SAFER Coordinator, or Manager, the SAFER Weekend Team Lead supports the clinic's efficient and effective operations by problem solving anything that comes up within the Support Worker team or duties during the weekend.
In this way, they are integral to ensuring the overall smooth operations of the Clinic throughout the weekend, ensuring that the Clinic is always staffed, safe and successful at meeting the needs of participants.
As needed, the SAFER Weekend Team Lead may be part of the Clinic Closure protocol if there are not enough staff to remain open during one or more days of the weekend.
They also update the Coordinator on Mondays on anything that should be noted about how the weekend went.
The Weekend Team Lead will focus on making the weekend shifts great and will help to ensure a positive, respectful and productive weekend at the Clinic.
The SAFER Weekend Team is on site during their full shifts and will spend the majority of their time with the Support Workers, providing low barrier, psychosocial supports to individuals accessing the SAFER clinic.
This position provides evidence-based educational and harm reduction information to SAFER participants to support knowledge and skills update related to regarding toxic drug poisoning/overdose prevention, risk and response.
Confidence in overdose response is essential to this position.
The SAFER Weekend Team Lead will practice harm reduction in their relationships, building trust and providing practical support during the weekend to SAFER staff and participants.
The SAFER Team Lead plays an integral role in maintaining a positive, respectful environment at the SAFER Clinic, where there are enough staff on site to be open as much as possible, feedback is heard, everyone working is Ready to Work and the Support Workers feel empowered, safe and part of an effective team.
The successful candidate is an effective communicator, a practical problem solver and someone who embodies collaboration, works from a relational perspective, is supportive and empathetic, upholds AVI's values of harm reduction, social justice, trauma-informed care and cultural humility with the team and with people accessing our services.
They support and ensure that SAFER promotes the dignity and respect of the people we serve.
KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: Team Lead: Runs shift call outs as needed on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday shifts for Support Workers, in compliance with seniority and other BCGEU Collective Agreement requirements.Organizes, as needed, mid-day staff changes, longer break requests, etc.
to ensure that all Support Workers are getting their mid-day break and that the clinic's operations are smooth throughout the midday, during those breaks.Supports new Support Workers learning the role and provides training during the weekend, as requested by the Coordinator.Provides check ins with support staff as needed, with follow up documentation of check in to the Coordinator and implementing needs or changes effectively.Ensures, as needed, that morning huddles and incident or shift debriefs are happening and are effective on the weekend, though does not necessarily lead them.Works to maintain a respectful, calm and safe work environment for all team members.Responsible for contributing to and supporting culturally safe practices and spaces, and does so with humility.With the Support Worker team, utilizes the Ready to Work policy as needed to ensure a safe and respectful work environment throughout the weekend.Uses de-escalation skills in support of team members as needed to maintain a respectful and effective work environment throughout the weekend.Inputs Support Worker shift information for the weekend into the schedule, payroll system which should be updated daily.Coordinates with other leaders on site, including nurse leadership, when solving problems of the day to ensure that the full Clinic's needs are being met.Documents any Critical Incidents that occur in the Clinic during the weekend that involve any Support Workers and ensure that the Coordinator and, as needed, Human Resources (for WorkSafe reasons) knows about the details.Ensures the Coordinator is in the loop on anything of note that happened on the weekend.Maintains their knowledge (by being fully up on their work email and other documentation provided to them) of any changes to policy or protocol so that they are not behind even though they are not often present during team meetings about changes.
Support Worker: Works collaboratively with the SAFER team to identify potential participants, provide information regarding access to pharmaceutical alternatives to street drugs, and assist with assessments and intakes.Witnesses doses and records times as delegated by nursing team in the most dignified way possible.Welcomes participants into the space.Distributes safer drug use supplies, safer sex supplies and naloxone kits, and provides information and training about their use.Monitors and supports people who are using substances.
Assesses for overdose symptoms and responds with SAFER team with rescue breathing and naloxone when necessary.
Training is provided.Maintains the safety of all program spaces by following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents.Provides harm reduction information and referrals for other health and social services.Connects regularly with SAFER participants and offer peer support through active listening skills and non-judgmental attitude.Liaises between participants, systems navigators, nurses and physicians to support participants to be heard and assists with keeping communication open and accessible.Identifies and develops safety plans with people who are using substances who are at increased risk of overdose.Contributes to a positive, respectful environment at the SAFER program space and act as a SAFER ambassador in the community.Attends regularly scheduled team meetings (as possible with the Saturday-Sunday-Monday schedule) and individual supervision meetings with the Coordinator, their direct supervisor.Keeps records and participate in 'team charting' to assure comprehensive documentation.Light janitorial duties; ensuring booths and the washroom are properly sanitized after each use.Performs other duties as assigned.QUALIFICATIONS: Demonstrated ability to consistently work scheduled shifts, be on time, and plan ahead with supervisor for requested time off.
