About Sanguen Health Centre
Sanguen Health Centre exists to improve individual and community well-being by providing health and social care for people who face barriers to accessing traditional supports. This includes people living with HCV, people who use drugs, those experiencing homelessness and equity deserving communities.
Our mission is to meet the needs of those in Waterloo Region and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph living with or at risk of Hepatitis C through the provision of education, outreach, support, and comprehensive, expert medical care.
Our vision is to create a future where everyone in our community is empowered, accepted, and cared for in the way they need to thrive.
Summary of the Role
The Program Assistant supports the delivery of the Drug Checking Program (DCP) through a combination of direct service, community engagement, and resource development. This role works closely with team members, and community partners to ensure services are accessible, responsive, and grounded in harm reduction.
Accountabilities
- Provide direct service in the Drug Checking Program, including operating and supporting use of the drug checking machine in collaboration with peer workers.
- Maintain a safe, welcoming, non-judgmental, and relaxed environment for all clients in drop-in spaces
- Support system navigation, referrals, and connection to services for individuals experiencing homelessness, precarious housing, or complex health and social needs
- Offer, safety planning, risk reduction, and harm reduction education and supplies
- Provide information, referrals, and social support related to Hepatitis C and other STTBIs
- Create and facilitate (and/or co-facilitate) client and group activities within the drop-in space
- Ensure accurate documentation and appropriate follow-up for clients accessing drug checking services
- Support peers by ensuring they have the tools, resources, and access needed to carry out their work (e.g., acting as a site key holder and day-to-day peer resource support)
- Collaborate with team members and participate in interdisciplinary team building with internal Sanguen staff
- Ensure consistency in service delivery and provide on-site guidance in the absence of the Drug Checking Lead
- Identify opportunities to improve services and support program growth using feedback from clients, staff, and stakeholders
- Support inventory maintenance and tracking of program supplies, including communicating when reordering is needed
- Provide back-up support for administrative tasks, as required
- Drive the company van as needed for program operations and outreach
- Participate in training and ongoing learning opportunities
- Complete other duties as assigned
- Build and maintain relationships with community partners, service providers, and stakeholders in collaboration with the Team Lead
- Support outreach and engagement efforts to increase awareness and accessibility of the Drug Checking Program
- Assist in creating, updating, and maintaining program resources (e.g., information on substances, trends, and harm reduction) for people who use drugs and their loved ones
- Share knowledge and program information by occasionally presenting to community members, service providers, and other stakeholders
- Identify emerging community needs and trends and bring forward insights to inform program development
Qualifications
- Experience or a strong interest in outreach with the population Sanguen serves (e.g. people experiencing homeless, people who use drugs)
- Ability to collaborate with peers and multidisciplinary teams
- Ability to work independently and take initiative in a dynamic environment
- Experience creating engaging community resources, considered an asset
- Experience with facilitating presentations and public speaking
- Crisis intervention, de-escalation and/or motivational interviewing skills
- Must have an understanding of how to work with highly marginalized individuals in a compassionate and respectful manner.
- Strong understanding of social services and the health care system in the Waterloo Region
- Experience with harm reduction education and distributing harm reduction supplies.
- Demonstrate strong time-management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills and an ability to read and write legibly.
- Ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team and autonomously.
- Knowledge of relevant social, health and treatment services for people who actively use substances.
- Must be comfortable being around, discussing and working with people who use or have used drugs and compassionate about the barriers faced by people who use drugs.
- Must be willing to continuously learn from the experts (people who use drugs).
- Data entry skills and experience with Google Apps (documents, spreadsheets), Excel, Word and e-mail.
- Ability to work some evening hours
- Access to reliable transportation
- The ability to work alongside people who use substances in a non-judgemental and neutral manner
- Have an understanding of how to work with highly marginalized individuals in a compassionate and respectful manner.
- Thorough knowledge or willingness to learn about hepatitis C.
- Understanding of Harm Reduction and belief in this philosophy
- Must understand the Social Determinants of Health as they pertain to substance use.
- Lived experience an asset but not mandatory
In addition, this position requires:
- A valid G-class license
- Driver’s abstract
- A vulnerable sector check
- Have emergency first aid (or equivalent) and BLS (Health Care Provider level preferred), or willingness to complete this training
- As part of our commitment to the health and safety of our staff and community from COVID-19, subject to any accommodation required by applicable human rights legislation, Sanguen Health Centre requires that all staff have received all required doses of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by Health Canada.
Hours and Location of Work
This role is part of a shared pool of hours for 2 individuals in the role of Program Assistant. Contracts will include hours from 18 to 32 per week (0.45 - 0.8 FTE) and will be set depending on availability of the successful candidates, and operational needs. The location of work will include 130 Victoria St and various stops for mobile drug checking and other locations where people who may use drugs are spending their time such as drop in centres, shelters or supportive housing in the Kitchener Waterloo/Cambridge area. Shifts may be scheduled for days or early evenings including weekdays and weekends.
The successful candidate must be able to travel to and between these locations by personal vehicle. Mileage will be reimbursed for travel between work locations within a shift.
Compensation
- The compensation for this role will range from $25.67-27.55/hour, depending on experience and qualifications, paid as an annual salary
- Company-sponsored benefits plan after successful completion of the probationary period may be available, based on the number of regular hours being worked.
- 4 weeks’ vacation which accrues biweekly (prorated to the FTE).
- 15 paid sick days per calendar year.
How to apply: Please submit your resume and application through Indeed. Be sure to include your desired availability and number of hours in your application.
Sanguen Health Centre is committed to developing an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment process and work environment. Should you require any accommodation, please inform us and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs. For any accessibility-related assistance, requests for information in accessible alternative formats or to report any accessibility problems, please share in your application or email [email protected], referencing the job post ID number (2026-04).
Sanguen Health Centre is committed to building an environment where everyone feels heard, welcomed and included. Sanguen is a proud equal opportunity workplace that is committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.
Pay: $25.67-$27.55 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Employee assistance program
Licence/Certification:
- Class G Licence (required)
- First Aid Certification (preferred)
Work Location: In person
