Job Description

About The Ally Centre of Cape Breton

The Ally Centre of Cape Breton's (ACCB) mission is to create supportive environments to reduce harm and promote health. ACCB is involved in many mutually beneficial partnerships with government agencies and the community who share a common goal in supporting and providing services for at-risk populations. The Ally Centre of Cape Breton wishes to maintain an atmosphere conducive to a high level of service for the people and the communities we serve; to maintain a work environment that fosters personal and professional growth; and, to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all employees.

Guiding Principles & Values

Maintaining a working base that will permit harmonious and effective achievement of the mission and goals of the Ally Centre is the responsibility of every person within the organization.

Job Purpose

The Ally Centre's Managed Alcohol Program (MAP) is a medical harm-reduction program that serves a caseload of individuals with severe alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the community. MAP aims to mitigate the health and social harms associated with AUD through alcohol prescription and scheduled delivery in the context of ongoing assessment and medical oversight, with attention to the social determinants of health.

The Harm Reduction Outreach Worker (HROW) will work with an interdisciplinary team to support community members enrolled in MAP who are experiencing social and physical harms associated with chronic alcohol use disorder and homelessness. Our team provides daily outreach services seven days a week, 365 days a year to MAP participants including individuals who are marginally housed and street-involved. This service involves meeting clients where they are located including in their homes, in housing support programs, in hotels and drop-in spaces. It also involves collaborating with existing community service providers, such as Shelter Nova Scotia, and other housing case managers across our community.

This position will fulfill the weekend shifts (Saturday and Sunday) 9am -5pm with a one hour lunch break. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to be added to the relief roster for MAP.

Position Responsibilities

The following duties reflect the broad scope of responsibilities but are not necessarily all-inclusive::

? Maintaining records of supply, ordering, acquiring, and handling significant quantities of harm reduction alcohol supplies.

? Delivering harm reduction supplies with discretion to program participants in their independent and supported living accommodations.

? Completing brief daily notes and assessments of client presentation each visit, and participating in weekly data collection for program evaluation.

? Communicating with the multidisciplinary MAP team that includes physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, and community organizations.

? Connect with MAP clients at Cape Breton Community Housing Association in regular intervals.

? Providing limited support for MAP participants who are not matched with an ongoing support service to maintain success in the MAP; this may include referrals and coordinating care with other community agencies such as shelters, housing support workers, mental health and/or public health, and addiction services.

? Contributing to advocacy efforts within large systems such as income assistance, housing, and health.

? Triage service delivery priorities based on internal and external dynamic demands.

? Maintaining clean and orderly work environment, including the storage unit and outreach vehicles.

? Share learning, challenges, successes, community connections, and resources with the team.

? Provide feedback and share knowledge toward best practices for service delivery and ongoing program development.

Education, Knowledge and Experience

? 1-2 years' experience working in a community setting with community members who use substances.

? Formal education in social or health fields, addictions or community work, or Human Services Diploma are an asset but not a requirement.

? Strong understanding of harm reduction principles and approaches, and social justice.

? Strong skills related to: adaptability, time management, problem solving, judgement, communication, interpersonal relations, and healthy boundaries.

? Values diversity with a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

? Ability to balance making ethical decisions in the moment, including the ability to relate this decision making to the program policies and procedures, and being collaborative in the team.

? Compassionate, non-judgmental approach to supporting clients whose needs and goals may be different than your own, creative thinking, ability to navigate a crisis situation, de-escalate, and/or pull in more support.

? Valid driver's license required, with a minimum of 2 years driving experience and clean driver abstract. Outreach vehicle is provided by the organization.

Working Environment and Physical Demands

? Supportive, exciting and challenging environment.

? Constant interaction with marginalized and vulnerable people, some reactive, aggressive or verbally abusive.

? Requires bending and carrying heavy objects, and lifting, stacking and organizing heavy objects (25lbs).

? 3-6 hours of driving per day.

? Working in various environmental conditions (weather, varied community settings).

Job Types: Part-time, Casual

Pay: $25.00 per hour

Licence/Certification:

Driver's License (preferred)
Work Location: In person