North Richmond Community Health (NRCH) is committed to making healthcare more accessible and culturally relevant. It works with community members to support social justice principles which afford all people the right to dignity, respect, and the highest quality of care. With the recent addition of Victoria’s first Medically Supervised Injecting Room, NRCH is dedicated to combating stigma and discrimination experienced by people who use drugs, and improving their quality of life.

NRCH provides a range of medical, allied health, dental and community services to clients from all backgrounds. We also provide specialist health services in other parts of Victoria, and work with health, government and community services around the country.

The Harm Reduction Practitioner position is responsible for supervising clients before, during and after episodes of injecting. The position aims to optimise health by saving lives and reducing injury from the negative effects associated with drug use. Core activities include client engagement, working with complex and challenging behaviours, health assessment, management of health emergencies, health education, brief interventions and referral to other health and welfare services. This position is part of the MSIR Harm reduction team and works closely with the Nursing team.

This position is accountable to and works under the general direction and guidance of the Harm Reduction Practitioner Team Leader, the shift direction and guidance of the Nurse in Charge and receives guidance, support and direction from the MSIR Management team.

Key responsibilities of the role include:

• Observe and monitor client’s wellbeing throughout their visit to MSIR, acting on client alerts and behavioural contacts as indicated.
• Provide interventions for safer injecting and health promotion
• Engage with clients to identify health needs and refer to local health and welfare services
• Develop and maintain skills in overdose management, incident de-escalation and management, infection control, vein care and safer injecting practices, harm reduction and health promotion.
• Participate in needle/syringe retrievals and monitor the area around NRCH as required
• Provide outreach support and respond to overdoses in the surrounding area as directed

Key Selection Criteria

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

• Qualifications in Welfare or Social Sciences, Psychology, Public Health or equivalent
• Demonstrated ability to engage with vulnerable people who may exhibit complex and challenging behaviours
• Experience working in needle and syringe programs, drug and alcohol services, crisis services
• Computer competence including the use of clinical databases

Preferred:

Key Attributes:

• Understanding of, and commitment to, Harm Reduction and Social Justice
• Understanding of the health, social and legal issues related to injecting drug use and marginalised populations
• Demonstrated skill and experience providing a comprehensive range of harm reduction interventions with people who inject drugs
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, including problem solving ability and conflict resolution skills, as well as sound oral and writing skills
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment

We are looking for people who are available to work on week days only. The shifts we have available are from 6.30am to 2.30pm, 9.00am to 5.00pm and 1.30pm to 9.30pm.

For further information regarding this position please contact Sarah Hiley, Harm Reduction Team Leader on [email protected], using the subject line: Harm Reduction Practitioners enquiry via EthicalJobs.

The preferred candidate will be required to undergo a Police Check prior to any offer of employment being made.

Please note, interviews may commence prior to the closing date and only successful candidates will be notified.

A position description is attached.