Union: Non-Union

Base Location: Northreach Society Grande Prairie Administration Office

Employment Type: Full Time Temporary (Maternity Leave Coverage)

Wage: Commensurate with experience

Shifts: Monday – Sunday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on 4 days on, 4 days off rotational shift.

Vehicle Requirement: Yes

Application Deadline: Until suitable candidate is found

About Northreach Society

Northreach Society is a non‑profit organization based in Grande Prairie, Alberta, dedicated to improving health and well‑being across Northern Alberta. Our mission is to build a respectful, comprehensive, and dignified network of support for all populations through collaboration, education, health promotion, and injury prevention.

We provide a broad range of community‑based services, including overdose prevention, STBBI testing and support, harm‑reduction and injury‑prevention supply distribution, and additional health‑promotion initiatives. These include programs addressing food insecurity through our Helping Hands Division.

Guided by our vision of a safe and inclusive world free from discrimination, Northreach Society works to empower individuals and strengthen communities through innovation, compassion, and respect. Our organization is supported by a dedicated team of staff, collaborative partners, and a committed board of directors who work together to deliver essential programs that promote health, dignity, and community well‑being across the region.

Northreach Society strives to create a welcoming and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and other racialized individuals, people with lived or living experience, and others who bring diverse perspectives. We are committed to equity in hiring and ensure that all candidates are fairly considered based on their strengths and experience.

Position Overview The OAT (Opioid Agonist Treatment) Nurse is a key member of the Health Care Team who provides low‑barrier, trauma‑informed, and person‑centered nursing services to individuals experiencing homelessness, unstable housing, and/or substance use–related health risks. In alignment with evidence‑based harm‑reduction practice, the OAT Nurse supports the initiation and continuation of Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT), facilitates treatment adherence, reduces stigma, and provides overdose prevention and response, including naloxone education and intervention. The role also strengthens connections to primary care, mental health supports, and social services, working collaboratively with shelter teams, health‑system partners, and supervised consumption services to reduce barriers to care and enhance client engagement.

This is a high‑mobility, community‑based role that operates primarily in outreach settings. The OAT Nurse must be comfortable working outdoors in varying weather conditions, travelling between multiple sites, and carrying clinical supplies as part of routine practice.

Key Responsibilities Include:

OAT Service Delivery (Core)

- Provide low‑barrier access to Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) and continuity supports, including linkage to prescribers or pharmacies, adherence support strategies, client education, and stigma‑reduction interventions.
- Administer medications and deliver nursing care within professional scope, regulatory standards, and organizational policy, including observed dosing support when applicable.
- Monitor therapeutic response and clinical stability, assess risks during OAT initiation or changes, and escalate concerns promptly to prescribers, EMS, or emergency departments when required.
- Support integrated care planning, interagency referrals, and coordinated follow‑up with OAT clinics and community health or social partners.
- Offer adjunct supports such as psychosocial or community‑based interventions when available, while ensuring access to OAT remains low‑barrier and not dependent on participation in additional services.

Harm Reduction & Overdose Response





- Provide overdose prevention education and respond to opioid poisonings using evidence‑informed protocols, including naloxone education and administration within scope and policy.
- Promote safer‑use practices and connect clients to supervised consumption services or mobile SCS where available.
- Distribute harm‑reduction supplies and provide education aligned with program standards and evidence‑informed harm‑reduction practices.

Clinical Outreach Nursing

- Deliver direct outreach nursing care, including assessment, medication support, wound care, and ongoing health monitoring for clients experiencing substance use disorder and/or mental health challenges.
- Create and implement individualized care plans in collaboration with case managers, shelter teams, and multidisciplinary partners.
- Provide health teaching and system navigation, including support with primary care linkage, immunization access (if authorized), and connections to housing, identification, income, and social supports.

Documentation, Quality, & Collaboration

- Complete documentation, reporting, and data collection accurately and in a timely manner while maintaining privacy, confidentiality, and professional standards.
- Build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external partners; contribute to community engagement, presentations, and staff education as required.
- Participate in continuous quality improvement, including service evaluation, follow‑up tracking, incident review, and program enhancement based on emerging evidence and community needs.

Education & Certification

- LPN - Active registration with the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta (CLPNA)
- RN: Active practice permit with the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA)
- Current Basic Cardiac Life Support - Health Care Provider (BCLS-HCP)

Additional Requirements:

- Criminal and Vulnerable Sector Check.

