• Job Description

  Req#: 43524

  Job ID: 43524

  Job Category: Health Services

  Division & Section: Public Health, PH Communicable Disease Control

  Work Location: 277 Victoria Street, Toronto, M5B 2L6

  Job Type & Duration: Full-time, 1 Permanent, 4 Temporary Vacancies (Approximately 10 months)

  Hourly Rate: $41.33 - $45.26

  Shift Information: Monday to Sunday, 7 hours per day, 35 hours per week

  Affiliation: L79 Full-time

  Number of Positions Open: 5

  Posting Period: 09-JAN-2024 to 23-JAN-2024

  Major Responsibilities:

  • Provides harm reduction service delivery at various locations such as 'The Works', community agencies, on the street and from the program vehicle.
  • Assesses client knowledge of best practices for safer drug use and provides education regarding proper drug use technique to facilitate best possible health outcomes for each client. Counsels and educates clients regarding overdose prevention and management, including the use and administration of naloxone where appropriate.
  • Distributes harm reduction supplies and provides take home naloxone to clients where appropriate.
  • Counsels clients regarding various needs/issues such as but not limited to: mental health crisis/trauma, sexual abuse/assault, life skills, sexuality, birth control, abortion, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, grief, HIV/AIDS prevention, suicide prevention.
  • Provides injection supervision to clients using the Supervised Injection Service.
  • Monitors clients for signs and symptoms of overdose and initiates emergency response protocol as per emergency response policy and procedure.
  • Assesses clients for drug use related complications including but not limited to skin infection and abscess and provides referral(s) as appropriate
  • Assesses client appropriateness for initiation on opioid substitution therapy at The Works and facilitates intake or makes referrals as appropriate.
  • Assists client to identify needs and supports clients to develop and achieve health goals. Provides immediate care in crisis situations. Accompanies and transports clients requiring emergency medical and/or psychiatric assessment to medical and withdrawal management centres.
  • Oversees flow and number of clients at sites and de-escalates conflict.
  • Provides pre/post testing and counselling for HIV, syphilis, Hepatitis B/C.
  • Assesses client need for and dispenses over the counter medications as per The Works policies and procedures (e.g. emergency contraceptive pill).
  • Provides patient/client history to the attending physician; facilitates entry to withdrawal management centres.
  • Advocates for client to receive specialized services in presence of crisis or high acuity situation among team and within community.
  • Works collaboratively with the client and health care professionals to identify and resolve health issues and facilitate integration of care. Assesses need for and makes referrals to a variety of community resources.
  • Maintains client records and necessary documentation according to the policies and procedures of TPH.
  • Conducts infection control tasks in accordance with related policies and procedures.
  • Supports the organization and execution of workshops, training and presentations for clients and broader community related to the harm reduction and health and wellbeing. Represents the division on assigned networks and committees. Presents and participates in professional conferences and workshops.
  • Participates in in-services, inter-disciplinary case conferences and team. Mentors, and provides orientation and training to new staff, community professionals, students and peers. Maintains standards of practice and develops professional competence through in-service and other educational means.
  • Informs the development of clinical and general program policies and procedures.
  • Supports the implementation and evaluation of various Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement initiatives/processes to ensure effective delivery, continuous improvement and enhancement of services.

  Key Qualifications:

  Your application must describe your qualifications as they relate to:

  1. Considerable experience in the provision of harm reduction, drug treatment/drug use counselling, opioid substitution and/or safer supply, social, health, housing and HIV/AIDS related services.
  2. Considerable experience working in an outreach capacity with drug users and sex workers.
  3. Must possess a valid Ontario Driver's License Class "G" with the ability to qualify for a City Equipment Operator's License, and able and willing to drive within the Greater Toronto Area.
  4. Experience in handling high-stress medical and behavioral situations, showcasing resiliency, crisis de-escalation skills.

  You Must Also Have:

  • Knowledge of harm reduction, HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis transmission and prevention.
  • Knowledge of drug use and harms associated with drug use.
  • Overdose risk and how to mitigate overdose risk
  • Excellent assessment skills.
  • Ability to conduct work in a non-judgemental way, using a harm reduction approach.
  • Ability to work as a member of a team.
  • Ability to work fliexible hours, which may include overtime, shift work, evenings and weekends.

  NOTE TO INTERNAL FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME CITY OF TORONTO EMPLOYEES:

  City of Toronto employees must apply to full-time or part-time employment opportunities posted on the City's Internal Job Posting Portal.

  Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

  The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.

  Accommodation

  The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request. Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process.

• About the company

  Toronto (/təˈrɒntoʊ/, locally /ˈtrɒnoʊ, -nə/) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario.

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