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This role primarily supports clients in navigating psychosocial barriers to their health within a harm reduction, trauma-informed community health clinic setting. Key duties involve providing psychosocial and health-related support, advocating on behalf of clients with various agencies, and distributing harm reduction supplies.
Requirements summary
A university degree in social work with RSW registration is preferred, though comparable education and experience will be considered, requiring at least two years of direct social service delivery experience, ideally including harm reduction and case management. Candidates must possess a valid Class 5 BC Driver's License and demonstrated knowledge of harm reduction principles, housing application processes, and systemic barriers affecting vulnerable populations.
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 more than 500 people living with HIV and hepatitis C and more than 3000 harm reduction clients.
We work within a social justice and health promotion framework to ensure equity and access to services for all, and take an evidence based approach to prevent infection, provide support, and reduce stigma for impacted populations.
At the core of what we do is our ability, and commitment to, creating meaningful connections.
Every day, we strive to create meaningful connections between clients and staff, between peers, between staff members, between organizations, between communities, and between funders and impactful programs.
For more information, please visit www.avi.org AVI-Nanaimo Community Health Centre Located on the unceded traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, provides HIV, Substance Use, STBBI, PrEP, PEP, and HCV medical services, as well as outreach, supports, and social programming for our clients.
We also provide education services for the communities we support and for health and social services students and professionals that work with the same communities.
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.
JOB SUMMARY: This position’s primary purpose is to support clients to navigate psychosocial barriers to their health.
The Systems Navigator works in a flexible, harm reduction based, trauma informed Community Health Clinic that provides a myriad of health services to vulnerable and marginalized populations.
This program operates in conjunction with AVI’s existing programs and services, including primary care, addiction medicine services, health promotion education, youth advocacy and outreach, and drop-in harm reduction services.
Under the direct supervision of the Program Manager or designate, the Systems Navigator will work on a multidisciplinary team to provide a range of psychosocial and health-related support to program participants.
The successful candidate will embody a philosophy and practice of collaboration, while working from a relational perspective that upholds values of harm reduction, empathy, social justice, cultural humility, and trauma informed care.
Benefits
Life Insurance
Extended Health
Pension
AD&D Coverage
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Work both independently and collaboratively to provide psychosocial supports for participants accessing services in the community as well as within the AVI programs.
Provide support to program participants using trauma-informed, harm reduction, and culturally safe approaches.
Support program sustainability by bolstering new participant strengths, seeking out supportive resources that address barriers for participants to join and succeed in the program.
Actively engages with individuals who are living with, or at risk for, HIV and/or HCV, using a collaborative, person-centered approach grounded in harm reduction.
Uses brief assessment, active listening and crisis response skills to help meet immediate, basic needs and make appropriate referrals to other health and support services.
Advocates on behalf of clients with various Ministries and agencies to ensure clients receive maximum information and support.
Provides advocacy to clients by working with them on issues such as housing, medical, legal and other support agencies.
Work collaboratively with the Outreach Team and Outreach Workers to ensure referrals requiring follow up from the Systems Navigator are addressed, and work alongside the Outreach Team during Street Outreach as it relates to clients and potential clients needs.
Act as a liaison between program leadership, team members, and service users to communicate client concerns, and issues related to facilities, operations, and critical incidents.
Provide outreach-based supports in the community including accompaniment to appointments, home visits, and advocacy in accordance with the established care plans as necessary.
Provide mentorship and modeling of practice for Outreach Support Workers and Peer Support Workers that is in line with principles of social justice, trauma-informed care, and cultural humility.
Distribute safer drug use supplies, safer sex supplies and naloxone kits, and provide information on harm reduction practices, overdose prevention and overdose response.
Works in collaboration with partner agencies to provide a continuum of services.
