Peer Mentor - Hamilton Urban Safer Supply Program

0.5 FTE (17.5 hours/week)
Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre (HUCCHC) is a thriving inner city health centre and a leader in the provision of high-quality primary health services and health promotion programs. Our comprehensive health services are delivered through a dynamic team of multidisciplinary, inter-professional health providers. As an inner-city health centre our client populations include individuals and families with chronic and complex health and social conditions, many of which are living in poverty.
General Responsibilities: We are seeking one Peer Mentor (PM) to join our Hamilton Urban Safer Supply Program (HUSSP). The program provides clients using street-based drug supply, who are at high risk of overdose in the community and of medical complications due to drug use, a regulated supply of prescription through a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in an effort to reduce overdose and overdose deaths. HUSSP is a multidisciplinary team that provides primary care and wrap around social supports to eligible safe supply clients. The team consists of Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Case Manager, Health Navigator and Cultural Ambassador.
The Peer Mentor will bring their expertise and lived experience to support both the program and agency to better meet the needs of people who use substances, are street-involved, and who do sex work in the vicinity. This is a highly interactive role that will see you developing professional and social networks, and liaising internally with other providers and with external agencies and groups regarding the needs of persons who use drugs, with a special focus on expanding services, enhancing access to treatment, and advocating on issues affecting folks in the community.
Specific Responsibilities

• Safe disposal / handling of used drug equipment
• Maintain boundaries with the community members while working
• Co-create and give workshops as requested by the community stakeholders
• Street outreach
• Co-facilitation of the client advisory committee and programming
• Program documentation
• Offer support, education, and training around safer drug using practices and overall health promotion
• Training community members in overdose prevention and response including training in using Naloxone
• Preparing and giving out harm reduction supplies and resources
• Lead and support outreach activities at partner locations

Qualifications

• Ability to accept feedback, take initiative, and in a culturally diverse environment
• Personal experience with homelessness, sex work, mental health issues, HIV, Hepatitis C is an asset
• Drug user positive and sex-positive attitude with anti-racist grounded in harm reduction approaches
• Harm reduction-related and peer support volunteer or paid experience, education, or training is an asset
• Ability to speak a language other than English is an asset
• Ability to work independently, as well as in a team
• Familiarity with Hamilton downtown core community members and drug-using networks
• A current police record check
• Basic computer skills
• Demonstrated ability to work with multi-disciplinary teams
• Ability to build trust with priority population
• Good communication and strong listening skills
• Personal experience and/or an awareness of substance use is an asset

Interested individuals should forward a resume and cover letter by Monday June 19, 2023, 12:00pm to:
Hiring Committee – HUSSP Peer Mentor
Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre Suite
121-181 Main Street Hamilton, Ontario L8P 4S1
Fax: 905-522-5374
Hamilton Urban Core is committed to equity in employment. While we appreciate every application only those selected for an interview will be contacted.