NHC Systems Navigator- Part Time

AVI Health and Community Services • Nanaimo, BC

78d • CA$34 • Onsite

About The Position

This position’s primary purpose is to support clients to navigate psychosocial barriers to their health. The Systems Navigator works in a flexible, harm reduction based, trauma informed Community Health Clinic that provides a myriad of health services to vulnerable and marginalized populations. This program operates in conjunction with AVI’s existing programs and services, including primary care, addiction medicine services, health promotion education, youth advocacy and outreach, and drop-in harm reduction services.

Under the direct supervision of the Program Manager or designate, the Systems Navigator will work on a multidisciplinary team to provide a range of psychosocial and health-related support to program participants. The successful candidate will embody a philosophy and practice of collaboration, while working from a relational perspective that upholds values of harm reduction, empathy, social justice, cultural humility, and trauma informed care.

Requirements

• University degree in social work and registration with the British Columbia College of Social Workers as an RSW or RCSW preferred. A combination of comparable education and experience will be considered.
• 2 years of demonstrated experience in the direct delivery of social services, ideally including harm reduction services including case management and substance use services.
• Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License.
• Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge in the areas of harm reduction principles and practices.
• Training in and experience conducting VAT Assessments for BC Housing access, completing SHA, Supportive Housing, and other BC Housing Applications. Training and experience with HIFIS 4.0 and/or previous version of HIFIS, also be an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to establish rapport, provide support and advocate for a diverse range of clientele including individuals who are actively using substances and living with significant health challenges.
• Direct service delivery and advocacy experience with community-based and provincial support services and systems (financial aid, housing, healthcare, justice system, etc.).
• Understanding of the impact on individual health and well-being, as well as the considerations for service delivery related to systemic barriers associated with poverty, mental health, substance use, trauma, racism, ongoing colonialism, heterosexism, and gender discrimination.
• Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge in the areas of harm reduction/health promotion practices, safer using practices, HIV, HCV, poverty issues, mental health concerns and substance use.
• Demonstrated knowledge of social justice, health promotion and public health approaches and models of social support and health care.
• Experience managing challenging behavior, utilizing non-violent communication, and diffusing techniques.
• Ability to problem solve with creativity, flexibility, assertiveness and a cool head in dealing with complex issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated commitment to working within a collaborative team approach.
• Demonstrated time management and personal organization skills to effectively support a high volume of client work.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and experience in similar settings.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position and operate related equipment.
• Practiced advocacy skills and ability to effectively navigate access requirements of various health and social supports (eg. income, housing, healthcare, treatment options, etc).
• Excellent prioritization and time management skills, including ability to triage crises, urgent demands and complex situations within assigned working hours.
• Ability to work with diverse groups of stakeholders including people impacted by poverty, substance use, and criminalization, as well as service providers, funders and other community members.
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible and versatile in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency.
• Ability to establish and maintain respectful rapport with individuals who have experienced trauma and abuse due to structural violence, stigma and discrimination.
• Ability to anticipate and identify challenges and proactively address through collaborative problem-solving.
• Crisis intervention skills with a diverse population facing significant structural barriers.
• Ability to work outdoors during all types weather in all seasons.

Responsibilities

• Work both independently and collaboratively to provide psychosocial supports for participants accessing services in the community as well as within the AVI programs.
• Provide support to program participants using trauma-informed, harm reduction, and culturally safe approaches.
• Support program sustainability by bolstering new participant strengths, seeking out supportive resources that address barriers for participants to join and succeed in the program.
• Actively engages with individuals who are living with, or at risk for, HIV and/or HCV, using a collaborative, person-centered approach grounded in harm reduction.
• Uses brief assessment, active listening and crisis response skills to help meet immediate, basic needs and make appropriate referrals to other health and support services.
• Advocates on behalf of clients with various Ministries and agencies to ensure clients receive maximum information and support.
• Provides advocacy to clients by working with them on issues such as housing, medical, legal and other support agencies.
• Work collaboratively with the Outreach Team and Outreach Workers to ensure referrals requiring follow up from the Systems Navigator are addressed, and work alongside the Outreach Team during Street Outreach as it relates to clients and potential clients needs.
• Act as a liaison between program leadership, team members, and service users to communicate client concerns, and issues related to facilities, operations, and critical incidents.
• Provide outreach-based supports in the community including accompaniment to appointments, home visits, and advocacy in accordance with the established care plans as necessary.
• Provide mentorship and modeling of practice for Outreach Support Workers and Peer Support Workers that is in line with principles of social justice, trauma-informed care, and cultural humility.
• Distribute safer drug use supplies, safer sex supplies and naloxone kits, and provide information on harm reduction practices, overdose prevention and overdose response.
• Works in collaboration with partner agencies to provide a continuum of services.
• Maintains both paper and electronic confidential client files.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• This position will be eligible for extended health, life and AD&D coverage after 488 hours with AVI. AVI pays for the entire cost of the plan on behalf of its staff.
• If you are already a member of the Municipal Pension Plan (MPP), you can continue with them at AVI immediately. At this time, AVI contributes an additional 9.31% towards your pension account. If you are not already a member of the Municipal Pension Plan, part time staff may become eligible after 2 years with AVI.
• This position gets 6.4% vacation (equivalent to 3 weeks), receives Stat In Lieu payments of 5% on each paycheque and has a Sick Bank of 6.9%. Sick and Vacation are both accessible after your first 488 hours at AVI.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level