Come work as a Clinician/Clinical Resource Social Worker with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for a Clinician/Clinical Resource Social Worker to join the Assisted Dying Program in Vancouver, BC. Apply today to join our team!

As a Clinician in the Assisted Dying Program you will:

• Provide care coordination and support for patients, families and "just in time" education and support for health care staff for patients seeking an assisted death.
• Provide leadership and apply specialized theory and knowledge relating to mental health and community services, palliative care and end-of-life patient/client/resident (patient) populations to promote the delivery of safe, ethical and quality care related to medical assistance in dying.
• Act as a clinical resource by providing consultation support to the patient and family, interdisciplinary care team, and other professionals, and when no other supports are in place, psychosocial support to patient and family.
• Provide advice and guidance to Social Workers and other health care team members on how to integrate the support of patients seeking assisted dying into practice.
• Promote excellence in patient centered care, education and research.
• Participate in direct patient/client and family care when required.

About the Assisted Dying Program (ADP)

The VCH Assisted Dying Program (ADP) supports Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) in VCH. The ADP provides support to patients, families, and health care providers while coordinating all aspects of the MAiD request. The ADP ensures that VCH adheres to the federal MAiD legislation which continues to evolve.

The ADP’s vision statement is to ensure equitable access to MAiD as a patient-centred and patient-driven care option. The team strives to make assisted death accessible to all eligible patients in a timely manner. The team’s mission statement is to provide specialized care coordination, consultation, education, and support to patients, families, and health care teams regarding the new and unique care option of MAiD.

Education & Experience

• Current full registration with the British Columbia College of Social Workers (BCCSW) is required.
• Masters’ of Social Work degree from an accredited School of Social Work, supplemented with three (3) years' recent, related acute, facility or community experience supporting mental health, vulnerable populations and end-of-life care for patients and their families or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• This includes training and experience counselling individuals, families and groups, including working with patients who are palliative or end-of-life.
• Valid BC Driver's License as local area travel requires the use of a vehicle.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrates an understanding of the development stages in the individual and family life cycle and of psychosocial issues related to death and dying, as well as grief.
• Broad knowledge of and demonstrated skill and ability in providing effective care planning, supportive counselling, and crisis intervention.
• Demonstrated knowledge, experience, and ability to effectively implement trauma-informed, culturally safe, and strengths-based care approach.
• Demonstrated skill in techniques appropriate to the assessment and treatment of specialized patient population utilizing best available evidence informed practice.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change and support staff through transition.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver educational programs and materials for staff/patients and families based on education theories, principles and best practices.
• Demonstrated understanding of legislation and practice standards surrounding medical assistance in dying and ability to apply to practice.
• Demonstrated understanding of supports required for patient, families and staff through the death process in a variety of settings.
• Extensive knowledge of Adult Guardianship legislation, the Mental Health Act and the Patients Property Act, the interaction between the legislative acts and the tools associated with each Act, and the ability to apply to practice.
• Knowledge of the mandates and policies of other government ministries and agencies such as , Ministry of Health, the Coroners Service, and the Public Guardian and Trustee.
• Broad knowledge of social work theory and practice within a patient and family centred model of care.
• Demonstrated ability to provide clinical leadership and work direction.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in collaboration with others.
• Demonstrated ability to work with other health care disciplines and understand their role in patient care.
• Demonstrated listening and information seeking skills that promote communication and lead to a cooperative approach to problem solving within an interdisciplinary setting.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize and prioritize work.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate in writing and orally on a one to one and group setting.
• Demonstrated ability to deal with and/or guide others in resolution of conflict issues.
• Leadership experience facilitating change and facilitating professional development with staff and conducting research.
• Proficiency with current computer software programs and applications such as Windows Office, including MS Word, Process, Excel, and databases. Familiarity with online learning modalities required.
• Demonstrated ability to adjust to new or unexpected events.
• Demonstrated ability to promote a supportive and creative learning environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of research process and methodology.
• Demonstrated ability to provide effective consultation.
• Demonstrated ability to establish workload priorities in collaboration with others.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Demonstrated computer literacy to operate a computerized patient care information system as well as applicable word processing, spreadsheet and database software applications.
• Demonstrated ability to operate related equipment.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Applicants with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from an accredited School of Social Work, and a demonstrated equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered. If you are applying under equivalency, please clearly outline in your application how your knowledge, education, skills and experience meet Master of Social Work (MSW) equivalency.

The hours of work including days off and work area may be subject to change consistent with operational requirements and the provision of the Collective Agreement and applicable statutes. Successful applicants may be required to complete a Criminal Records Review Check.

As per Ministry of Health policy, all health care workers working in publicly-funded health care facilities are required to report their past receipt of certain vaccines or history of certain infections. Collecting these records will allow for offering of any missing vaccines, and for appropriate actions to be taken in the event of any future exposure to a communicable disease or during outbreaks. For all new hires and appointments to Vancouver Coastal Health, you will be asked to provide this information as part of the onboarding process.

WHY JOIN VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH?

VCH is a world class innovator in medical care, research and teaching, delivering service to more than one million BC residents. At VCH, we embrace thinking boldly, taking smart risks, and "going first" when we believe it will lead to the best possible outcomes for patients and their families. We invite you to join us in creating healthy lives in healthy communities by showcasing our passion for care, connection to the communities we serve and our culture of teamwork that makes VCH a great place to work.

• Comprehensive health benefits package, including MSP, extended health and dental and municipal pension plan
• Grow your career with employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities
• Wellness supports, including counselling, critical incident and innovative wellness services are available to employees and their immediate families
• Award-winning recognition programs to honour staff, medical staff and volunteers

At Vancouver Coastal Health, our vision of healthy lives in healthy communities inspires us and our values and pillars guide us. We support equitable practices, diverse teams and inclusive environments, which are vital to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and feel supported. We encourage applications from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous Peoples and members of racialized groups, people with disabilities and people of all gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in 2024.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for this posting.


***Employees of VCH must apply online via the Internal Career Portal on CareerHub, you are currently viewing the External Career Portal. Refer to the https://my.vch.ca/working-here/job-postings site for instructions on how to view internal job postings and how to apply as an employee. Current VCH employees who apply to this posting using this external site will be considered as an external candidate. Seniority will not apply.***

Thank you for your interest in Vancouver Coastal Health.