This role is meant to provide consistent support to the Clinic on weekends and must be consistent and dependable.University degree or certificate in health or social services (Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health and Addictions Support Worker, etc.
), or equivalent combination of education and experience.A minimum of three years' relevant work experience.Strong and proven computer, organizational and phone skills.Supervisory experience in social services provision working with people who are criminalized for their drug use.Demonstrated knowledge and experience of harm reduction practice and principles.Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required to work effectively as a trusted problem solver, co-worker, with program participants, community, and other service providers.Demonstrated understanding and practice of a trauma-informed approach with co-workers and participants.Direct service delivery experience in the community social services sector with a demonstrated working knowledge of community-based programs and related provincial and community support services systems.Possesses energy, interest and high comfort level in approaching and initiating conversation with others, utilizing consent and respect throughout interactions.Demonstrated ability to uphold confidentiality and clear personal boundaries, and ability to mentor and support others to do the same.Working knowledge in the areas of harm reduction, safer drug use, OAT, safer sex, sex work, HIV, Hepatitis C, mental health, etc.Commitment to honor Indigenous communities and ways of knowing, and approach learning about the ongoing impacts of colonial violence with humility.Able to respectfully engage and support Indigenous relationships, with a trauma informed and decolonial lens.An asset to the position: First Aid training and overdose response training, including Naloxone Training.SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Demonstrated understanding of the importance of confidentiality and discretion, especially in a health care setting.Demonstrated ability to navigate issues of power while building trustful relationships with coworkers.Strong computer, email and phone skills.Strong problem-solver, able to find effective and equitable solutions to daily challenges during shifts.Comfortable approaching and initiating conversation with others and ability to build respectful rapport.Ability to work in settings that can be high energy and stressful with self-awareness, discretion and concern for the efficient and safe running of the Clinic.Ability to keep a 'cool head' when tense situations arise.Experience managing hostile interactions and utilizing non-violent communication skills.Experience responding to critical incidents.Ability to apply sound judgement: stay grounded and use creativity, flexibility and assertiveness when working through complex and urgent situations.Experience responding to critical incidents and overdose, including administration of naloxone.
Support to obtain first aid certificate is available if necessary.Ability to apply conflict resolution strategies and provide support to others to do the same.Understanding of anti-oppressive practices.Understanding of the impacts of systemic violence and oppression on program participants and staff members.Ability to ensure a psychologically safe environment throughout the weekend that is respectful, equitable and successfully meeting the needs of participants.Ability to organize and prioritize daily tasks.Ability to establish and maintain respectful rapport with participants who face systemic violence and trauma.Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.Ability to consistently work weekends and Stat Mondays.POSITION DETAILS: Pay: $33.99/hour to start with stepped increases based on your seniority with AVI.
(Pay for this role is based on the BCGEU paygrid 38)Hours and Schedule: Mondays 1:30pm to 5:30pm, Saturdays and Sundays 9:30am to 5:30pm, and Fridays 9:15am to 1:15pm.Weekend Shift Premium for Some Shifts: Weekend Shift Premium of an additional $0.50/hour applies to each hour worked between 00:01 hours Saturday and 24:00 hours Sunday.
As such, some of the shifts of this ad may qualify for an additional $0.50/hour premium.Position Type: Part Time, 22.5 hours per week.Location: The SAFER Clinic in Victoria, BC and work in the community as needed.Number of positions available: 1Union: AVI is a union environment under the Collective Agreement: HEABC & Health Services & Support Community Subsector Association 2022-2025 and this role is a BCGEU union position.Benefits: This position will be eligible for extended health, life and AD&D coverage after 488 hours with AVI.
AVI pays for the entire cost of the plan on behalf of its staff.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 6.4% vacation (equivalent to 3 weeks), receives Stat In Lieu payments of 5% on each paycheque and has a Sick Bank of 6.9%.
Sick and Vacation are both accessible after your first 488 hours at AVI.Hours of Work, Days Off and Work Area may be subject to change.TO APPLY: Please click on Apply To Position and attach your resume and cover letter by 5 pm on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. 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.
As AVI is a union environment, internal staff will be prioritized in the hiring process.
We would like to thank all those that apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
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