We are looking for an individual who has experience working with vulnerable populations and is passionate about empowering people and communities through education and information sharing.
At PEERS Alliance, our work is based in trauma-informed practice and harm reduction. We support those living with and at risk for HIV, Hep C and all sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections by offering a variety of programs and services targeted to diverse communities in PEI. We serve people of all genders and sexual orientations. We support those who use drugs in developing strategies to reduce the risk of negative health outcomes. Our programming strives to address the underlying issues affecting the health and welfare of our communities by countering stigma and creating environments where all are welcome.
PEERS Alliance as an organization and its employees must strive to be anti-racist at all times, in all aspects of our work. We are an organization that values team collaboration, work-life balance, and self-care. The work we do can be heavy and complex, and we prioritize wellness for our employees.
The Harm Reduction and Drug Checking Worker will provide services and support to people who use unregulated/street sourced substances across PEI, but work will primarily occur at the Urgent Public Health Needs Site (UPHNS) hosted in Charlottetown, PE. The Urgent Public Health Needs Site also provides service navigation and basic needs support for people experiencing homelessness.
Although technical experience and/or a science background will be considered an asset, you do not need to come into this position already knowing how to operate drug checking equipment. We are looking for someone with strong organizational, analytic, and communication skills – who is committed to harm reduction – and is interested in developing the technical skills required for the role. Training in drug checking technologies and methods will be provided.
The Harm Reduction and Drug Checking Worker’s role will include:
- Expanding awareness and engagement with drug checking services through work with various/diverse audiences
- Develop drug checking informational resources for various audiences, deliver education on drug checking tools to community members, and provide drug checking services with immunoassay test strips and FTIR Spectrometer.
- Delivering harm reduction programs and drop-in services, including drug checking utilizing immunoassay test strips and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy technologies, from the Urgent Public Health Needs Site hosted in Charlottetown
- Maintain a safe and welcoming office space for participants to access personal care and harm reduction supplies, while offering service navigation support and access to health promotion services.
- Providing harm reduction education and services in work with people who consume unregulated/street sourced substances
- Provide harm reduction information, education, and resources to community members and service providers through nonjudgmental approaches.
- Supporting mobile harm reduction outreach efforts in community settings.
- Provide direct harm reduction and health promotion outreach activities in community settings with individuals who consume unregulated substances and/or are experiencing homelessness.
This position will include occasional work on evenings and weekends. As travel between Island communities may be required, access to a reliable means of transportation is essential. This position requires a valid license (3+ years licensed).
Responsibilities:
For Drug Checking Services
- Provide drug checking services using immunoassay test strips and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy technology.
- Interpret and communicate drug checking results and provide relevant harm reduction information to participants.
- Track drug checking data and contribute to project reports, public health information, and other resources about the local drug supply.
- Monitor drug checking results for changes in the local drug supply, unusual findings, and emerging substances.
- Develop and distribute informational resources on drug checking technologies and services to a variety of audiences.
For UPHNS Office Support
- Maintain a safe and welcoming environment using trauma informed practices for low-barrier harm reduction and health promotion work with people who use unregulated substances and/or who are experiencing homelessness.
- Build rapport with people who consume unregulated substances and/or who are experiencing homelessness and other forms of marginalization through a collaborative, person-centered approach, grounded in harm reduction.
- Gather and provide information about community and public services related to housing, substance use, health, employment, education, recreation, and social services to best direct participants.
- Facilitate participant directed goal setting and priority planning with community members regularly visiting the UPHNS, in collaboration with PEERS colleagues and project partners when possible.
- Provide general office and inventory upkeep; ensure personal care items and harm reduction supplies are stocked, tidy high traffic areas between participants, log material distribution and participant interactions appropriately.
For Harm Reduction Education and Support
- Provide harm reduction education in a variety of formats including one-on-one education, workshops in group settings, skills-building sessions, demonstrations, and other formats as necessary.
- Facilitate overdose prevention and response training for program participants and service providers.
- Support the distribution of sterile drug use equipment from fixed site and community outreach settings.
- Educate community members on proper disposal of used drug use equipment and collect waste in fixed site and community outreach settings.
- Stay up to date on relevant issues and best practices in harm reduction such as engaging people who use unregulated substances in programs/services, substance use trends, STBBI prevention with people who use drugs, wound care etc.
For Mobile Harm Reduction Outreach
- Build trust and rapport by visiting public spaces, camps, and other areas known to be frequented by people sleeping and living rough with survival equipment, personal care items, harm reduction supplies/services.
- Utilize the organizational vehicle to provide harm reduction support, such as material distribution, waste collection, and drug checking in community settings.
- Offer de-escalation and crisis response interventions in community settings – including overdose – within scope and as appropriate, bridging to external emergency response services as needed.
- Work to connect participants to external services through referrals, appointment reminders, transportation support, and by facilitating collaboration between participants and external service providers.
- Maintain timely and accurate outreach logs to support a team-based approach to participant engagement, advocacy, and support work.
Other
Support project reporting and evaluation activities through the collection, management, and reporting of anonymized data.
Qualifications
- Educational accreditation (diploma or degree) in social sciences, health/health sciences, social work, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
- 2+ years experience working with vulnerable populations using a collaborative, person-centered approach and/or demonstrated application of trauma informed practice and harm reduction principles in a professional role.
- Experience working respectfully with people who use drugs and/or people who experience marginalization.
- Strong analytical/critical-thinking skills and an interest in learning the technical aspects of drug checking.
- Science or technical background will be considered an asset.
- Comfortable learning new technologies, software, and technical processes.
- Ability to use sound judgment, maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries, and respond effectively in complex or urgent situations.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to coordinate multiple areas of responsibility, manage competing priorities, and work both independently and collaboratively.
- Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to make complex or technical information understandable and accessible.
- Knowledge of cultural safety, trauma-informed practice, anti-racism, decolonization, and the impacts of stigma and systemic barriers.
- A valid driver’s license and clear driver’s abstract
Position Details:
PEERS Alliance recognizes and values the lived experience of community members. We encourage applicants to indicate in their cover letter that they would like to be considered for employment equity if they identify as a member of any 2SLGBTQ+ community and/or belong to other historically marginalized communities, including if they identify as a person with drug use experience.
This position is based in Charlottetown, but work will include neighboring communities. Applicants must have access to a reliable vehicle that will support travel across PEI.
40hrs (on average) per week at the rate of $34/hour and includes benefits. This contract is for one year with the possibility of extension.
To Apply:
To apply, send a cover letter and resume by applying below.
Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
In lieu of a cover letter, we will also accept a video explaining your interest in PEERS Alliance and how your skills would suit the Harm Reduction and Drug Checking Position.
This position is open until filled; however, we will be reviewing applications received by October 11th and scheduling interviews of selected candidates.
Tagged as: 42201
Essential Skills:
AdaptabilityOral CommunicationProblem SolvingWorking with OthersSoft Skills:
AdaptabilityCritical ThinkingEmpathyIntegrityHard Skills:
Case ManagementClient ServicesData AnalysisData EntryDigital Skills:
Windows OSLanguages:
English
