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.
The Overdose Response Worker – CTS works within the CTS services of SRCHC. This position will respond to overdoses, distribute harm reduction supplies, provide harm reduction education and make referrals to additional services. This position will further engage collaboratively with other interdisciplinary team members and service providers, as well as with service users.
Working onsite from SRCHC’s 134 Sherbourne or 955 Queen Street East location, this position will be required to work variable shifts within a seven (7) day week with hours between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m.
Responsibilities:
- Supports service users to administer their own drugs; assesses service user knowledge of safe drug consumption processes and works with service user to achieve the best possible outcomes
- Completes intake and assessments, responds to and manages overdose events; provides overdose prevention education and support
- De-escalates conflict with or among participants, according to established protocols
- Provides harm reduction materials and information to service users and ensures safe disposal of used equipment in accordance with established protocols
- Seeks out opportunities to provide peer-to-peer support, education and referrals to services
- Maintains a hygienic, organized, comfortable and respectful environment
- Assists with stocking and organization of supplies
- Works collaboratively with other team members, participates in interdisciplinary case conferences and team meetings and collegially shares knowledge of drug using community with other staff
- Helps to ensure operations of the CTS comply with all exemption requirements and guidelines, as well as all SRCHC policies and procedures
- Attends mandatory training as applicable
- Other duties as required
Qualifications:
- High School Diploma or equivalent
- Proven experience with overdose response and training in/experience with oxygen and Naloxone administration
- Physical ability to provide support in an overdose situation
- Experience and knowledge of drug use, specifically injection drug use
- Volunteer or work experience with a harm reduction program
- Experience utilizing harm reduction principles and strategies
- Experience providing peer-to-peer support
- Demonstrated ability to de-escalate conflict
- Confidence in asserting oneself and maintaining strong boundaries
- Knowledge of community services and resources; strong advocacy skills
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Ability to actively and accurately listen
- Demonstrated respect for diversity, equity, anti-racism and accessibility with the ability to work collaboratively and positively with others
- Demonstrated display of sensitivity to others
- Open, non-judgmental and willing to learn
- Basic computer skills including email
- Lived experience as (or working with people who reflect) SRCHC’s priority client population: racialized people, indigenous people, people who engage in sex work, prisoners/ex-prisoners, people with mental health issues, and people who have experienced trauma, people who have experienced homelessness or street involvement would be an asset
- Respects and values the diversity of communities and individuals
- Proof of triple COVID-19 vaccination status will be required for employment
This posting remains open until positions are filled.
Please mail in your cover letter and resume in confidence to:
The Hiring Committee: Overdose Response Worker – CTS Casual
South Riverdale Community Health Centre
955 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON M4M 3P3
Or by email to: [email protected]
Please enter “Overdose Response Worker – CTS Casual” 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.
