Harm Reduction Coordinator in Toronto

Full-Time Regular Positions (35 hours/week), Bargaining Unit - UFCW Local 175 Position Status: Replacement for existing position.

Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre (PQWCHC) is a dynamic, community-based health care organization that has historically served mid-west downtown Toronto and now provides outreach services across the entire city. Offering a broad range of services, including primary health care, dental care, harm reduction, health promotion, counselling, and community development programming, we are committed to serving people who face barriers to health care and strive to reduce these barriers. PQWCHC is a multi-sited organization.

We are seeking an experienced health educator and harm reduction leader who shares our passion for making a difference. You will work as part of a team of harm reduction coordinators, overdose prevention support workers, and client support workers within a harm reduction framework, and in alignment with the vision and values of PQWCHC. You will be accountable for ensuring outreach services follow healthcare legislation as well as PQWCHC policies and procedures. This position is an outreach position, which entails working in community settings such as shelters, respites, and sheltering hotels. Flexibility to work across the city and late evenings and weekends may be required.

General Responsibilities:

• Reporting to the Manager, Urban Health - Harm Reduction Services, you will plan and execute harm reduction curriculum and education across the homelessness services sector for both social services staff and service users.
• Collaborate with other services and partners within sheltering sites to coordinate person-centred care for people who use drugs (PWUD).
• Support other team members in client de-escalation and direct client care when relevant to quality assurance and overall program rollout.
• Focus on reducing overdose events and increasing uptake of harm reduction practices through various strategies including shelter in-reach, resource development & distribution, linkages to clinical and community care, crisis intervention, advocacy, community education, and partnership development.
• Plan and execute in situ harm reduction support for shelter residents self-isolating as per directions from Toronto Public Health.
• Oversee provision of a managed alcohol program (MAP) and coordinate reconciliation of shelter residents’ medications.
• Mobilize around COVID response should the need to uplift new fixed isolation site(s) emerge.

Qualifications:

• Significant experience working in a harm reduction program and/or a community setting with homeless and marginalized populations.
• Substantial knowledge of drug use, specifically injection drug use, acquired through work experience, lived experience, and/or education or training.
• Experience with overdose prevention and response, and training in/experience with naloxone administration.
• Ability to assert and maintain strong boundaries.
• Familiarity with community services and resources.
• Respect and value the diversity of communities and individuals.
• Proficiency in one or more languages other than English would be an asset.
• Experience in supervised consumption or overdose prevention service, providing overdose training, and working with diverse populations is also an asset.

Compensation: $59,592 to $72,607 per annum plus Group Benefits and HOOPP (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan).

Please note that the successful candidate will be required to provide a police vulnerable sector check as a condition of employment. Employment is conditional upon having had a full series of COVID-19 vaccinations (2 doses, plus booster within 6-12 months) 14 days before starting employment. PQWCHC is committed to the principles of access and equity and encourages applicants who reflect Toronto’s Indigenous, LGBTQ2, racial, and cultural diversity. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, including people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request.