• FULL-TIME
• Temporary

FULL TIME, 6 MONTH CONTRACT
SALARY RANGE: $52,550 - $61,823
INCLUDES HOOPP (HEALTHCARE OF ONTARIO PENSION PLAN)

South Riverdale Community Health Centre is a non-profit, multi-service organization that provides primary healthcare, social and community outreach services with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention primarily to people of East Toronto. Our mission is to improve the lives of people that face barriers to physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being. We do so by meaningfully engaging our clients and communities, ensuring equitable access to primary health care and delivering quality care through a range of evidence informed programs, services and approaches. As a leader in community health, our locally and internationally recognized community services include cutting-edge primary health services, health promotion, harm reduction, environmental health, community food centre and population-based community programs for marginalized peoples. We value health equity and inclusion and respect in our work and in the delivery of our services.

Reporting to the Program Manager – Harm Reduction & Hep C, the Community Health Worker will be a first point of contact for members of the community referred to SRCHC for harm reduction services by internal and external providers working with people who use substances. This will include individuals who have substance use and mental health issues, are homeless and/or precariously housed, and who may benefit from harm reduction information, education and referrals, as well as individuals who require immediate intervention or support accessing harm reduction services. The goal is to increase individual capacity to cope, reduce harms related to substance use and facilitate linkages to care with appropriate community supports. This role further aims to ensure clients are integrated into the appropriate services both within the CHC and wider community as required.

This position is expected to work onsite.

Responsibilities:
• Accept and respond to program referrals for HR counselling and supports from internal and external partners
• Assist in locating required community resources by liaising with community groups and other health/social service agencies to provide referral information for clients and facilitate referrals to other community health centre professionals to ensure a care continuum of health and social services
• Provide a wide range of harm reduction services within identified high risk neighborhoods
• Provide harm reduction consultation to community partners and providers as requested
• Provide crisis prevention and stabilization through instrumental counselling, practical support and referrals to appropriate services
• Facilitate transportation and/or accompany clients to medical appointments, court, community programs and other appointments as needed
• Advocate for clients on individual and systemic issues as appropriate
• Provide back-up to other Substance Use and Mental Health programs if required, including the COUNTERfit Fixed-Site, Women’s Harm Reduction, mobile outreach, satellite hubs, and the CTS (keepSIX and Moss Park)
• Ensure clients are integrated into the appropriate services both within the CHC and wider community as required
• Participate in COUNTERfit Harm Reduction Program initiatives and event-planning as needed
• Work flexible hours including evenings and weekends depending on client needs and operational demands
• Maintain data on each client contact including services provided/offered including referrals
• Participate in ongoing program evaluation
• Collaborate within own team and other teams across the organization to identify and provide health education to target groups
• All other duties as required

Qualifications:
• Post-secondary education from a recognized University or College or equivalent experience
• 3 – 5 years relevant training and experience in mental health and harm reduction
• Lived experience of illicit drug use preferred
• Strong understanding of community-based service provision including ability to identify and connect with appropriate community-based services/resources
• Excellent knowledge of and ability to apply harm reduction principles and practices in work with the community
• Excellent understanding and ability to apply and integrate client-centered work
• Extensive knowledge and ability to apply and integrate mental health, harm reduction and crisis services and systems
• Excellent understanding of impacts of systemic oppression on marginalized individuals and communities,
• Excellent understanding of principles of community development and experience applying these principles in work settings

For full position details and application instructions, please refer to our website at: https://www.srchc.ca/jobs/community-health-worker-harm-reduction-client-navigator-2/