Somerset West Community Health Centre, Ottawa, Ontario

Anonymous HIV Testing Outreach Worker

Family & Community Health & Harm Reduction – Ottawa, Ontario

 

Position Title:        Anonymous HIV Testing Outreach Worker

Classification:       Community Health Worker

Department:           Harm Reduction

Reporting to:         Manager, Harm Reduction

Department:           Family Community Health & Harm Reduction

Type:                     Full Time Indeterminate

Benefits:                Excellent benefits package including

                             Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)

Salary Band:          $25.69 – $30.94

Deadline:               May 24, 2018

Role

Reporting to the Manager, Harm Reduction, the Anonymous HIV Testing Outreach Worker will provide anonymous HIV testing within the city of Ottawa.  In compliance with the provincial mandate and operating within Medical Directive, the Worker will educate, counsel, perform Point of Care (POC) and/or venipuncture (training provided) and inform of results. The Anonymous HIV testing outreach worker will liaise with external agencies providing services to those with HIV/AIDS. 

Requirements

Education

Undergraduate degree in health or social services OR equivalent combination of education and experience

Professional Experience

  • 5 years experience working in the field of HIV/AIDS
  • Experience in supervising volunteers

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Strong organizational skills including documentation, data capture and monthly reporting
  • Ability to work very independently. Self-started and self-directed with strong judgement and decision making skills.
  • Understanding of the purpose and function of Medical Directives and the concept of ‘competence’
  • Commitment to a Harm Reduction approach and passion for programming regarding HIV/AIDS prevention and working with Persons Living with HIV/AIDS
  • Ability to work flexible hours
  • A valid Ontario driver’s licence and the use of a vehicle
  • Current CPR
  • Willingness to learn and provide venipuncture
  • Familiarity/comfort with using current and emerging modes of communication (online message boards, apps, etc)

Provides Anonymous HIV Counselling, Education and Testing

  • Following responsibilities will be provided  at locations that have been identified as having at-risk populations:
  • Provide supportive counselling to clients requesting testing which determines their risk factors
  • Provides health education and counselling re: HIV issues
  • Assesses the clients’ support systems and decides to perform or defer POC or venipuncture
  • Perform POC and/or venipuncture
  • Conducts post-testing counselling to inform clients of results, reinforce information and refer them to appropriate community resources

Liaises and Networks with external agencies

  • Fosters and maintains active affiliations with agencies providing services to people living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS
  • Acts a Collaborator on local community-based research projects (i.e. Sex Now, AC Study)

Provides Health Education and Awareness

  • Promotes awareness and importance of Anonymous HIV testing to priority populations within the City of Ottawa
  • Develop and coordinate dissemination of publication materials on HIV and Testing (Anonymous Testing (AT) & POC)
  • Provides training and awareness of HIV, POC testing and anonymous testing to outreach sites  

Recruits and Trains Volunteers and Students

  • Recruits, trains and supervises volunteers for the anonymous HIV Testing Program
  • Trains and supervises students when required
  • Training and certification of new staff for POC and AT

General Administration

  • Co-ordinates the collection of data for the program and provides written reports to outreach locations, reporting manager, and funder
  • Develops work plans as needed
  • Implements the use of evaluation tools
  • Ensures regular updating of Policies and Procedures for POC and anonymous testing at SWCHC
  • Coordinates and ensures Quality Assurance for POC Testing; performs quality control, monitors temperature control for storage of test kits (outreach) and ensures appropriate documentation is completed.
  • Orders POC testing supplies and maintains POC provincial online inventory system.

Program Development

  • Provides input to manager on program development by facilitating dialogue to identify needs of client groups and community partners
  • Works with the Community Developer, African & Caribbean Health Initiative, to promote HIV testing and increase access to testing services in African, Caribbean and Black communities.
  • Develops, implements and manages projects as required
  • Language Capability
  • English & French mandatory
  • Other languages an asset

Schedule

  • This position is based at our 55 Eccles St site with frequent travel throughout the region, regularly staffing POC testing clinics throughout the Ottawa area.
  • Regular weekday 8-hr shifts. Flexibility with some evening and weekend work required.

Please submit your resume and cover letter as one document.

If at any stage in the selection process you require special accommodation, please let us know the nature of the required accommodation.

Somerset West Community Health Centre is an equal opportunity employer who values the diversity of individuals in our programs and services.

Due to the high volume of applicants, we can neither confirm receipt of nor respond to inquiries regarding your application. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Send applications to: Carol Sinclair at:  csinclair@swchc.on.ca