Job Posting 103204

Outreach Worker, Health Van Operator
The Lower Mainland Purpose Society
Vancouver & Lower Mainland
New Westminster
closes in 25 days (Fri, 1 Nov)
part time  •  $27.00/hr

Position: Mobile Outreach Worker

  • Location: Based out of the Main Office at 40 Begbie Street, New Westminster.
  • Requires Outreach in New Westminster, Burnaby, Tri-Cities, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows
  • Hours: 5 pm - 12 am.
  • Job Type: Driving position, every Saturday and On-Call on Weekdays.
  • Wage: $27.00 / Hour.

Start Date: ASAP

The Purpose Society is funded by the Fraser Health Authority to provide mobile harm reduction and supportive social services to the New Westminster, Burnaby, Tri-Cities and Maple Ridge areas. Services focus on supporting people who use substances and who are at risk of overdose.

Duties:

The primary duty of the Outreach Worker is to drive a Health Van and distribute harm reduction supplies in various communities in the Lower Mainland. The Outreach Worker must be comfortable working with marginalized and street-involved individuals who are actively using substances, experiencing mental health issues, working in the sex trade, are homeless, and/or live in tents/camps.

  • Work closely with the Program Coordinator to implement opioid overdose prevention and response strategies, especially involving mobile outreach services
  • Work to support and engage our network of Peer Workers in the community
  • Distribute Naloxone kits, food, blankets, hygiene items and new supplies for safer injection, inhalation, sex and snorting
  • Provide education and facilitate trainings on safer substance use and other harm reduction practices
  • Keeping the Health Van tidy and stocked with supplies
  • Safely recover used syringes from the various communities and satellite sites
  • Build and maintain trusting relationships with clients who access services
  • Fulfil Harm Reduction Supply Requisitions from various satellite sites
  • Collect drug samples from registered sites for Spectrometry Drug Checking
  • On rare occasions, transport individuals to health appointments or substance use treatment facilities
  • Maintain necessary statistics, and ensure that all required documentation is accurate
  • Provide resources and referral information to services such as violence prevention organizations, shelter and housing, substance use services and health care
  • Overdose response

Qualifications:

  • Valid BC Class 5 driver’s license, the skill required to drive large utility van
  • Clean driver’s abstract and a criminal records check
  • Two-year diploma in a relevant field, such as social work, community health, mental health and addictions studies or equivalent. Extensive experience may be considered in lieu of formal training
  • Experience working with marginalized people who are actively using substances, have mental health challenges, work in the sex trade, are homeless, and/or live in tents/camps
  • The ability to maintain a non-judgmental and non-stigmatizing approach is required
  • The ability to function effectively in difficult and/or crisis situations is required
  • Strong communication skills are required
  • Strong understanding of harm reduction principles, STDs, substance misuse, mental health and social determinants of health
  • Must be able to work independently and as part of a team
  • Established ability to maintain healthy boundaries is necessary
  • Knowledge of local resources is an asset
  • Capacity to lift up to 15 pounds and carry boxes upstairs
  • Readiness to respond to an overdose

Please submit your resume and cover letter Attention: Kristina Selby-Brown,

 

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