Registered Nurse – Safer Opioid Supply
We are a dynamic community-based health centre promoting social justice and health equity in the Regent Park neighbourhood and Downtown East area of Toronto. We operate out of several locations and provide a wide variety of services including: primary health care, chiropody, physiotherapy, health promotion, social work, community health, immigrant and refugee services, harm reduction and homeless programs, Pathways to Education, infant and child development programs, parenting programs, youth outreach and employment services. We currently have the following opening on our Clinical team.
Position Summary
The Registered Nurse in the Safer Opioid Supply Program works with a team of practitioners to provide prescription and supportive treatment for an emerging safe supply program with substance users, some of whom access safe injection related services through our Consumption Treatment Services. This position is involved in shelter outreach work and working with clients in person.
The Registered Nurse (RN) supports the Downtown East Collaborative Safer Opioid Supply Program (DEC-SOS), which is a partnership with South Riverdale Community Health Centre, Street Health and Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre to provide essential services to people who use substances by providing prescribed alternatives to street level drugs, and managing other health care needs. The Registered Nurse assists in the provision of direct patient care and community services in order to improve the health of individuals in the Safer Supply Opioid Program.
This is a Full-Time Contract Position until March 31, 2025
35 hours per week
This is a bargaining unit position within OPSEU local 5115.
Salary
Hours
Application Deadline
Responsibilities Include:
I. Provides and supports direct client care by:
- Providing low-threshold primary care to clients who use substances, including existing primary care clients or clients identified through the DEC-SOS intake process
- Providing education and counselling within a harm reduction framework to clients regarding their substance use
- Supporting clinical expansion of harm reduction and substance use treatment initiatives such as suboxone prescription and management.
- Providing supportive and therapeutic counselling and crisis intervention on an individual or group basis
- Assisting with developing care plans, care coordination and referrals for clients
- Performing basic nursing skills (e.g. dressings injections, suture/clip removal and assisting with procedures) and added nursing skills as required (e.g. venipuncture, pulmonary function testing, ECGs)
II. Maintain an active role in outreach and community development by:
- Participating in other RPCHC programs and activities as appropriate
- Representing RPCHC (as delegated) in external projects or initiatives related to developing and implementing healthy public policy and/or addressing the social determinants of health
- Working with the community to enhance its ability to function independently
- Developing and maintaining positive relationships with service providers, community groups and other agency representatives and individuals working in overdose prevention.
Qualification and Skills required:
- Current certification as a Registered Nurse in the Province of Ontario required
- Minimum of 2 years’ nursing experience is required,
- Frontline nursing harm reduction experience; values aligned with a harm reduction approach to service delivery. Primary Care experience is an asset
- Experience with overdose prevention and response, and training in/experience with Naloxone administration
- Physical ability to provide support in an overdose situation
- Experience working with people who use drugs, as service users and as co-workers
- Experience in program development, implementation and evaluation an asset.
- Demonstrated understanding of pharmacology clinical theories and practices.
- Strong communication (verbal and written), organization and time management skills
- Demonstrated ability in conflict management, interpersonal relations, and counselling skills
- Extensive knowledge and understanding of harm reduction principles and practices, substance use and overdose response
- Understanding of anti-oppression principles and ability to work effectively with people of various cultural, age and economic backgrounds
- Ability to work collaboratively within and across teams
- Commitment to valuing diversity, equity, partnerships and advocacy in keeping with Regent Park Community Health Centre’s Strategic Direction.
- Knowledge of the Regent Park area and issues affecting families living within the Regent and Moss Park communities
- Must have up to date COVID vaccine for the protection of clients and staff
Regent Park CHC is committed to equity in our hiring and employment practices. Applications are encouraged from qualified individuals who are Indigenous people, members of racialized communities, individuals of diverse sexual orientation and gender identification, persons with disabilities and others protected under the Human Rights Code as well as individuals with lived experience in the Regent Park community.
To protect the health and well-being of our clients and employees, Regent Park Community Health Centre has adopted a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy that requires that new employees have an up to date, Health Canada approved, COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals with valid medical or human rights-based exemptions, will be considered for appropriate accommodation within the policy
Apply For This Position
Please submit your resume and cover letter by
May 3, 2024
No phone calls, please. We thank all applicants for their interest in this position, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. RPCHC is committed to developing an inclusive, selection process and work environment. If contacted, please advise the hiring manager if you require any accommodation during the interview process.