Additional Qualifications:

- Valid Class 5 driver’s license and reliable vehicle for outreach and community engagement.
- Two (2) or more years in outreach/community health, shelters, addictions/mental health, emergency, or harm reduction settings.
- Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and effectively with diverse, marginalized, and street-engaged populations.
- Experience supporting clients on OAT and/or strong knowledge of OUD treatment pathways and community resources.
- Immunization competence (where authorized), wound care expertise, venipuncture/specimen collection, and/or STBBI testing and follow‑up experience.
- De-escalation training, trauma-informed practice training, and culturally safe practice experience.
- Knowledge of local service networks (housing, income supports, ID supports, primary care attachment).
- Strong understanding and advocacy of harm-reduction principles, including safer sex and safer substance use practices.
- Knowledge of sexual health and STBBIs (HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, syphilis, and related infections).
- Current First Aid/CPR certification; ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills) and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention considered assets.
- Completion or willingness to complete naloxone training and other harm-reduction certifications.

Core Competencies:

- Demonstrates trauma‑informed, person‑centered care by engaging clients with empathy, respect, and non‑judgment, ensuring they feel secure, heard, and supported.
- Applies cultural humility through ongoing self‑reflection, respect for diverse identities and lived experiences, and a commitment to reducing stigma and inequities.




- Conducts thorough clinical assessments in non‑traditional settings, adapting to variable environments and using sound clinical judgment to identify priority concerns.
- Prioritizes care effectively in dynamic outreach contexts, responding appropriately to urgent needs while balancing safety, resource limitations, and client autonomy.
- Applies harm‑reduction principles consistently, offering practical strategies to reduce risk and improve health outcomes for people who use substances.
- Demonstrates competence in overdose prevention and response, recognizing early signs of toxicity, administering naloxone, and ensuring appropriate follow‑up and safety.
- Supports individuals initiating or maintaining OAT by providing clear education, addressing barriers, and promoting adherence within a low‑barrier, stigma‑free approach.
- Maintains accurate, objective, and timely documentation aligned with professional standards and supporting continuity of care.
- Demonstrates strong organizational skills, managing time effectively and coordinating work across multiple outreach sites and shifting priorities.
- Collaborates effectively with multidisciplinary teams and community partners, using clear communication and coordinated planning to enhance client outcomes.
- Builds and sustains partnerships across health, housing, social, and community systems to improve access and support integrated, wrap‑around care.
- Maintains professional boundaries and demonstrates strong safety awareness, recognizing limits of role and escalating concerns appropriately in complex or unpredictable situations.
- Uses situational awareness and de‑escalation strategies to manage challenging behaviors safely for clients, staff, and the community.
- Adapts readily to dynamic and unpredictable environments, using creativity, problem‑solving, and clinical reasoning to provide safe, consistent care.
- Practices with professionalism and reliability, demonstrating initiative, accountability, and the ability to work independently or collaboratively within mobile and multidisciplinary teams.

Work Schedule and Conditions This position is full‑time (up to 40 hours/week, depending on program needs). Standard hours are Monday–Sunday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on a 4 on 4 shift rotation. An Averaging Arrangement may apply for scheduling and overtime.

The role is high‑mobility, involving standing, walking, sitting, and driving throughout the day. Staff must be able to carry clinical supplies, work in the field, and complete administrative tasks.

A reliable vehicle is required for travel to OAT clinics, pharmacies, community sites, shelters, partner agencies, and harm‑reduction/needle‑debris response locations.

Work involves direct engagement with individuals experiencing opioid use disorder, polysubstance use, mental health challenges, and housing instability, including clients who may be intoxicated or in acute distress.

The position requires emotional resilience, cultural sensitivity, strong boundaries, and a commitment to non‑judgmental, trauma‑informed, person‑centered care.

Duties may occur in mobile units, shelters, drop‑in spaces, supervised consumption settings, outdoor environments, and in varied weather conditions.

Staff must be prepared to respond to drug‑poisoning events and participate in overdose prevention as part of routine duties. Requires regular electronic documentation, daily case notes, and monthly reporting.

Work may involve unpredictable environments, high mobility, and exposure to urgent or emotionally intense situations. Adaptability and situational awareness are essential.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits

- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Flexible schedule
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Vision care
- Wellness program

Licence/Certification:
- RN (Nursing) License or LPN (Nursing) License (required)

Location:
- Grande Prairie, AB T8V 5B6 (required)

Work Location: In person

📌 Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) Nurse (LPN, RN)
🏢 Northreach Society
📍 Grande Prairie