Harm Reduction Peer Worker PHAC (HRPW)

Career Opportunity

Position Title:Harm Reduction Peer Worker PHAC (HRPW)

Classification:Support Worker

Job Type:Term 0.6FTE(21hs/week) until March 31, 2027

Department:Community Engagement

Reporting to:Manager, Community Engagement

Compensation:$22.71/hr to $27.39/hr plus a comprehensive compensation benefit package

Deadline to apply: August 20, 2026, by 5:00 p.m., or until a suitable candidate is found

_______________________________________________________

About us

We are Somerset West Community Health Centre (SWCHC), a non-profit, community-governed organization that serves over 18,000 clients annually. Established in 1978, SWCHC provides a wide range of health care services such as primary health care, health promotion, community development, mental health, and harm reduction. We are deeply connected to the communities we serve and committed to removing barriers to accessing services for people who experience vulnerabilities because of their age, income, ability, sexual orientation or gender identity, and language or culture.

SWCHC strives to ensure that our team reflects the communities we serve. We work within an anti-racist, anti-oppressive framework that acknowledges the existence and impacts of systemic racism and seeks to ensure that systems are fair and equitable for everyone.

What You’ll Do

The Harm Reduction Peer Worker PHAC (HRPW) will support services in the Carlington Community Health Centre area.

This project is a collaboration between Somerset West CHC and Carlington CHC. Working closely with the Community Engagement Manager and under the supervision of the NESI Team Lead at Somerset West Community Health Centre, and the Director of Integrated Health Services at Carlington Community Health Centre; the HRPW will support harm reduction services to people who use drugs in the Carlington Community Health Centre catchment areas.

Harm reduction services will focus on increasing access to health promotion, prevention, treatment and harm reduction programs and services among high-risk people who use drugs. The HRPW will be responsible for supporting Carlington CHC’s ‘Health Box’ (gear supplies), through monitoring supplies and stocking, communicating with the Health Box company for troubleshooting, and supporting clients in accessing. Workers collaborate as a part of the whole Community Services department. They work with Harm Reduction Workers, Nurses, the Team Leads, the Manager, and other members of the team.

Workers also collaborate with and contribute to the overall services, programs and functioning of the Centres.

We strongly encourage applications from individuals with lived and living experience of drug use, sex work, homelessness, incarceration, or systemic marginalization. Lived experience is considered integral to this role.

_______________________________________________________

What We’re Looking For

◈ Life and Work Experience

• Relevant lived/living experience of drug use, sex work, homelessness, incarceration, or systemic marginalization
• Strong understanding of community needs
• Lived/living experience & understanding of Harm Reduction principles
• Knowledge of and experience with a harm reduction approach
• Positive and empowering approach regarding drug use, sex, and sex work
• Knowledge of related community resources
• Valid class “G” driver’s license and personal vehicle insurance is required
• Needle exchange and safer inhalation training
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training
• CPR & Standard First Aid
• Overdose Prevention and Naloxone Training

◈ Required Language

• Fluency in English is required
• Other languages considered an asset

◈ Other Job Requirements

• Needle exchange and safer inhalation training is an asset, training will be provided as needed
• Non Violent Crisis Intervention training, will be provided as needed
• CPR & Standard First Aid, will be provided as needed
• Overdose Prevention and Naloxone training, will be provided as needed
• Provision of a criminal reference check for vulnerable sector - a clean check is not required to be successful in application

_______________________________________________________

What You Bring to the Table

• Understanding of homelessness, mental health and addictions
• Ability to work well with others as part of a team
• Commitment to working within a diversity and social justice framework
• Ability and comfort with computers, online reporting templates and ensuring timely completion of reporting obligations
• Good listening skills and strong personal boundaries
• Strong organizational skills/time management skills
• Ability to de-escalate conflicts in an effective manner
• Demonstrates an understanding of the differing beliefs and value systems of others and is respectful of all
• Ability to ask for support/provide support when needed

Physical/Mental/Emotional Requirements

• This position will require the ability to lift and carry items, ~approx. 25-30lbs daily, through extended foot outreach
• This position may require the ability to lift and carry items, ~approx. 50lbs
• This position will require the ability to walk approximately 5km over the course of a shift including on uneven ground and with limited visibility
• This position requires the ability to make rapid decisions about safety and risk and a high degree of clinical judgment with unknown factors
• This position will require the ability to assess the safety of entering unknown locations (usually in public)
• This role may involve the collection of used inhalation and injection equipment for safe disposal
• This position requires the ability to work within a large team of people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences as well as from partner agencies
• This position requires strong communication and conflict management skills.
• This position may involve engaging with people in crisis and requires conflict de-escalation skills
• This role will require daily, effectively prioritizing multiple, urgent competing tasks.
• This role involves daily exposure to significant psychological and emotional stressors, vicarious trauma and potential risk of violence

_______________________________________________________

Your Day-to-Day at a Glance

As the Harm Reduction Peer Worker -PHAC you will:

• Conduct assertive outreach and provides support to people who use drugs
• Assemble harm reduction supplies kits
• Comfortable working in various environments including outdoors, community spaces, and mobile outreach vans
• May involve exposure to emotional or crisis situations
• Monitor and stock the Health Box, communicate with Health Box, Carlington CHC for troubleshooting
• Enter data on supplies distributed, Health Box, outreach activities into appropriate database
• Complete end-of-shift report
• Deliver trainings and presentations on harm reduction, safer use, engagement strategies, overdose identification and response
• Distribute harm reduction materials and collects used equipment
• Provide information about community resources to clients
• Assist clients in obtaining resources for healthier living
• Apply an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed approach to service delivery, ensuring equitable and culturally responsive support for all clients
• Actively listen to clients and offer non-judgemental support
• Promote safer substance use among people who use drugs, including health teaching on safer injection practices with the goal of improving health outcomes
• Support clients to set up appointments with other services as needed, providing reminders and accompaniment as needed
• Connect clients to other harm reduction services in the community
• Participate in operational regular check-ins, as well as weekly team meetings
• Participate in Community of Practice meetings and additional professional development opportunities/training workshops as necessary
• Participate in Project Advisory Meetings as required

All services are provided using a harm reduction model. Hours of work may vary depending on the need of the Program.

_______________________________________________________

Somerset West Community Health Centre is an equal opportunity employer who values the diversity of individuals in our programs and services.

This posting is for a currently vacant position that we intend to fill through this recruitment process.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of Indigenous, Black and racialized communities, Two-Spirit, nonbinary, LGBTQ+ people; people with disabilities; and members of other equity seeking groups. Applicants are encouraged to share accessibility needs in the application process, and every attempt will be made to accommodate them.

Due to the high volume of applicants, we can neither confirm receipt of nor respond to inquiries regarding your application. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.