House of Friendship
Location
Waterloo, ON | Canada
Job description
At House of Friendship, we believe in what we are doing. We get out of bed each day to make a difference in our community; to walk with and to serve. We are not happy with the status quo. We get energy from ongoing learning and growth. We lead with passion and believe without a doubt that everyone deserves to belong and thrive. We live and breathe our values of Compassion, Inclusion, Justice, Dignity and Hope. And we have fun!
Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? It is!
Safer Use programs have been established in response to the opioid overdose crisis to provide an environment for safer consumption, along with addictions and mental supports within housing and shelter settings. In this important new role, the Harm Reduction Workers will support individuals using substances with safer use and reducing other health risks.
** This is a permanent, part-time (22.5 hours per week) position;
offering personal days, vacation pay, group health benefits
and defined contribution pension plan.
Schedule to be every Friday, Saturday & Sunday, from 12am to 8am.
Successful completion of a Police Records Check (Vulnerable Sector) will be required
pre-employment. **
Key Responsibilities:
· Greets and engages participants, orients participants to the service and space and completes brief intake and review of service user agreements
· Maintains a hygienic, organized, comfortable and respectful environment in the Safer Use Space
· Supervises consumption and responds appropriately in the event of a drug poisoning crisis
· Prepare and give out harm reduction supplies and resources with the aim to improve the quality of life and health of all program participants
· Offer support, training and education to participants around safer drug using practices, safe disposal and handling and overdose prevention and response including training in using Naloxone
· Safe disposal / handling of used drug equipment
· Work as part of a team by attending the team meetings, trainings, and regular supervision meetings
· Maintain professional boundaries with participants
· Meet commitments i.e. adhering to work schedule, program and client needs
· Collecting statistics, data entry, and writing short reports
· Collects and documents all information relevant to the Safer Use Program (SUP) agreement with Health Canada and participates in an ongoing evaluation and review of the space
· Works within general rules, procedures and standards, referring issues or problems to supervisor
· Maintains high level of confidentiality when working with sensitive and personal client, employee and contract information
· Tracking and recording of supplies distributed and collected
· Assisting with stocking, organizing harm reduction inventory, risk reduction and other relevant program supplies
· Providing clients with support, information and referrals to harm reduction, overdose prevention, health, community, and drug treatment services (as appropriate) within and outside House of Friendship
· Support participants to follow established health protocols at the site
· Stay informed of and comply with processes and policies related to the site, as well as current health risks to the population using the site
· Work closely with the supervisor to ensure they are informed of any concerns and issues
· Work as a team with other staff to provide consistency and wrap-around support
Job Specific Knowledge/Skills:
· Demonstrated skill in building and maintaining productive relationships
· Knowledge of and training in substance use and associated health risks
· Knowledge of local community agencies and resources is an asset
· Ability to intervene in overdose and drug poisoning crisis situations and willing to learn how to respond in a drug induced crisis situation – through administering oxygen, Naloxone, CPR and working with Emergency Responders
· Ability to build trust with individuals who use drugs and/or do sex work
· Demonstrated capacity for accurate documentation, collaboration with an interdisciplinary team and strong oral, written and listening skills
· Willingness to learn and be adaptable as the program develops and evolves
· Demonstrated ability to problem-solve in a fast-paced, sometimes stressful environment
· Knowledge of community services, resources, and strong advocacy skills is considered an asset
· Must be able to provide a current Vulnerable Sector check at own cost
· Good communication skills and strong listening skills
· Ability to work independently, as well as in a team
· Ability to accept feedback, take initiative, and work independently in a culturally diverse environment
· Basic computer skills
Education/Experience:
· Two-year post-secondary education in a related field of study (i.e. social services, social work, addictions, mental health, community development etc.)
· Knowledge and understanding of the complexities of drug use, homelessness, violence and mental health – through a combination of lived experience, work experience and/or education and training
· Harm reduction-related and peer support volunteer or paid experience, education, or training is an asset
· Knowledge of substances, problematic substance use, and evidence informed practices
· Knowledge of supporting safer consumption
Critical Skills:
· Commitment to understand and uphold the mission and values of House of Friendship is expected
· Exemplary emotional intelligence, resilience, communication, conflict management and problem solving skills required
· Ability to work professionally as a team member with staff, participants and community members
· Demonstrated ability to create and maintain a positive work environment including the ability to navigate change in a positive and productive manner
· Experience or strong interest in working with diverse populations including people from various cultural background, income levels, and sensitivity to their needs
· Experience with and commitment to using an anti-racism, anti-oppressive and trauma informed approach in consultation, program design, evaluation processes and service delivery
· Must be dependable, professional, flexible, a team player, and have a positive attitude
· Respectful, supportive and engaging approach to persons with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, addictions, mental health and other life challenges
Compensation:
· We value our team members above all else and know that our mission can only succeed through your work
· We value the work that you do with fair pay and benefits:
o We are a Living Wage employer as defined by the Ontario Living Wage Network
o We use a 3.5:1 ratio meaning that the highest paid team member is not paid more than 3.5 times than the lowest paid team member:
Part-time benefit plan including Extended Health Care (EHC), Dental, Group Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) and Health Care Spending Account
We believe strongly in supporting the mental health of our team members, including providing access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program, $2,000 for counselling services and our workplace Wellness and Psychological Health and Safety programs
We help you save for the future by providing a retirement plan that includes a matched Group Pension Plan as well as a Group RRSP and a Group Tax Free Savings Account
Rate of Pay:
At House of Friendship all compensation ranges are categorized under a series of “grades” and we base our payment structure on internal equity. When determining rate of pay, a candidate’s past related experience will be taken into consideration along with where others with similar experience are currently on the pay grid. Note: Due to the internal composition of our pay grids, many team members with lengthy experience are between the start and mid-point of the range and therefore most new team members will be placed accordingly.
Grade: 4
Min: $21.53
Mid: $24.93
Max: $28.33
Working Conditions:
·22.5 hours per week; Friday, Saturday & Sunday, from 12am to 8am
· Intensive contact with program participants required
· Encountering participants at the site under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, and/or experiencing symptoms of mental illness or crisis
House of Friendship is open and inviting to qualified candidates with lived experience.
We strive to remove barriers that may prevent qualified applicants from fully participating in the recruitment and selection process. Accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and other applicable legislation is available throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. Accommodations will be provided upon request.
If you are as passionate as we are about serving the community, let’s talk.
To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter here:
By end of day March 20, 2024 .
Job tags
Salary
$21.53 - $28.33 per hour
