Substance Use Lead, Reference Number: #2024-094

Substance Use Lead
Internal/External Posting
Full-time Position
Location: Sioux Lookout, ON
Salary Range: $67,166 – $98,084 per annum
Reference Number: #2024-094
If applying by email, indicate reference number in subject line
Job Summary:
The Approaches to Community Wellbeing is a regional resource to 31 First Nations communities. The
Approaches to Community Wellbeing provides expertise, support, services, and programming in public
health to the region. The program also supports communities in the development, implementation, and
monitoring of their own Approaches to Community Wellbeing.
The Substance Use Lead supports communities in prioritizing needs and developing strategies to address
addiction and related mental health issues. The Substance Use Lead works along with other members of
the Harm Reduction team and the Mental Wellness Lead with the Preventing Chronic Diseases program to
support the full spectrum of harm reduction approaches.
The Substance Use Lead is directly accountable to the Harm Reduction Manager.
Qualifications:
• Persons of First Nations ancestry will be given preference (OHRC, Part II, Special Employment)
• Minimum of 5 years of direct service in the substance use and addictions field or related area
• Bachelor’s degree in social work or a health related field
• Knowledge of cultural teachings and values of First Nations communities in the Sioux Lookout
area
• Familiarity with speaking in an Ojibwe, Oji-Cree, and/or Cree dialect as well as English is an
asset
• Knowledgeable about a range of topics related to substance use and addictions (e.g. addiction
theories, treatment models, prescription drug misuse symptoms and effects, concurrent mental
health issues, counselling approaches)
• Ability to apply child and adult learning principles to effectively share knowledge
• Knowledgeable of the root causes of disruption to wellness, mental health difficulties, and
substance use among First Nations peoples (i.e., racist and colonial policies and trauma); and
ability to develop culturally safe program/service approaches
• Must be familiar with the management of opioid addiction through use of Suboxone from
induction through to stabilization and then maintenance
• Must have excellent engagement and leadership skills to facilitate group dialogue and program
development
• Professional integrity and the ability to maintain confidentiality is essential
• Excellent computer, written, communication, and assessment skills
• Excellent planning, organizational, problem solving, and decision-making skills
• Travel is required
• Valid Class G driver’s license
• Ability to perform requirements of the role on a regular basis
Roles and Responsibilities:
1. Develops and maintains a network of the community-based workers supporting substance use
programming, including Suboxone program coordinators, harm reduction program staff, and
NNADAP workers;
2. Maintains communications with community-based workers to understand the current programming
around substance use in the community, including service utilization and demands;
3. Organizes and hosts orientations and sharing circles that connect community Suboxone program
staff and other substance use workers from across the region and create safe space for knowledge
sharing, peer support, celebration, and identifying areas of need;
4. Plans and facilitates training workshops and events on related topics or topics identified by
community workers (i.e. directly observed therapy (DOT) training; situation de-escalation training;
naloxone training);
5. Develops information resources with, and for, community-based workers (e.g., new worker
manuals, safer substance use information posters, medication dispensing sign-in forms, and others
at request of community);
6. Works with communities to enhance or develop aftercare programming for substance use;
7. Supports communities in the development of funding proposals to support their harm reduction
programming;
8. Participates in the creation of a regional and coordinated mental health and addictions plan with
other ACW teams, SLFNHA departments, and external partners;
9. Develops approaches to supporting community members to live well while on their healing
journeys with addiction based on knowledge of communities, cultural teachings, and Western
approaches to treating addiction and supporting recovery;
10. Builds strong relations with, and clarifies the roles of, community workers and leaders, Tribal
Councils, PTOs, and other organizations involved in First Nations substance use prevention,
healing, and harm reduction;
11. Supports and increases awareness of the Harm Reduction team’s work;
12. Participates in community outreach activities or working groups as necessary;
13. Guides advocacy work for changes to racist, colonial, and inequitable provincial and federal laws
and policies;
14. Develops approaches to listening to community members’ experiences with substance use support
programs and uses learnings to continuously improve programs/services;
15. Works closely with other Harm Reduction team members and staff within ACW and SLFNHA to
accomplish these responsibilities.
Apply online at https://www.slfnha.com/job/substance-use-lead-ref-2024-094/.
Human Resource Department
Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority
P.O. Box 1300, 61 Queen Street
Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1B8
Phone: (807) 737-1802
Fax: (807) 737-2969
Email: Human.Resources@slfnha.com
SLFNHA currently “Strongly Recommends” COVID-19 immunizations and requests your immunization
status to be sent to our staff health department if successful in the recruitment process.

Closing Date: Until Filled
No resumes received after this time will be accepted.
The Health Authority wishes to thank all applicants in advance.
However, only those granted an interview will be contacted.
For additional information regarding the Health Authority, please visit our website at www.slfnha.com
SLFNHA is a proud supporter of Mikinakoos Children’s Fund. To find out more, visit
www.mikinakoos.com