PHS Community Services Society (PHS) is hiring an Insite Program Coordinator!
The Program Supervisor is responsible for the oversight of SIS services, adherence to site policies and procedures, supporting staff and maintaining a low-barrier philosophy. This position works closely with the staff team and provides both training and guidance within a multidisciplinary and collaborative setting.
Opening its doors in 2003, Insite was the first sanctioned supervised drug injection site in North America (receiving federal exemption from Health Canada) and saves thousands of lives and millions of healthcare dollars each year. Operating in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health, the Insite Supervised Consumption Facility is a welcoming, stigma-free, clean and safe environment for users to consume illicit drugs.
Why work here?
Working at PHS will offer you the opportunity to thrive in a fast-growing and exciting organization, committed to providing housing, service and advocacy to people in need.
PHS is recognized as North American leaders in low barrier housing and harm reduction services. We are innovators, highly regarded across the sector.
We operate as a series of well-resourced, experienced, multi-disciplinary teams. You will be supported, and your input will be sought and respected by your colleagues.
It’s a CUPE 5536 union position. Overnight and weekend premiums may apply.
Responsibilities for the Program Coordinator role at Insite include (but are not limited to):
- Fosters a sense of community within the SIS program, creating a collaborative supportive environment where the staff team works together to achieve program goals.
- Works within a multidisciplinary setting, providing support and supervision to a team of Mental Health Workers, Community Support Workers, and volunteers.
- Establishes an effective working partnership with the VCH clinical team promoting a collaborative work environment.
- Establishes and maintains a strong rapport with participants. Listens and responds to participant concerns, questions and requests, in a manner that conveys respect.
- Uses analytical abilities to observe and respond to participant needs and attempts to mitigate potential emergency situations, including de-compensating behaviour.
- Responsible for de-escalating hostile interactions and informing management as necessary.
- Assists in the orientation of new staff, and helps to resolves staffing problems, including working with coverage managers to ensure site staffing levels and safety.
- Provides information about service guidelines to participants, implements participant care plans; including behavioural contracts when necessary, and makes referrals to other programs as required.
- Reviews and updates SIS communication log.
- Contributes to a collaborative working relationship and communication between internal and external stakeholders to develop, manage, and evaluate service delivery.
- Advocates for participants in areas such as accessing community resources and obtaining volunteer placements.
- Advanced Overdose Response skills, including airway management and experience with overdose response skills training.
- Provides crisis intervention responding to complex emergency situations and acting as a first responder to the endangered individual(s). This will include but not be limited to: using pain stimulation to rouse clients, assessing oxygen levels and heart rate, prepping and administering
- Naloxone via syringe, calling emergency services, and monitoring for re-occurring overdose.
- Knowledge of current street drugs and their presentation in individuals experiencing overdose symptoms.
- Ensures adherence to regulatory and site safety standards at all times (WorkSafe BC, OH&S, PHS/VCH Policies, Health Canada Exemption, etc.).
- Responsible for participant flow in and out of the site, and updating and maintaining restriction lists in accordance with site-specific policies.
- Collects, maintains, and reports statistical data as directed by the Senior Manager.
- Reviews most recent staff meeting minutes and responds to any outstanding concerns from the previous shifts, as well as deals with issues as they arise, and takes responsibility for making sure that all necessary tasks are completed throughout the shift, in an organized and effective manner.
- Reviews and maintains relevant documentation such as the Book of Knowledge and training documents.
- Listens and responds to community concerns, questions and requests in a manner that conveys respect. Responsible for de-escalating adverse situations that arise and escalates/reports to management.
- Constructively works to address, navigate and resolve conflict amongst the team, ensuring any issues that cannot be resolved are escalated to the Senior Manager in a timely manner.
- Refers any media to the Senior Manager or Director immediately.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Education and experience required:
- Must have a minimum of a diploma in a relevant area, or equivalent combination of education, experience and training.
- Must have had previous experience (two years minimum) working with marginalized populations, substance use and misuse, addictions, healthcare, and mental health.
- Must have excellent de-escalation skills.
- Must have a proven ability to deal with crisis intervention and conflict resolution.
- Must have good coping abilities/strategies.
- Must have good listening skills (non-judgmental, patient and non-controlling).
- Must have excellent communication skills, and a clear ability to discuss the issues arising among the program participants in a professional manner.
- Must have a working knowledge and a practical understanding of Harm Reduction.
- Must be able to work well with people who pose uniquely challenging behaviour.
An equal combination of education, training and experience is acceptable.
Terms of employment
Position Type: Regular Part-Time
Hours: Saturday/Sunday/Monday/Tuesday 5:45PM-3:00AM {35 hours/week}.
Training: This position will require some flexibility to attend training. The successful applicant will need to attend a general 4-day paid training that runs Monday-Thursday during the day, plus two additional Insite specific paid training shifts.
Wage: $34.46 p/h, weekend premiums apply.
This is a unionized position under CUPE 5536.
Successful applicants will be required to complete a criminal record check.
PHS strives to create an inclusive and welcoming workplace that reflects the community we serve. We seek a diversity of skills, knowledge, backgrounds, and professional experience in our staff. We particularly encourage applications from Indigenous individuals.
How to apply
Please include a cover letter with your resume, identifying the qualities and competencies that would make you a suitable candidate.
Pay: From $34.46 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Extended health care
- Paid time off
- Vision care
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Vancouver, BC: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- Are you familiar with the harm reduction philosophy?
Experience:
- working with marginalized population: 2 years (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- First Aid & CPR Certification (preferred)
Work Location: In person
