Come work as a Team Lead Outreach Worker with the Overdose Outreach Team in Vancouver, BC!

Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for a Team Lead to join the Regional Prevention Overdose Outreach team in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Apply today to join our team!

As a Regional Prevention Team Leader in Overdose Outreach with VCH, you will:

• Be responsible to oversee and coordinate the delivery/daily activities of Substance Use services for the Regional Prevention Program.
• Provide leadership/supervision to designated staff, plan and implement therapeutic Substance Use programs/services for clients with complex substance use issues and ensure services provide a high standard of care and promotes interdisciplinary practice and collaboration.
• Evaluate services to ensure program/service needs are met and liaises with key stakeholders on the achievement of program goals and objectives.
• Provide leadership and supervision to designated interdisciplinary team members.
• Utilize human resources policies and procedures to recruit and select staff.
• Develop policies and procedures.
• Coordinate care and facilitates case planning.
• Coordinate requests for vacation, education and leaves of absence.

About The Overdose Outreach Team:

Our team of outreach and social workers and peers provide connections for people who have recently experienced opioid overdose and/or are at high risk for opioid overdose to substance use care and support. 

We help clients with: 

• Navigation to appropriate services (e.g., primary care, detox, treatment, etc.)
• Support in accessing Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT) (e.g., methadone, suboxone, iOAT, etc.)
• Overdose prevention education 

The Overdose Outreach Team does not provide long-term case management services.  However, we will support clients in accessing the long term supports as need.

Education & Experience

• Current full registration with the British Columbia College of Social Workers.
• Master of Social Work from an accredited School of Social Work.
• Five (5) years’ recent related experience providing mental health and substance use clinical services in community based settings and/or related clinical experience working with Indigenous-Led or First Nation organizations including one (1) year related leadership/supervisory experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Valid BC Driver’s License and access to a personal vehicle for business-related purposes.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Broad knowledge of systems thinking as it related to social work process.
• Broad knowledge of other health disciplines and their role in healthcare.
• Broad knowledge of research methodology.
• Broad knowledge of supportive and therapeutic counselling skills and clinical practice models.
• General knowledge of Trauma Informed Practice and Harm Reduction approaches and Strengths-based care.
• Demonstrated ability to promote Indigenous Cultural Safety.
• Demonstrated ability to provide competent and culturally safety care in a variety of settings and with diverse populations.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with community partners and with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to apply systems theory to practice in social work assessment and intervention.
• Demonstrated experience and ability to conduct psychosocial assessments.
• Comprehensive knowledge of mental illness and substance use issues including current trends, best practices and modalities of treatment.
• Broad knowledge of mental health, primary care and substance use service delivery system, service mandates, referral guidelines, legislation and government policies.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct mental health and Substance use assessments, and to provide treatment planning and case coordination.
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible and open to a range of treatment modules for substance use from abstinence and harm reduction.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, implement, facilitate and evaluate group programs, as applicable.
• Demonstrated ability to function as an effective team leader, motivator, coach/mentor, and team member within an interdisciplinary setting.
• Demonstrated ability to model and foster a positive, collaborative, and respectful team working environment.
• Demonstrated ability to provide clinical and administrative supervision and consultation.
• Demonstrated skills and ability to facilitate team building and to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Demonstrated ability to adjust to new or unexpected events, problem solve, and deal effectively with and/or guide others in resolution of conflict issues.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing with clients and their families, colleagues, physician, and other health care staff, both one-on-one and in groups.
• Demonstrated listening and information seeking skills that promotes open and direct communication and leads to a cooperative approach to problem solving.
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities, organize work, and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to operate related equipment including applicable software applications. 
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

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.

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
• Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for VCH staff

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.