MOBILE DRUG SAFETY WORKER
POSITION:
Mobile Drug Safety Worker
REPORTS TO:
NSP Coordinator
CLASSIFICATION:
Community Development Worker
Class 2B
TIME FRACTION:
0.9 EFT
APPROVED:
Ronda Jacobs CEO
October 2000
REVIEWED:
April 2015
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:
Carrington Health (CH) works within a Social Model of Health framework in delivering a range of
services and programs in response to identified population health needs within the Whitehorse
community.
This position is responsible for working across the eastern metropolitan region to improve the
health and well-being of injecting drug users using a harm reduction framework. Aspects of this
role are:
 To build capacity in the health, welfare and AOD sectors for service providers to work
effectively with injecting drug users (IDU).
 To implement harm reduction and integrated health promotion strategies in response to
identified needs of IDU in the region in partnership with other stakeholders.
KEY DUTIES:
Harm Reduction & Integrated Health Promotion
 Participate once a fortnight in the Community Health Outreach Program Eastern Region
(CHOPER), the CH Mobile Outreach Needle & Syringe Program (NSP) that operates nightly
from 7.30pm – 11.30pm.
 Participate in the operation of the CH Secondary NSP by providing support and training for
staff, secondary consultation and a referral point.
 Management of stock and daily oversight of equipment storage and replenishment.
 Provide direct referral and linking for IDU to appropriate services including the Alcohol and
Other Drug, Mental Health, Housing and Homelessness, and the Welfare service systems.
 Work in partnership with services providers and IDU to plan, implement and evaluate
integrated health promotion strategies in response to identified needs.
 As part of a team, provide health information and assistance with harm reduction strategies,
safe sex, overdose prevention and treatment.
 As part of a team, advocate and support self-help, peer and participatory activities for IDU that
enhances their health and well being.
 As part of a team, promote community understanding of people who inject drugs in order to
create environments where they are treated respectfully and without discrimination.
 Implement CH protocols and procedures in the delivery of harm reduction and health
promotion strategies.
 Build capacity within the region to respond to the needs of diverse communities to improve
their access to health and well-being.
Service Development and Linking
 Contribute to the development and innovation of the CH EMR Primary & Secondary Needle
and Syringe Program.
 Develop appropriate links with key stakeholders in the health, welfare, human services and
other sectors across the Eastern Metropolitan Region (EMR).
 Collaborate with other service providers across the region to improve access to health and
welfare services for IDU across the EMR.
 Provide and facilitate ongoing support, communication and training for health and welfare
workers across the EMR (particularly secondary NSP workers) to build capacity in the
sectors to expand the network of secondary NSP outlets.
 As part of a team, identify and communicate emerging needs and issues of EMR IDU via
appropriate networks.
 As part of a team, provide coordination of the EMR Syringe Disposal Hotline including
collection of inappropriately disposed needles and syringes from private property across the
EMR.
 As part of a team, enhance the capacity of stakeholders and the community to respond to
needle and syringe hazards in the community.
 Develop, implement and analyse client feedback surveys to identify trends, emerging issues
and service development initiatives.
Networking and Referrals
 Establish effective links and partnerships with stakeholders and service providers throughout
the EMR.
 Work with secondary NSP sites in the region and provide secondary consultation and training
in regard to NSP service provision issues.
 As part of a team, participate in regional AOD committees, forums and working groups as
appropriate to identify emerging needs, service gaps and the potential for service
development.
 Represent CH in external meetings and forums and participate in local drug action strategies
as required.
Record Keeping
 Prepare and submit reports as required.
 Collect and report statistics as required by the Program, Department of Health and CH.
 Implement the Program’s recording systems and protocols.
Organisational
 Participate in programs, meetings and activities that contribute to the ongoing improvement of
the CH as negotiated with line manager.
 Attend and contribute to CH committees and review forums aimed at capacity building and
service development, eg All Staff Forum activities.
 Participate in the organisational continuous quality improvement program and develop,
monitor and review policies and procedures as appropriate.
 Participate in the performance management system including the development and
monitoring of an individual work plan and annual performance review.
Record Keeping:
 Prepare and submit reports as required.
Occupational Health and Safety
 Follow and promote safe work practices, procedures and instructions as per CH policies and
procedures.
 Perform all duties in a manner which ensures personal health and safety and that of all others
in the workplace.
 Report all hazards, accidents or incidents that may cause harm.
 Undertake required training in fire and emergency evacuation procedures as required by CH.
 Ensure a safe and clean work environment according to quality standards.
General
 The staff member will undertake other duties as required by their line manager.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
Direct Reporting:
Supervise students and volunteers as required.
Internal Liaisons:
NSP Manager
Primary NSP and CHOPER Team
Other CH service providers and health professionals in the broader multi
disciplinary team
External Liaisons:
Other services and agencies providing health, welfare and community
services for IDU clients and other relevant stakeholders.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
Mandatory Qualifications
 Tertiary qualification in community development or related health and welfare field such as
drug and alcohol, mental health, health promotion, nursing, youth work, or social work.
 Current driver’s licence.
 Eligibility for membership of relevant professional association.
 First aid qualifications.
Desirable Qualifications
 Post graduate qualifications in a relevant area, particularly health promotion, public health,
alcohol and drug and mental health.
 ASSIST or Mental Health First Aid.
Values, Experience and Skills
 Commitment to organisational values, the Social Model of Health, harm minimisation and
Primary Health Care.
 Commitment to the provision of high quality community health services that meet
or exceed recognised health service delivery standards.
 High level communication and interpersonal skills, ability to establish relationships with
clients and peers.
 Capacity to take initiative and engage in the planning, implementation and evaluation of
services and programs.
 Awareness of and willingness to respond to the needs of clients from culturally and/or
linguistically diverse backgrounds.
 Computer literacy.
 Commitment to working as a member of a multi disciplinary team.
 Demonstrated ability to be flexible, responsive to change with an interest in ongoing learning.
 Ability to develop and maintain effective and efficient work flow systems.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:




