Come work as a Social Worker with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)! 

Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for a Social Worker to join the Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) team in Vancouver, BC. Apply today to join our team!

As a Social Worker with Vancouver Coastal Health, you will:

• Provide advanced clinical and consultative social work services (assessment, outreach, treatment, referrals) to individuals (aged 12-30) who are experiencing first episode or early psychosis in mental health crisis.
• Within a harm reduction, culturally safe, trauma informed, and recovery oriented care management model, provide evidence based treatment services including comprehensive biopsychosocial-spiritual assessments, individual, family and group counselling/therapy services, and psycho-education according to Provincial EPI Standards and Guidelines.
• Develop and implement outcome orientated treatment plans that cover both mental health and substance use disorders.
• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team by participating in case conferences/meetings to identify and manage client’s mental health and substance use issues.
• Maintain client records, identify applicable community resources for clients and facilitate care throughout the continuum.

About Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI)

EPI is a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to treating and supporting adolescents and young adults, ages 13-30, who are experiencing early and first episode psychosis. Treating psychosis as quickly as possible provides young people with the best opportunity for recovery. The EPI team will deliver this specialized service in our home community and improve access to care.

Education & Experience

• Master of Social Work from an accredited School of Social Work.
• Three years (3) recent related experience working with individuals with mental health and substance use disorders or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Valid B.C. driver's license. Local area travel requires the use of a personal vehicle for which mileage reimbursement is paid.
• Current full registration with the British Columbia College of Social Workers (BCCSW).

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of systems thinking as it related to social work process.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in Trauma Informed Practice, Harm Reduction and Recovery Oriented Care.
• Demonstrated ability to apply culturally safe and competent care.
• Demonstrated knowledge of developmental issues and theories related to mental illness and substance use, particularly early identification and treatment of primary symptoms of psychotic illness for client population.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct comprehensive client risk assessments.
• Demonstrated knowledge of legislation and government policies and procedures that relate to the client. ie Mental Health Act, Health Care Consent and Care Facility Admissions Act; Adult Guardianship Act; and the Child, Family and Community Act.
• Demonstrated knowledge of other health disciplines and their role in healthcare.
• Demonstrated knowledge of research methodology.
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to effectively demonstrate psychotherapeutic counselling skills and clinical practice models including CBT and
• Motivational Interviewing.
• Demonstrated knowledge of family, group and change therapy.
• Demonstrated ability to apply systems theory to practice in Social Work assessment and intervention.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct biopsychosocial-spiritual assessments.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and influence group and inter-group processes, decision making and problem solving.
• Demonstrated ability to teach, demonstrate and coach clients and co-workers both one-on-one and in groups.
• Demonstrated understanding of health care ethics and ability to apply ethical decision making in practice
• Demonstrated ability to establish rapport with clients and families in order to explore issues that are beyond the initial presented concerns.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with patients, families, team members, other groups and community agency personnel.
• Demonstrated ability to adjust to new or unexpected events.
• Demonstrated ability to deal effectively with conflict situations.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Skilled in the use of equipment, and in the techniques appropriate for treatment.
• Basic Computer literacy.

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.