Mobile Outreach Worker, Health Van Operator

Position: Mobile Outreach Worker, Health Van Operator

• Location: Based out of the Main Office at 40 Begbie Street, New Westminster.
• Requires outreach in New Westminster, Burnaby, Tri-Cities, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows
• Hours: 5 pm – 12 am.
• Job Type: Driving position, On-Call.
• Wage: $27.00 / Hour.

Start Date: ASAP

The Purpose Society is funded by the Fraser Health Authority to provide mobile harm reduction and supportive social services to the New Westminster, Burnaby, Tri-Cities and Maple Ridge areas. Services focus on supporting people who use substances and who are at risk of overdose.

Duties:

The primary duty of the Outreach Worker is to drive a Health Van and distribute harm reduction supplies in various communities in the Lower Mainland. The Outreach Worker must be comfortable working with marginalized and street-involved individuals who are actively using substances, experiencing mental health issues, working in the sex trade, are homeless, and/or live in tents/camps.

• Work closely with the Program Coordinator to implement opioid overdose prevention and response strategies, especially involving mobile outreach services
• Work to support and engage our network of Peer Workers in the community
• Distribute Naloxone kits, food, blankets, hygiene items and new supplies for safer injection, inhalation, sex and snorting
• Provide education and facilitate trainings on safer substance use and other harm reduction practices
• Keeping the Health Van tidy and stocked with supplies
• Safely recover used syringes from the various communities and satellite sites
• Build and maintain trusting relationships with clients who access services
• Fulfil Harm Reduction Supply Requisitions from various satellite sites
• Collect drug samples from registered sites for Spectrometry Drug Checking
• On rare occasions, transport individuals to health appointments or substance use treatment facilities
• Maintain necessary statistics, and ensure that all required documentation is accurate
• Provide resources and referral information to services such as violence prevention organizations, shelter and housing, substance use services and health care
• Overdose response

Qualifications:

• Valid BC Class 5 driver’s license, the skill required to drive large utility van
• Clean driver’s abstract and a criminal records check
• Two-year diploma in a relevant field, such as social work, community health, mental health and addictions studies or equivalent. Extensive experience may be considered in lieu of formal training
• Experience working with marginalized people who are actively using substances, have mental health challenges, work in the sex trade, are homeless, and/or live in tents/camps
• The ability to maintain a non-judgmental and non-stigmatizing approach is required
• The ability to function effectively in difficult and/or crisis situations is required
• Strong communication skills are required
• Strong understanding of harm reduction principles, STDs, substance misuse, mental health and social determinants of health
• Must be able to work independently and as part of a team
• Established ability to maintain healthy boundaries is necessary
• Knowledge of local resources is an asset
• Capacity to lift up to 15 pounds and carry boxes upstairs
• Readiness to respond to an overdose

Please submit your resume and cover letter Attention: Kristina Selby-Brown, using the Button below.