Community Health Worker - Hepatitis C

Full Time Regular position, 1.0 FTE (35 hours/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 health care, and we strive to reduce these barriers. PQWCHC is a multi-sited organization.

General Responsibilities: The Hepatitis C Community Health Worker is responsible for engaging and working with community members who use drugs and/or are Hepatitis C positive through the provision of groups, outreach, and support services/resources to support individuals in accessing and maintaining connections with clinical and harm reduction programs and services. Majority of work will be based at the Queen West site and the position may be expected to work across sites.

Reporting Manager: Manager - Urban Health/Harm Reduction Services

Specific responsibilities:

• Active outreach to marginalized community members with Hepatitis C in order to bridge them to program and treatment teams
• Ensure clients are integrated into the appropriate services both within the CHC and wider community as required to ensure an optimal continuum of health and social services through all the stages of Hepatitis C education, support, care and treatment
• Work in partnership with the HEP C nurse to develop, implement and evaluate the HEP C Program
• Develop and deliver low-barrier groups and community development initiatives for clients who use drugs and those who are Hepatitis C positive
• Provide crisis response and support team-based case management, as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Participate in harm reduction program initiatives and event-planning as needed
• Routinely compile and enter data as per program directives and organizational requirements
• Perform other related duties as required
• Work flexible hours including some evenings and weekends dependent on the client needs and operational demands

Qualifications:

• A degree or diploma in the related field, or relevant work/lived experience
• 3 - 5 years relevant training and experience in harm reduction
• Excellent understanding of impacts of systemic oppression on marginalized individuals and communities
• Skills & experience in designing and delivering diverse group programming, including participatory research, peer support and information/education focused groups
• Excellent understanding of principles of community development and experience applying these principles in work settings
• Well-developed and demonstrable experience in crisis management in the mental health/social services field
• Strong understanding of community-based service provision including ability to identify and connect with appropriate community-based services/resources
• Excellent knowledge of & ability to apply harm reduction principles and practices in work with the community
• Excellent understanding and ability to apply or integrate client base and client-centered work
• Work from a feminist, anti-oppression and trauma-informed framework
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team
• Proficiency in using computer technology and various software applications
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Current involvement in community work is and/ or lived experience considered an asset

Compensation: $50,561 to $59,539 per annum plus group benefits and HOOPP (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan)

If you are interested in joining in a creative and dedicated team to, we want to hear from you! Applicants please send your resume and cover letter in a single document (MS Word or PDF format only). Please apply using the form at the bottom of the PQWCHC employment page: https://pqwchc.org/contact/employment/

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 with 6-12 months) 14 days before starting employment.