Co-Ordinator, Harm Reduction Outreach

PASAN’s Harm Reduction Outreach Program supports people who use drugs by increasing access to harm reduction resources and services.

The Coordinator is responsible for overseeing and training Harm Reduction Workers. In addition, the Coordinator fosters community partnerships, participates in community events to increase awareness and access to PASAN’s services, and delivers capacity-building training for local service providers.

About the Harm Reduction Outreach Program Coordinator role

PASAN’s Harm Reduction Outreach Program supports people who use drugs by increasing access to harm reduction resources and services.

The Coordinator is responsible for overseeing and training Harm Reduction Workers. In addition, the Coordinator fosters community partnerships, participates in community events to increase awareness and access to PASAN’s services, and delivers capacity-building training for local service providers.

Responsibilities

Outreach

• Coordinate PASAN’s overdose prevention services and the distribution of harm reduction resources..
• Engage in community-based outreach with people who use drugs, including at local shelters, day centre’s, drop-in programs, on the street, and at other public spaces and community locations.
• Provide brief supportive counselling, harm reduction resources and information during outreach.
• Provide low barrier harm reduction services for people who use drugs . .
• Provide harm reduction resources and education regarding safer injection strategies, vein and abscess care, overdose awareness and prevention and HIV, STI and Hepatitis prevention
• Directly respond to service user needs and crisis situations as appropriate. Monitor service user areas including bathrooms.
• Provide training on overdose prevention and naloxone distribution.

Community Development and Capacity Building

• Develop partnerships with local service providers to formalize referral processes; participate in community development initiatives and networks
• Assess harm reduction training needs of local service providers and provide or facilitate relevant training opportunities.
• In collaboration community partners, develop and coordinate point-of-care HIV/HCV testing.
• Design and deliver orientation and ongoing training for Harm Reduction Outreach Workers and volunteers.
• Conduct structured supervision and field supervision of Harm Reduction Outreach Workers, in collaboration with the Harm Reduction Program Manager.
• Coordinate and support student placements

Data Management and Organizational

• Participate in regular supervision and team meetings, and agency events.
• Maintain records, reports, and statistics necessary for program functioning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
• Participate in Provincial Outreach Network and Regional Harm Reduction Network meetings and activities.
• Attend program, department and agency meetings and trainings.
• Perform other duties as required

Job Requirements:

• Understanding of the health and social impact of the criminal justice system on people who use drugs
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of harm reduction principles and practice.
• Experience working with HIV and HCV issues including a well-developed knowledge of relevant resources
• Experience developing, facilitating, and evaluating targeted education and training workshops.
• In depth knowledge of the social determinants of health
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain reciprocal relationships with healthcare providers and/or community support organizations
• A strong commitment to advancing justice, equity, accessibility and inclusion both internally and in the way programs and services are delivered
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Effective time management and organizational skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively with staff and community partners
• Proficiency in using basic computer applications (Microsoft Office and emails)
• Demonstrated knowledge of the structural, economic, social, and political contexts that affect both incarcerated people and those who were previously incarcerated in Ontario.
• Knowledge and application of cultural safety principles, trauma-informed approaches, and an ability and willingness to work closely with communitie are over-represented in the prison system