Program Peer, Primary Care Outreach and Client Navigation

Role: This role of the Program Peer is act as a bridge to assist clients to access health care and other essential services. Duties: · Drive the Telus Van for the Mobile Health Clinic for people living in encampments · Conduct drug checking using Scatr machine or other established processes · Work in a public setting (ie outside and in shelter) and engaging with known or unknown clients who may or may not be interested in services· Collaborate with other outreach and frontline services providers (Salvation Army outreach van, police, paramedics, Shelter Staff, supportive housing staff)· Able to use tact and good judgement when interacting with members of the public· Attend appointments with clients to support and/or advocate on their behalf according to client request· Collect and record client demographic and other personal information required. · Conduct OPOC and/or similar client satisfaction surveys· Able to set boundaries with clients while working on their behalf to meet their needs· Able to assist clients in navigating bureaucracy and completing forms · Peers may oversee special programming to engage the community. · Peers may be assigned to work with partner agencies to assist in the development and operation of Harm Reduction efforts within their programs. · Engage in open and transparent dialogue with partner agencies and OICH management regarding partner programmes. · Attend support meetings, team meetings and to attend training and skill development workshops. Qualifications: · Personal experience with any of the following: drug use, mental health and/or homelessness.· Comfort working with Aboriginal communities, the homeless & under housed, injection drug users, sex trade workers, as well as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender/sexual people.· Knowledge about stimulants, opiates & injection drug use issues · Be comfortable in around injection drug use· Knowledge about alcohol abuse.· Knowledgeable in street culture· Good people skills required, must be open, non-judgemental and willing to learn.· Knowledgeable in street culture· Fluency in English required.· Fluency in French or Inuktitut a bonus.· Familiarity and comfort with, computer software such as email, word documents and spreadsheets. · Well-developed skills in setting and maintaining appropriate boundaries, confidentiality and trust with people in crisis.· A well-developed sense of when personal safety is at risk· Ability to work within a harm reduction framework· Extensive knowledge about mental illness and substance use· Well-developed skills in setting and maintaining appropriate boundaries, confidentiality and trust with people in crisis· A demonstrated level of stability in your personal life which will allow you to be at work reliably and not affected by exposure to people who are living with mental illness and using substances in a negative way or in a way that will affect your recovery· Ability to be assertive without being aggressive· Ability to use tact and diplomacy to avoid upsetting or offending clients· Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary team · Must provide a Criminal Records Check (having a criminal record does not exclude you from this position)
Physical Requirements:

• The Program Peer must be able to walk or stand for up to 6 hours during their shift. Staff will be given weather appropriate gear and will carry backpacks to hand out necessary items to clients who are sleeping rough or spending large amounts of time outside.
• Must be able to navigate the public transit system.
• Must possess a driver’s license and be able to provide a driver’s abstract indicating a clear record.

Hours of work: Program Peers will be scheduled based on the operational needs of the program. Shifts include: · Monday – Friday · Day shift: 7.5 hours shifts starting between 7 am and 8 am based on program needs