Harm Reduction Worker – Substance Use & Mental Health

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.

Working primarily at the Fixed-Site office, the Harm Reduction Worker will interact with service users, distribute harm reduction materials, safely dispose of returned sharps, provide education, resources, information and referrals. The Harm Reduction Worker completes up-to-date data entry, keeps the Fixed Site stocked and organized, and assists with further tasks as directed by the Program Manager, Substance Use & Mental Health. The Harm Reduction Worker is responsible to attend meetings and training sessions as required.

This position is expected to work onsite.

Responsibilities:
• Creates a welcoming environment for service users and visitors
• Prepares harm reduction kits
• Distributes harm reduction supplies and completes required documentation
• Safely disposes of returned sharps and completes required documentation
• Completes daily community needle sweeps and completes required documentation
• Stocks and organizes harm reduction supplies in the fixed-site and other program and outreach areas
• Provide information and referrals to services, programs and workers
• Enters data into the computer program
• Provides on-going communication with other team members and Program Managers
• Attends training offered by the program as required, and completes all mandatory training
• Prepares for and participates in meetings
• Maintains a clean and organized fixed-site and work space
• Completes required shift notes and participates in daily debriefing
• Applies intervention/diffusing/de-escalation/resolution techniques, to respond to service users in distress or in conflict with others
• Ensures all clients entering the facility follow the center’s expectations and policy
• Assists with and supports phone and bathroom access for service users
• Participates in program evaluation
• Works flexible hours including evenings and weekends
• All other duties as required

Qualifications:
• Lived experience of drug use and/or sex work
• Drug and sex positive
• Completion of a peer training program is an asset
• Naloxone training is an asset
• Knowledge of harm reduction practice and strategies
• Experience with overdose response
• Lived experience of homelessness or street-involvement an asset
• Knowledge of and experience providing peer-to-peer support
• Knowledge of community services and resources and good advocacy skills
• Proficiency in the use of computer technology and various software applications
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to actively and accurately listen
• Ability to read and understand written instructions
• Good interpersonal skills – open, non-judgmental and willing to learn
• Open to feedback
• Ability to prevent and de-escalate conflicts, and confidence in asserting and maintaining strong boundaries
• Demonstrated respect for diversity, equity, anti-racism and accessibility with the ability to work collaboratively and positively with others
• Ability to work well with others and function as a member of a team, collaboratively working in a team setting
• Demonstrated display of sensitivity to others
• Respect diversity including sexual orientation, gender, race, ability, drug use and sex work
• Does not use homophobic, trans-phobic, sexist or racist language, or language demeaning to drug users and/or sex workers
• 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 Friday, May 16, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. (noon).

Please mail in your cover letter and resume in confidence to:
The Hiring Committee – HRW – SU & MH
South Riverdale Community Health Centre
955 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON M4M 3P3

Or by email to: [email protected].

Please enter “HRW – SU & MH” in the subject line of your email.

Please clearly indicate if you are applying for the Regular or Contract position in your cover letter.

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.