AVI Health & Community Services (AVI) increases health equity by providing highly responsive, harm reduction -based HIV, hepatitis C, substance use, sexual health, mental health, and other community health services, and is informed by the voices of people with living experience. We envision a community where people can experience optimal health and wellness, and be free from stigma, marginalization, and criminalization. For more information see www.avi.org

AVI COMMUNITY-LED CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM (CRCL):

The AVI Crisis Response, Community Led (CRCL) is funded by the Province of British Columbia and the Canadian Mental Health Association. CRCL is a peer-assisted care program and a mobile crisis response team, led by persons with lived/living experience and mental health professionals who are able to de-escalate crises and develop community care plans with persons experiencing crisis.

The CRCL Team is an approach to responding to someone in crisis that focuses on health, well-being and community support. Utilizing a community-based, client centered, trauma-informed response, a peer-assisted model of care has been proven to help individuals navigate mental and social care services and reduce engagement with the justice system and emergency services.

The CRCL team provides services on the territories of the Lkn peoples (Kosapsum and Songhees nations), as well as the WSNE Nations.

JOB SUMMARY:

Working in collaboration with all team members, the Community Crisis Counsellor is responsible for providing rapid point of service mental health crisis management and de-escalation, including assessment, suicide intervention and safety planning, as well as acute care planning and follow-up.

Alongside the team, this role is grounded in person-centered, harm reduction and trauma informed approaches to care, which center the needs and agency of the service user.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE:

• Emotional Resilience and ability to center the needs of the person in crisis
• Humility, flexibility and conscientiousness
• Ability to critically assess and remain grounded in complex and dynamic situations.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum 3 years relevant experience, including mental health services, de-escalation and crisis response, and case management.
• Undergraduate Degree in the mental health field (counselling, social work, psychiatric nursing), or equivalent number of years work experience in health and/or social care
• Crisis Intervention Skills, including extensive experiencing with situational awareness, mental health assessments and suicide intervention.
• Demonstrated skills, experience, and knowledge of harm reduction and health promotion practices.
• Demonstrated practice of social justice, cultural humility, and trauma-informed approaches to care
• Relevant or applicable training/experience in anti-racism and an analysis of colonialism and the ways in which historical and ongoing colonization impacts Indigenous People
• Successful Completion of the CRCL Training Curriculum
• Valid Class 5 BC Driver's License with Normal Drivers Status
• Driver's Abstract (AVI will review the past year's driving record. Drivers will need to have no suspensions or prohibitions or 1 passenger only restrictions or a Driver's Factor of 1.1 or lower)
• Employment subject to criminal record check for working with vulnerable population

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: Casual with shifts falling between Monday to Sunday 7:00am to 3:00pm, 12:00pm to 8:00pm and 5:00pm to 1:00am Applicant's must have successfully completed the 6-week mandatory CRCL training provided by AVI to be considered for this position.
• Afternoon Premium for Some Shifts: Afternoon Shift Premium of an additional $0.25/hour applies to any shifts that have at least 50% of their time scheduled between 4 pm and midnight.
• Location: AVI Victoria office and Throughout Victoria responding to crisis and in the community and where as needed, including in people's homes, community centers and outside/with folks surviving outside.
• 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.
• Term: As soon as possible and ending on March 31, 2026
• 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 paid an extra 5% in lieu of vacation 5% in lieu of stats, meaning your hourly rate is actually 10% higher than listed.
• Hours of Work, Days Off and Work Area may be subject to change.

TO APPLY:

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter. 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.