Peer Support Worker, Overdose Prevention Services - First Nations Communities

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Fraser Health is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services to over 1.9 million people in 20 diverse communities from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations. Our team of 43,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers is dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities to deliver on our vision: Better health, best in health care.

Effective October 26th, 2021, all new hires to Fraser Health will need to have full COVID 19 vaccination (have received a full series of a World Health Organization “WHO” approved vaccine against infection by SARS-COV-2, or a combination of approved WHO vaccines). Please note this applies to all postings, and individual medical exemptions must be approved by the Provincial Health Officer.

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The Toxic Drug Response and Priority Populations (TDRPP) portfolio within the Fraser Health Authority encourages people with lived experience of substance use to apply to vacant positions within their portfolio. If you identify as an individual who has experience using the unregulated drug supply and would like assistance in navigating employment within the TDRPP portfolio please contact Erin Gibson, Manager Toxic Drug Response and Harm Reduction Fraser West, at erin.gibson@fraserhealth.ca. Thank you in advance for your interest in joining the amazing team within the TDRPP portfolio

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values of Fraser Health (FH), the Peer Support Worker (PSW) shares their own consumer knowledge and lived/living experience of substance use and mental health to assist clients in assigned substance use service in identifying goals. The PSW identifies themselves as peers, and collaborates with the client and the assigned team to meet individual needs and situational requirements by providing information from a lived experience perspective in order to assist clients to obtain services from other FH staff, external service providers and community resources more effectively. Provides clients living with substance use/mental illness with emotional and social support, life skills assistance, information, and resources. The PSW works collaboratively with the assigned Overdose Prevention Services team to ensure the client’s self-identified goals for safety, recovery and community connection are supported by appropriate services and practices, and are consistent with the values of self-determination /choice, harm reduction and cultural safety and humility. Provides services primarily at fixed/mobile site locations located within the assigned First Nation community with outreach conducted as needed.

1. Supports clients who are using substances by providing Overdose Prevention Services. Facilitates drug checking. Engages in conversations about overdose risk and substance use safety options and planning.
2. Establishes a culturally respectful, dignifying and purposeful relationship with the client. Contacting and getting to know the client as a unique individual. Clarifying the role of the Peer Support Worker in relation to the client.
3. In accordance with a client’s co-created care plans, provides information to client regarding empowerment, self-help education, practical information, resources, life skills, and demonstrations.
4. Assists clients with community integration activities, and accompanies clients to a range of community services, and appointments.
5. Supports an effective connection between community service providers and assigned clients, family members and significant / concerned others involved in the client’s recovery plan.
6. Shares information with appropriate FH staff regarding the experience of individuals with mental health conditions and/or substance use experiences.
7. Supports the client to meet individual needs, goals and situational requirements by assisting in the client’s navigation through systems such as health care, government and/or housing services, and supporting their continued progress.
8. Assists the client towards self-managing all aspects of their life, including mental illness, substance use and other health conditions by such methods as sharing information, lived experience perspective, practical problem solving, and linkages with peer supports and consumer advocacy groups.
9. Participates in program planning, development, evaluation and quality improvement activities that facilitate team goal setting by attending meetings and providing input.
10. Prepares and maintains written and computerized records. Completes other program documentation, including writing progress notes, completing incident reports and ensuring referral forms are completed and sent to appropriate referral programs.
11. In accordance with a client’s co-created care plan, assists clients with the development of life skills such as maintaining personal hygiene, housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, meeting financial obligations, making and keeping appointments, and interpersonal skills by methods such as demonstrating and modeling appropriate actions.
12. Distributes medication to clients as per established policy and procedure as assigned. Helps facilitate, advocate and stabilize individual’s connections to Opioid Agonist Treatment and other pharmaceutical alternatives.
13. Maintains an awareness of current community resources including culturally relevant health care services, social, economic, recreational, employment, educational services, resources and agencies. Utilizes the information to assist clients to access services and problem solve with the client as required.
14. Ensures a safe and healthy working environment by observing universal precautions and infection control procedures. Removes obvious hazards, reports faulty equipment, accidents, injures, and near misses. Adheres to and enforces rules, and reporting requirement in accordance with FH safety policies and procedures.
15. Participates and provides input in staff meetings, quality improvement initiatives, committees and inservices.
16. Identifies own learning needs/goals. Maintains and regularly updates knowledge in culturally relevant learnings, harm reduction, communicable diseases, mental health and substance use issues. Reviews information with the manager. Engages in a variety of activities to meet these needs/goals and applies these to improve access, integration and coordination.
17. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education, Training, and Experience:
Two years of lived and/or living experience with substance use or co-occurring substance use and mental illness. Lived experience of Indigenous cultural practices.

Grade 12, plus one year of recent, related work/peer support experience in substance use, mental health, homelessness or health services navigation, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Indigenous ancestry.
• Ability and willingness to share lived experience of substance use or co-occurring substance use and mental illness.
• Ability to host conversations about and translate knowledge regarding safer substance use practices to individuals in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team including people who use drugs.
• Ability to engage clients with a focus on client service and client comforts.
• Ability to establish and maintain rapport with clients and their families.
• Knowledge of harm reduction principles and activities.
• Knowledge of how Indigenous culture impacts the development of individuals and communities.
• Familiarity with residential school issues and the effects on First Nations people.
• Familiarity with Indigenous cultural practices and beliefs, including awareness of traditional healing practices such as drumming, singing and smudge ceremonies.
• Ability to work with a culturally diverse population.
• Knowledge of available programs.
• Knowledge of substance use/mental illness recovery approaches.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to organize and prioritize.
• Ability to analyze and problem solve.
• Ability to model, instruct and teach life skills.
• Ability to observe and recognize changes in clients.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to use effective interpersonal skills to establish/maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, the public and other agencies.
• Ability to promote positive change and independence.
• Conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills.
• Physical and mental ability to carry out the duties of the position.
• Ability to operate related equipment.