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, Substance Use & Mental Health, the Community Health Worker – Harm Reduction will engage with people who use drugs and/or have mental health concerns through the provision of daily group programming, community outreach, community development initiatives and by connecting people to wrap around health care and social services.
This position is expected to work onsite.
Responsibilities:
• Applying principles of community development, popular education and self-determination, develops and delivers low barrier groups in collaboration with other SRCHC team members for people who use drugs and/or have mental health concerns
• Provides crisis prevention and response as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Participates in systemic advocacy, grassroots organizing, awareness raising and public education for positive social change through involvement in community-based committees and networks and community development initiatives
• Produces written health promotion and harm reduction materials in partnership with the communications team
• Maintains public facing information boards and resources in program areas
• Provides coverage and facilitation support to other programs and services as required
• Provides short term and episodic practical support for service users
• Uses crisis intervention and de-escalation skills as needed
• Provides information and referrals to internal/external wrap around health care and social services
• Participates in Substance Use and Mental Health initiatives and organizational events
• Conducts daily community needle sweeps using safe sharps disposal practices and complete required documentation
• Collects and enters daily programmatic data and EMR charting as required
• Attends daily shift meetings and participates in team meetings/committee meetings/staff meetings as scheduled
• Works flexible hours including evenings and weekends
• Collaborates with the Substance Use & Mental Health team, and other teams across the organization to identify and provide health education and programming 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
• Excellent understanding of impacts of systemic oppression on marginalized individuals and communities, including women and mothers who use drugs
• Skills and experience engaging people through arts-based social justice initiatives
• Skills and experience designing and delivering diverse group programming, including arts-based approaches, popular education, 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 and 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
• Extensive knowledge and ability to apply or integrate mental health, harm reduction and crisis services and systems
• Work from a feminist, anti-oppression and trauma-informed framework
• Demonstrated respect for diversity, equity, anti-racism and accessibility with the ability to work collaboratively and positively with others
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team
• Proficiency in the use of computer technology and various software applications
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Current involvement in community work an asset
• Police clearance documentation will be required for employment
• Proof of double COVID-19 vaccination status will be required for employment
The deadline for applicants is Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. (noon).
Please mail in your cover letter and resume in confidence to:
The Hiring Committee – CHW – Harm Reduction
South Riverdale Community Health Centre
955 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON M4M 3P3
Or by email to: [email protected].
Please enter “CHW – Harm Reduction” in the subject line of your email.
No faxes, phone calls, or requests to meet please.
This is a bargaining unit position with CUPE Local 5399.
SRCHC welcomes applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
SRCHC is an equal opportunity employer. We would like to thank all those that apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
SRCHC encourages applicants who are racialized (IBPOC) and/or applicants who face any barriers as a result of systemic discrimination to apply for this position.
SRCHC encourages a scent-free environment. Employees, students, volunteers, and visitors are asked to refrain from wearing fragrances and other scented personal care products (i.e. perfumes, deodorants, lotions, hairspray, etc.) while at the Centre