SAFER Licensed Practical Nurse - PT- FTE

AVI Health & Community Services (AVI) is a multi-disciplinary community based organization, providing HIV, hepatitis C and harm reduction services out of 5 locations across Vancouver Island. AVI provides services to people living with HIV and hepatitis C and harm reduction clients. We work within a social justice and health promotion framework – ensuring equity and access to services for all – and from a harm reduction perspective, understanding that clients are the best sources of knowledge regarding the services and supports they need.

At the core of what we do is our ability, and commitment to, creating meaningful connections between clients and staff, between peers, between staff members, between organizations, between communities, and between funders and impactful programs. AVI provides comprehensive, accessible and effective education, prevention, care, treatment and support services to residents of Vancouver Island with offices in Victoria, the Westshore, Nanaimo, the Comox Valley and Campbell River.

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Join our supportive, dedicated and client-centred team in promoting the health, dignity and well-being of all people affected by HIV, HCV and substance use by delivering sex-positive and harm reduction-based education, prevention and/or support services.

SAFER is a flexible, community-based, harm reduction program that provides safer, pharmaceutical alternatives to the currently toxic drug supply. SAFER is located on the territories of the Ləkʷəŋən peoples (Esquimalt and Songhees nations).

Under the direct supervision of the Clinical Nurse Lead, or designate, the SAFER Nurse will work in partnership with an interdisciplinary team to provide participant-centered healthcare including assessment, screening, and education to support participants who are accessing SAFER. The SAFER Nurse will use a harm reduction, trauma-informed approach and is required to have demonstrated clinical skills and experience to independently assess individuals with complex primary care health needs and active poly-substance use.

• Provide care and support for individuals with high levels of poly-substance use and a variety and complexity of acute and chronic conditions, related but not exclusive to conditions of poverty and criminalization.
• Work both independently (under the Working Alone Policy, when appropriate) and collaboratively with the SAFER team to support people contemplating or accessing prescribed pharmaceutical alternatives to illegal/toxic substances.
• Provide care, assessment, screening, education, referrals, and advocacy regarding substance use, acute and chronic health concerns, mental health, sexual health, wound management, and general wellness, including primary and specialist care, substance use services, diagnostic and laboratory services, and medication management.
• Provide harm reduction support through collaborative risk reduction strategy.
• Collaborate with participants and SAFER team to develop and maintain individualized care plans, providing ongoing monitoring and support with participants in accordance with the care plan.
• Work with community partners to ensure seamless support of mutual participants.
• Provide screening and assessment and administer medications as ordered by program physicians and according to clinical protocols.
• Provide education, information and appropriate referrals that are responsive to the self-identified needs of participants to manage their health, enhance understanding of their health status, and navigate through the various services and community supports related to their care.
• Participate in staff meetings, trainings, educational forums, and engagement in community building and networking.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Licensed Practical Nurse registered with the BCCNM regulator.
• Minimum 1 to 5 years’ full scope, nursing experience working with people with high levels of poly-substance use and mental health challenges.
• Previous experience working in supervised consumption/overdose prevention services, safer supply or other harm reduction programs.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice…