AVI Health & Community Services (AVI) is a multi-disciplinary community-based organization, providing HIV, hepatitis C and harm reduction services out of 5 locations across Vancouver Island. AVI provides services to people living with HIV and hepatitis C and harm reduction clients. We work within a social justice and health promotion framework – ensuring equity and access to services for all – and from a harm reduction perspective, understanding that clients are the best sources of knowledge regarding the services and supports they need.
At the core of what we do is our ability, and commitment to, creating meaningful connections. between clients and staff, between peers, between staff members, between organizations, between communities, and between funders and impactful programs. AVI provides comprehensive, accessible and effective education, prevention, care, treatment and support services to residents of Vancouver Island with offices in Victoria, the Westshore, Nanaimo, the Comox Valley and Campbell River. For more info see www.avi.org
Join our supportive, dedicated and client-centred team in promoting the health, dignity and well-being of all people affected by HIV, HCV and substance use by delivering sex-positive and harm reduction-based education, prevention and/or support services.
JOB SUMMARY:
With the support of the Manager of Harm Reduction Teams, the DOPES Team Lead will support and supervise the DOPES Team. They will work alongside the team to provide a range of low barrier, harm reduction supports and peer-based services for persons/communities marginalized from equitable social and health care services. Through a relational approach, the Team Lead will cultivate empathetic relationships with staff and service users that are based on trust, and grounded in humility, collaboration and non-judgement. Utilizing this approach, the team lead will support staff to develop a cohesive team that utilizes individual staff member’s strengths.
Duties of this role will include, but are not limited to, facilitating staff meetings, engaging in 1-on-1 check-ins, and supporting conflict resolution. The team lead will support staff to meet the needs of participants and the community while balancing day-to-day operations of the program. They will effectively communicate with, and seek support from, the Manager of Harm Reduction Teams and other supports in the organization. Confidence in overdose is essential to this position. This position will also provide accurate information regarding the transmission and prevention of HIV, HCV, and other blood-borne illnesses, as well as evidence-based educational and harm reduction intervention to increase knowledge of overdose prevention and response strategies as well as safer substance use.
The Harm Reduction Teams work on the territories of the L?k????n peoples (Kosapsum and Songhees nations).
KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Supports staff through systems of debriefing, including daily check-ins and 1:1 staff supervision and acts as a liaison between staff, managers, and community partners.
Assists with administrative tasks including but not limited to data entry, weekly reporting, supply inventory, and leave request forms.
Oversees daily staffing by completing shift call-outs, creating monthly schedules, accurately recording staff hours via scheduling software, and supporting the hiring process.
Engages service users and support staff in a collaborative, person-centered approach grounded in harm reduction.
Provides a variety of harm reduction-based supports to individuals, including distribution and recovery of harm reduction supplies.
Provides on the spot training in overdose response, substances, and safer use practices.
Identifies and develops safety plans with people who use substances and are at risk of overdose.
Uses brief assessment, active listening, and a non-violent approach to respond to and de-escalate crisis.
Facilitates access to services related to substance use, social issues, and health/wellness and completes relevant referrals.
Monitors and assesses symptoms of overdose and responds appropriately using naloxone, rescue breathing, oxygen, and CPR when needed.
Maintains the safety of all program spaces by following protocols related to violence prevention and critical incidents, including the ability to use communication devices.
Maintains both paper and electronic client files and logs. Fills out critical incident and overdose report forms as needed.
Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum of 3 years’ experience that includes the following:
Direct service delivery within harm reduction settings.
Supervisory experience in a social service setting, with preference given to experience supervising staff with lived and living experience of substance use.
Providing feedback to staff members and supporting professional development through goal setting, mentoring, and coaching.
Responding to overdose and adverse reactions to substances, including naloxone and oxygen administration.
Supporting individuals to navigate through local health and social service systems.
Utilizing effective communication and conflict resolution skills to work through a range of issues with service users and staff.
Establishing rapport with a diverse range of clientele including individuals who are actively using substances and living with significant health challenges.
Education and Training:
Diploma in the field of health or social service or equivalent combination of education and experience.
First Aid training with CPR-C.
Training or experience in a non-violent and anti-oppressive approach to de-escalation and crisis intervention.
Strong working knowledge of local health and social services resources.
Skills and Abilities
Ability to respectfully engage and support Indigenous relationships, with a trauma-informed and decolonial lens.
Demonstrated understanding of the importance and role of people who use drugs in the development, delivery, and evaluation of services intended to benefit them.
Ability to apply harm reduction principles and health promotion framework to support work and to provide support based in social justice, relationality, cultural humility, and trauma-informed practice.
Excellent communication and conflict-resolution skills.
Computer skills including ability to navigate client files, databases, email, and word-processing.
Ability to receive feedback from supervisors and integrate into goal setting and future practice.
Capacity to work in a highly self-directed environment and respond to community needs and problem solve with flexibility, creativity, and assertiveness.
POSITION DETAILS:
Pay: $33.99/hour to start with stepped increases based on your seniority with AVI. (Pay for this role is based on the BCGEU pay grid 38)
Hours and Schedule: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 1:30pm-9:30pm (22.5 hours/week)
Term: Starting as soon as possible and ending on December 2, 2025 or upon return of incumbent.
Location: AVI Victoria Office with work in the community as needed.
Union: AVI is a union environment under the Collective Agreement: HEABC & Health Services & Support Community Subsector Association 2022-2025 and this role is a BCGEU union position.
Position Type: Part-Time
Benefits: This position will be eligible for extended health, life and AD&D coverage after 488 hours with AVI. AVI pays for the entire cost of the plan on behalf of its staff. If you are already a member of the Municipal Pension Plan (MPP), you can continue with them at AVI immediately. At this time, AVI contributes an additional 9.31% towards your pension account. If you are not already a member of the Municipal Pension Plan, part time staff may become eligible after 2 years with AVI. This position gets 6.4% vacation (equivalent to 3 weeks), receives Stat In Lieu payments of 5% on each pay cheque and has a Sick Bank of 6.9%. Sick and Vacation are both accessible after your first 488 hours at AVI.
Hours of Work, Days Off and Work Area may be subject to change.
To Apply:
To apply please send your resume and cover letter through the job posting site you are seeing this on by June 8, 2025 at 11 pm.
AVI is committed to equity and diversity and we strongly encourage applications from, but not limited to, folks who identify as Indigenous Persons, persons of colour, racialized, persons living with a disability, persons who use/d drugs, persons with experience of sex work, persons who live with HIV and/or hepatitis C, and persons representing diverse genders and sexualities.
Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
We would like to thank all those who apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
