Lead

 

Description:

 

Reporting to the Manager, Medicine Hat Support Services, the Lead, Outreach and Peer Services is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of community outreach and the drop in space. The Lead is an active member of the participant support team, engaging in project activities and providing support to participants and team members. Alongside other program staff, the Lead is responsible for supporting members of key populations with comprehensive and individualized support services based on our mission to reduce the harms associated with sexual activity and substance use. They will work with participants to navigate complex health and social systems and to address and improve factors which influence health outcomes.

 

Key populations include individuals who use substances, those living with or affected by HIV, HCV, and other STBBI’s, adults involved in sex work, cis and trans gay, bi, and other men who have sex with men, members of Indigenous communities, members of African, Caribbean, and Black communities, and members of immigrant and migrant communities. The Lead provides particular support, mentoring, and program development for the peer support programming and the People with Lived and Living Experience (PWLLE) who work within it.

 

This is a full-time position (35 hours a week), based out of the SafeLink Alberta operational site in Medicine Hat, Alberta. While hours of operation are generally Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm, flexibility to conduct outreach and attend community events and meetings during evenings and weekends are necessary.

 

What You Will Do

 

Leadership and Staff Supervision

· Support the Manager, Medicine Hat Support Services in ongoing program development.

· Provide leadership and support to Systems Navigators, including PWLLE who function as peer support workers through direct daily supervision, coaching, scheduling, and participating in weekly supervision meetings and regular employee engagement reviews.

· Demonstrate a commitment to fostering Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) initiatives, actively participate in these efforts within the organization, and promote an inclusive environment for all individuals.

· Review, approve, and monitor timesheets for direct reports.

 

Program Development and Delivery

· Schedule and coordinate all drop in and community-based outreach activities.

· Coordinate and facilitate distribution of safer substance use and safer sex supplies, including orders and inventory management.

· In collaboration with the Manager, develop and maintain inter-agency collaborative relationships with community partners to enhance service delivery and outreach to program target populations.

· Coordinate and/or deliver ongoing training and capacity building for program staff.

· Continue the development, implementation, and evaluation of peer support programming.

· Incorporate evidence-based and promising practices into service delivery.

· Engage and center PWLLE in program development, delivery, and evaluation.

· With the support of the Manager and in collaboration with team members, facilitate case discussions to support knowledge development and participant-centered care.

· Conduct substance use debris mitigation and provide drug poisoning intervention in community spaces where needed.

· Understand and communicate key agency positions and values in a professional and situation-appropriate manner.

· Maintain and enhance knowledge of emerging information, laws, and trends regarding HIV and other STBBIs, sex work, and substance use, through ongoing and self-directed learning.

 

Evaluation & Administration

· Ensure program accountabilities by maintaining program statistics and service delivery outcome evaluation information as per data collection and reporting requirements.

· Participate in ongoing program evaluation and reporting processes as required.

· Continuously monitor quality improvement and evaluation of participant files and provide information on potential areas for improvement.

· Participate as a collaborative and supportive team member of the Medicine Hat Support Services team.

· Participate in agency events and activities.

· Comply with agency policies and procedures, including but not limited to maintaining confidentiality of participants and business operations in accordance with SafeLink Alberta procedures and policies.