Harm Reduction Coordinator – iPhare

Three (3), up to 11-month temporary contract positions, each at 1.0 FTE (35 hrs/week),

Bargaining Unit – UFCW Local 175

Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre (Parkdale Queen West CHC) is a dynamic, community-based health care organization serving mid-west downtown Toronto. Offering a broad range of services, including primary health care, dental care, harm reduction, health promotion, counselling, and community development programming, we are also committed to serving people who face barriers to healthcare, and we strive to reduce these barriers. To increase the harm reduction support at a range of sheltering sites across the city, six (6) community-based Harm Reduction Programs are working collaboratively to bring these essential harm reduction and overdose prevention services to the locations with priority needs, with the funding support from the City of Toronto. These positions are funded until December 31, 2023.

We are seeking an experienced and knowledgeable health educator and harm reduction leader who shares our passion for making a difference, you see this role as an opportunity to take the next step in your successful career while contributing to our vision of Inclusive Communities. Responsive Healthcare. Healthier Lives.

General Responsibilities: Reporting to the Manager, Urban Health - Harm Reduction Services, and using a harm reduction and trauma informed approach, the Harm Reduction Coordinator – Integrated Prevention & Harm Reduction (iPhare) will lead implementation of City of Toronto funded project to work with vulnerable populations of people who use drugs with a focus on reducing overdose events and increasing harm reduction, skill-building and education through a variety of strategies that includes shelter in-reach, resource development & distribution, linkages to clinical and community care and safe supply programs, crisis intervention, advocacy, community education, support to embedded overdose prevention sites, partnership development with site operators, harm reduction programming and recruitment, and training and supervision of peer workers.

Specific Responsibilities: As a Harm Reduction Coordinator, you will:

• Provide overdose prevention education and support to clients and partners at various sheltering locations (including respites, physical distancing sites and drop-ins).
• Provide distribution and collection services of harm reduction equipment.
• Use your substantial knowledge of drug use, harm reduction and overdose prevention to design and deliver educational workshops to service users and providers alike as needed to support the uniqueness of each sheltering location.
• Use your strength as a communicator, as you develop professional and social networks, build community capacity to respond to the needs of vulnerable population of drug users.
• Work closely with partners, participants, peers, and the community to identify current and emerging care and support needs, service gaps, and enhance access to treatment and health care support.
• Maintain timely, accurate written and electronic data information, reporting and correspondence that will be an integral part of the job.
• Provide program execution, evaluation, and quality assurance – from developing, implementing, maintaining, and evaluating of program goals and objectives, to developing and following the appropriate protocols and policies.

Majority of work will be based at the physical distancing hotel sites and the position may be expected to work across sites, occasional work on the weekends may be needed.

Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline from a recognized university, or a combination of some postsecondary education and experience in relevant field.
• 3 to 5 years’ relevant experience in a community setting, and expertise in workshop design and facilitation, program development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience working with marginalized communities such as homeless and under-housed people, street involved youth, psychiatric consumer/survivors, sex trade workers, and drug users.
• Proficiency in one or more languages other than English, and personal/lived experience of drug use, homelessness, and/or street involvement would be considered assets.
• Demonstrated experience in peer recruitment, training, and supervision.

Compensation: $54,254 to $66,102 per annum, plus Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) option.

If you are interested in joining a creative and dedicated team to make things better, we want to hear from you. Please send your resume and cover letter in a single document (MS Word or PDF format only) to , quoting “HRC - iPhare” in the subject line. Please submit application by: OPEN until vacancies filled. We truly appreciate your interest; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Please also note that the successful candidate will be required to provide a police vulnerable sector check as a condition of employment, however strong consideration is made to the type of offense. Employment is conditional upon having had a full series of COVID-19 vaccinations (2 doses, plus a booster taken within 6-12 months)14 days before starting employment.