AVI Health & Community Services (AVI) is a multi-disciplinary community-based organisation 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 take evidence-based action to prevent infection, provide support, and reduce stigma. We work within a social justice and health promotion framework to ensure equity and access to services for all.
At the core of what we do is our ability, and commitment to, creating meaningful connections. Every day, we strive to create meaningful connections between clients and staff, between peers, between staff members, between organizations, between communities, and between funders and impactful programs. For more info see
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.
AVI COMMUNITY-LED CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM (CLCR):
The AVI Community-Led Crisis Response Team (CLCR) is funded by the Province of British Columbia and the Canadian Mental Health Association. CLCR is a peer-assisted care program and a mobile crisis response team, led by persons with lived/living experience and mental health professionals who are able to de-escalate crises and develop community care plans with persons experiencing crisis.
The CLCR Team is an alternate approach to responding to someone in crisis that focuses on health, well-being and community support. Utilizing a community-based, client centered, trauma-informed response, a peer-assisted model of care has been proven to help individuals navigate mental and social care services and reduce engagement with the justice system and emergency services.
The CLCR team provides services on the territories of the Ləkʷəŋən peoples (Esquimalt and Songhees nations).
JOB SUMMARY:
The CLCR team will provide acute mobile crisis support and de-escalation services for persons 13 years of age and older experiencing mental health and/or substance use related crises. CLCR Casual Coordinators report to the CLCR Team Manager, and will focus support on daily operations, including team support, effective and efficient daily systems. The coordinator position is not an office job and requires Coordinators to remain responsive and flexible to the daily demands; including attending calls, performing outreach, meeting with community stakeholders and being within the staff work area.
This is an entry level leadership position, focused on daily operations, quality of service and team support. Supervision of individual staff, including staff goal setting and professional development, as well as program development will not be included in this role.
Alongside the team, this role is grounded in person-centered, harm reduction and trauma informed approaches to care, which center the needs and agency of the service user.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Team Coordination
• Oversee daily operations, including support of operations and team systems,
• Provide daily support of staff, including ensuring quality service delivery, and adherence to policy and practices,
• Support staff to develop capacities, including in-person role modeling and capacity building,
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with community care providers, including emergency services personnel,
• Ensure quality control and transparency of service, reporting to the CLCR Team Manager and Program Director,
• Always remain available to the team including attending calls, performing outreach and being within staff work areas.
Crisis Response
CLCR is an emergency response team, supporting persons and their community/family experiencing mental health and substance use related crises.
At all times, the Coordinator is expected to be:
• Ready and able to respond to mental health and substance use related crises,
• Triage, assess and adjust responses depending on call acuity, severing and other incoming calls,
• Think critically and respond quickly, especially in critical situations and when deciding the next course of action,
• Respond to/answer back-to-back calls,
• Communicate effectively with all teams attending calls, including collaborative and directive styles of communication,
• Remain responsive to incoming calls up until the end of shift, and/or when Mandatory Emergency Overtime is in effect,
• Demonstrate emotional resilience, including and especially within complex situations,
• Work effectively as a team, including respectful communication throughout and following an emergency crisis response,
• Continuously center the needs of the person experiencing crisis,
• Effectively and professionally engage other care providers, including when advocating for a person in crisis, and/or when critically assessing and determining the next course of action,
• Develop comprehensive safety plans and establish post crisis follow-up care, centering the needs of the person in crisis.
QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Minimum 5 years relevant experience, including mental health services, de-escalation and crisis response, and case management.
2. 1-2 years paid and/or volunteer leadership experience, including support of large group processes, systems and team wellness.
3. Undergraduate Degree in the mental health field (counselling, social work, psychiatric nursing), or equivalent number of years work experience in health/social care services.
4. Ability to role model for staff effective and accountable, engage in group process work (debriefing and accountability to the program) facilitate conflict resolution, foster empathic communication and demonstrate clear boundaries.
5. Crisis Intervention Skills, including extensive experiencing with situational awareness, mental health assessments and suicide intervention.
6. Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge of harm reduction and health promotion practices.
7. Demonstrated practice of social justice, cultural humility, and trauma-informed approaches to care.
8. Relevant or applicable training/experience in anti-racism and an analysis of colonialism and the ways in which historical and ongoing colonization impacts Indigenous People.
9. Successful completion of CLCR/PACT Training Curriculum.
10. Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License with “Normal” Drivers Status.
11. Driver’s Abstract (AVI will review the past year’s driving record. Drivers will need to have no suspensions or prohibitions or 1 passenger only restrictions or a Driver's Factor of 1.1 or lower).
12. Employment subject to criminal record check for working with vulnerable population.
TO APPLY:
To apply, please click on Apply To Position and attach your resume and cover letter (optional). This posting is open until September 15, 2024, by 5pm.
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.
Accommodation is available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
As AVI is a union environment, internal staff will be prioritized in the hiring process.
We would like to thank all those that apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
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