Come work as a Spiritual Health Practitioner 2 with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for an Spiritual Health Practitioner 2 to join the Multi-Faith Services team. Apply today to join our team!

As a Spiritual Health Practitioner 2 with Vancouver Coastal Health you will:

• Be responsible for assessing and responding to emotional or spiritual needs and concerns.
• Provide spiritual care to patients/residents/clients, their family/friends and staff.
• Act as a team player within an interprofessional team to achieve excellence in client centred care.
• Collaborate with other health care professionals and community support groups in educational, clinical and research endeavours related to client care, family needs and professional development of staff.
• Provide educational opportunities for students through mentoring and clinical consultations. Key partnerships are with the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care – CASC regarding student education as well as with community religious/spiritual representatives with respect to consultation and support on spiritual issues.

This work is framed within VCH’s commitments to our pillars of Indigenous Cultural Safety, Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and Planetary Health.

Education & Experience

• Master's Degree with relevant theological/spiritual studies from a recognized institution accredited by the Association of Theological Schools or an institution with equivalent standing.
• Completion of two basic, and two advanced units, of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in a health care setting or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Valid certification with the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC) as a Specialist or a commitment to certify within 2 years of hiring.
• Maintains an active, ongoing, accountable relationship with a recognized denomination or faith group. Recent, related experience as a spiritual care practioner in an institutional setting preferred.

Knowledge & Abilities

• Applies specialized knowledge of spiritual care and pastoral counseling theory and practice with individuals, families and groups in a client centered model of care at bedside as well as in more controlled environments.
• Shows advanced ability to forge rapport and therapeutic alliance through authentic mindful presence in critical moments with persons experiencing immediate crisis or long term life altering illness/injury.
• Effectively and accurately utilizes both verbal and written communication skills when obtaining or providing advice/information in a group or individual setting.
• Working knowledge of bio-medical ethics and a demonstrated ability to work within the spiritual worldview of patients and families to assist them with contextual decision making.
• Demonstrates spiritual and cultural competency in working with a diversity of faiths and cultures and ability to assist clinical teams in providing care that promotes mutual understanding and cooperation between patients, their families and the health care team.
• Possesses an understanding of health care team model and engages in inter-professional dialogue through seeking and providing consultation with professionals in other disciplines.
• Works within the scope of practice articulated in the Ministry of Health document- Spiritual Health - A Framework for British Columbia’s Spiritual Care Professionals and adheres to the code of ethics referenced therein.
• Actively participates in research initiatives and promotes best practices that relate to spiritual care, exhibits expertise in new developments in spiritual care and remains current through literature, consultation with experts, clinical practice evaluation and attendance at professional development activities.
• Applies computer literacy skills with relevant software programs for clinical and clerical purposes including quality assurance practices and charting.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in collaboration with others.
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with key internal and external partners to promote and enhance services provided with sensitivity to diversity and indigenous lens.
• Practices the recognition, inclusion and support of all types and aspects of diversity at all stages of engagement, with an understanding of the issues faced by people from equity-deserving groups.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

This Role Description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and is not necessarily an exhaustive list of accountabilities, skills and competencies required.

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):

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 BC’s Top Employers, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and Canada's Top Employers for Young People in 2025.

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.