EXTERNAL JOB POSTING
Relief Position
Overdose Prevention Support Worker (Relief) - Supervised
Consumption Services (SCS) - Relief
Bargaining Unit – UFCW Local 175
Ongoing Relief Pool
Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre (Parkdale Queen West CHC) is a dynamic, community-
based health care organization serving mid-west downtown Toronto. Offering a broad range of services,
including primary health care, dental care, harm reduction, health promotion, counselling, and community
development programming, we are also committed to serving people who face barriers to health care, and
we strive to reduce these barriers. PQWCHC is a multi-sited organization.
We are seeking experienced harm reduction workers who share our passion for making a difference; you
see this role as an opportunity to take the next step in your successful career while contributing to a vision of
Inclusive Communities. Responsive Healthcare. Healthier Lives.
Striving for excellence in client-centred care and education, you’ll work as part of the multidisciplinary,
integrated Supervised Consumption Services (SCS) / Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) staff
team, within a harm reduction framework, and in alignment with the vision and values of PQWCHC. In so
doing, you’ll help ensure that SCS/CTS operations comply with all exemption requirements and guidelines,
as well as PQWCHC policies and procedures. In the role of SCS/CTS Overdose Prevention Support
Worker, you will respond to overdoses, distribute harm reduction supplies, provide harm reduction
education, and make referrals to additional services.
Reporting to the SCS Supervisor, you’ll supervise clients administering their own drug injections and using
other permitted modes of consumption (i.e., intranasal and oral) who may present with a variety of acute and
chronic illnesses/diseases and complex health and social needs. As an Overdose Prevention Support
Worker, you’ll provide education and support on safer injection and consumption, monitor clients for adverse
reactions, assess, respond to, and support overdose events, and assist in the initiation of emergency
responses, as necessary. You will also assist in client de-escalation and provide support for crowd control
and make referrals to other health and social service providers.
You have at least 1 year of experience working in a harm reduction program and/or a community setting,
working with homeless and marginalized populations, including people who inject illicit drugs. You have
experience with overdose prevention and response and training in/experience with Naloxone administration.
Confident in asserting and maintaining strong boundaries, you bring substantial knowledge of drug use,
specifically injection drug use, acquired through a combination of work experience, lived experience and/or
education or training, are familiar with community services and resources, and respect and value the
diversity of communities and individuals.
Proficiency in one or more languages other than English would be an asset, as would experience in the
following areas: working in a supervised consumption or overdose prevention service; providing overdose
training, including Naloxone administration; and working with people who use drugs, racialized populations,
Indigenous peoples, people who engage in sex work, prisoners/ex-prisoners, people with mental health
challenges, and people who have experienced trauma.
Please include in the cover letter your weekly availability to accept shifts.
Compensation: $27.78/hr to $32.71/hr + 4% in lieu of vacation
If you are interested in joining in a creative and dedicated team to make things better, we want to hear from
you. Please send your resume and cover letter in a single document (MS Word or PDF format only) to
[email protected], quoting 2023-004 in the subject line. We truly appreciate your interest; however, only
those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Note: Please copy and paste 2023-004 into the subject line, and only that, to ensure accuracy of you
application being accepted.
Please also note that the successful candidate will be required to provide a police vulnerable sector
check as a condition of employment, however strong consideration is made to the type of offense.
Employment is conditional upon having had a full series of COVID-19 vaccinations (2 doses, plus
booster within 6-12 months) 14 days before starting employment.
PQWCHC is committed to the principles of access and equity. PQWCHC is committed to reflecting the diversity of the communities it serves
and we encourage applicants who reflect Toronto’s indigenous, LGBTQ2, racial, and cultural diversity. We welcome and encourage
applications from all qualified candidates, including people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request. Parkdale Queen West
CHC is in full compliance of the Ontario Human Rights Code and does not discriminate on the ground of records of offenses.
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