General Information
Contract length: 1 x 8 week backfill with possibility of extension. Benefit eligible on a 6 month or longer contract
Job Summary
Elevate NWO is seeking a compassionate and grounded Harm Reduction Support Worker to join our Community Support Services team.
This position provides low-barrier, person-centred support to people experiencing substance use, homelessness, housing insecurity, food insecurity, poverty, stigma, and related health and social barriers. Working in the Drop-In Centre, outreach settings, and community locations, you will help reduce risk, strengthen safety, and support pathways to health, housing, and community connection.
About Elevate NWO
Elevate NWO is a community health organization committed to improving health outcomes through harm reduction, health promotion, and equitable access to care. We provide services for people living with or at risk of HIV, Hepatitis C, STBBIs, substance use, homelessness, housing insecurity, poverty, mental health concerns, and other barriers to health.
What You'll Do
- Provide low-barrier, person-centred harm reduction and community support.
- Provide education on HIV, HCV, STBBIs, overdose prevention, safer substance use, and related health topics.
- Distribute harm reduction supplies, naloxone, safer disposal supplies, survival resources, food, and other practical supports.
- Support connections to testing, treatment referrals, housing supports, community services, and follow-up care.
- Conduct outreach in shelters, encampments, homes and temporary living settings, soup kitchens, hospitals, parks, and other community spaces.
- Staff the Drop-In Centre by welcoming community members, providing meals and supplies, responding to immediate needs, and supporting a clean, safe, inclusive, and low-barrier environment.
- Provide transportation, accompaniment, wellness checks, advocacy, and referrals where appropriate.
- Support food security initiatives, cultural connections, documentation, statistics, and service records.
Working Environment
This is a community-based harm reduction position with a diverse and dynamic work environment. Work is performed in the Drop-In Centre, office settings, community spaces, shelters, encampments, homes and temporary living settings, hospitals, parks, and other service locations.
No two days are the same. The successful candidate must be comfortable working in active and unpredictable environments with people experiencing substance use, mental health concerns, homelessness, poverty, trauma, stigma, and other complex social and health needs. The role includes participation in crisis situations, active overdose response, conflict de-escalation, harm reduction supply work, food security support, outreach, and documentation.
Qualifications
- Post-secondary education in Social Services or a related field, or a minimum of two years of relevant experience.
- Minimum two years of experience working with diverse populations and responding to cultural and social issues with dignity and respect.
- Knowledge and/or experience related to HIV, HCV, STBBIs, substance use, addictions, mental health, housing insecurity, homelessness, food insecurity, and harm reduction.
- Experience in crisis intervention, suicide intervention, de-escalation, and/or critical incident response.
- Comfort working in environments where discussions of sex, sexual expression, gender identity, substance use, overdose, trauma, poverty, and homelessness are common.
- Strong communication, documentation, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
- Ability to maintain discretion, confidentiality, and professional boundaries.
- Commitment to health promotion, harm reduction, equity, dignity, and community development.
- Ability to pass a Vulnerable Persons Criminal Reference Check.
- A valid Class G Ontario driver's licence, clean driver's abstract, and access to an insured motor vehicle are considered assets and may be required for some assignments.
Elevate NWO values diversity and prioritizes hiring from the communities we serve. People with lived or living experience related to HIV, Hepatitis C, substance use, housing insecurity, homelessness, and other priority populations identified by the Ministry of Health are strongly encouraged to apply. We also strongly encourage applications from Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit applicants and others with direct connections to the communities we serve.
Pay: $27.04-$31.05 per hour
Benefits:
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
Application question(s):
- Are you able to work full-time day shifts?
- What does harm reduction mean to you?
Licence/Certification:
- class 'G" driver's license and clean drivers abstract (preferred)
Location:
- Thunder Bay, ON P7A 4M2 (required)
Work Location: In person