Maintains both paper and electronic confidential client files.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
University degree in social work and registration with the British Columbia College of Social Workers as an RSW or RCSW preferred. A combination of comparable education and experience will be considered. 2 years of demonstrated experience in the direct delivery of social services, ideally including harm reduction services including case management and substance use services. Valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License. Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge in the areas of harm reduction principles and practices. Training in and experience conducting VAT Assessments for BC Housing access, completing SHA, Supportive Housing, and other BC Housing Applications. Training and experience with HIFIS 4.0 and/or previous version of HIFIS, also be an asset. Demonstrated ability to establish rapport, provide support and advocate for a diverse range of clientele including individuals who are actively using substances and living with significant health challenges. Direct service delivery and advocacy experience with community-based and provincial support services and systems (financial aid, housing, healthcare, justice system, etc.). Understanding of the impact on individual health and well-being, as well as the considerations for service delivery related to systemic barriers associated with poverty, mental health, substance use, trauma, racism, ongoing colonialism, heterosexism, and gender discrimination. Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge in the areas of harm reduction/health promotion practices, safer using practices, HIV, HCV, poverty issues, mental health concerns and substance use. Demonstrated knowledge of social justice, health promotion and public health approaches and models of social support and health care. Experience managing challenging behavior, utilizing non-violent communication, and diffusing techniques. Ability to problem solve with creativity, flexibility, assertiveness and a cool head in dealing with complex issues. Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated commitment to working within a collaborative team approach. Demonstrated time management and personal organization skills to effectively support a high volume of client work. SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Demonstrated leadership skills and experience in similar settings. Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position and operate related equipment. Practiced advocacy skills and ability to effectively navigate access requirements of various health and social supports (eg. income, housing, healthcare, treatment options, etc). Excellent prioritization and time management skills, including ability to triage crises, urgent demands and complex situations within assigned working hours. Ability to work with diverse groups of stakeholders including people impacted by poverty, substance use, and criminalization, as well as service providers, funders and other community members. Demonstrated ability to be flexible and versatile in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency. Ability to establish and maintain respectful rapport with individuals who have experienced trauma and abuse due to structural violence, stigma and discrimination. Ability to anticipate and identify challenges and proactively address through collaborative problem-solving. Crisis intervention skills with a diverse population facing significant structural barriers. Ability to work outdoors during all types weather in all seasons.
Position Details
Pay: $33.99/hour to start with stepped increases based on your seniority with AVI. (Pay for this role is based on the BCGEU pay grid 38) Hours and Schedule: 30 hours/week, Monday through Thursday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Location: AVI Nanaimo Office and work in the community as needed Start date: April 20, 2026 Union: AVI is a union environment under the Collective Agreement: HEABC & Health Services & Support Community Subsector Association 2022-2025 and this role is a BCGEU union position. Position Type: Part Time
Benefits
This position will be eligible for extended health, life and AD&D coverage after 488 hours with AVI. AVI pays for the entire cost of the plan on behalf of its staff.
Pension
If you are already a member of the Municipal Pension Plan (MPP), you can continue with them at AVI immediately. At this time, AVI contributes an additional 9.31% towards your pension account. If you are not already a member of the Municipal Pension Plan, part time staff may become eligible after 2 years with AVI.
Other
Perks: This position gets 6.4% vacation (equivalent to 3 weeks), receives Stat In Lieu payments of 5% on each paycheque and has a Sick Bank of 6.9%. Sick and Vacation are both accessible after your first 488 hours at AVI. Hours of Work, Days Off and Work Area may be subject to change.
TO
APPLY: To apply, Click on ' Apply to Position' and submit your resume and cover letter (optional.) This posting is open until filled. AVI is committed to equity and diversity and we strongly encourage applications from, but not limited to, folks who identify as Indigenous Persons, persons of colour, racialized, persons living with a disability, persons who use/d drugs, persons with experience of sex work, persons who live with HIV and/or hepatitis C, and persons representing diverse genders and sexualities. It is beneficial to identify in the cover letter if you are Indigenous and/or have lived/living expertise relevant to the position. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. As AVI is a union environment, internal staff will be prioritized in the hiring process. We would like to thank all those that apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
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