Compliance with reporting requirements.
Achievement of Service Agreement targets.
Compliance with relevant practice standards, for example DHS NSP Policies and Protocols,
WCHS Policies and Procedures particularly in regard to OH&S, Infection Control & Critical
Incident Management.
High degree of satisfaction with services provided to client group, stakeholders and broader
community.
Police Records Check

CH have adapted a policy to ensure that appropriate safety screening processes are adopted
in the recruitment, selection, and employment of staff regarding police record checks and
Working with Children checks for staff employed by Carrington Health, and also volunteers
and contractors in direct client contact.

An applicant will not automatically be precluded from a job or placement on the basis of
having a police record. Rather consideration will be given to the relevance and timing of the
offence in relation to the job or placement;

The results of police records checks and Working With Children Checks are to be treated in
the strictest confidence and adhere to privacy legislation and principles and DHS Funding
Guidelines.
I understand the role, duties and responsibilities as outlined above.
___________________________________________Date:________________
Manager____________________________________Date:________________
Key Selection Criteria
Mobile Drug Safety Worker
Please ensure you address the key selection criteria in your application.
KSC1
Relevant qualifications and experience in relation to injecting drug use.
KSC2
Understanding of and commitment to the principles of harm reduction, and
demonstrated ability to engage effectively with people who inject drugs.
KSC3
Demonstrated skills in planning, implementing and evaluating integrated health
promotion strategies to targeted groups in a community setting.
KSC4
Knowledge of the health, welfare, drug and alcohol and mental health sectors, and
experience in developing collaborative links with other service providers.
KSC5
Well developed communication and problem solving skills and the ability to work
autonomously within a multi disciplinary team.
KSC6
Commitment to the processes resulting in improvement of the work environment
and delivery of services.
KSC7
Awareness of and willingness to respond to the needs of clients from culturally
and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds.
KSC8
Driving License and First Aid Certification.