Indigenous Mental Health

Overview Come work as a Mental Health and Substance Use Outreach (MHSU) Nurse with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for a Registered Nurse OR Registered Psychiatric Nurse to join the Indigenous Health Homelessness team in Vancouver, BC. Apply today to join our team Responsibilities Work as part of a multidisciplinary community team using a strengths-based model to provide moderate de-escalation and wrap-around services to support individuals in the Vancouver area. Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide crisis intervention, triage and outreach services that are inclusionary and flexible for individuals with mental illness, addictions and/or chronic medical conditions. Conduct mental and physical status assessments and assess clients’ physiological, biopsychosocial, and cultural support needs to determine priority of care requirements based on client needs, availability of resources and best practices. Provide counseling and assist clients with reducing repeated contact with and use of acute and community healthcare services/programs/resources. Assess high risk situations and provide crisis intervention. Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to develop, implement and adjust client’s care plan and meet the client’s need for integrated services and continuity of care across the continuum. Facilitate the movement of clients between acute care, community agency support site and designated health centre. Participate in case conferences/meetings with members of the multidisciplinary team. Assist clients with attendance to needed services such as medical appointments. Work in tandem to Indigenous Health Outreach, in addition to other VCH Vancouver Community services, and liaise with the local First Nation community, other Indigenous-serving organizations, community resources, and healthcare providers to assist Indigenous clients to access support services such as benefits or assistance as appropriate. Provide care within the interdisciplinary model through trauma and violence-informed practice, harm reduction, cultural safety, and a recovery-oriented care approach. Use a relational and strengths-based perspective to support the client to identify care goals. Qualifications Education & Experience Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM). Diploma in Nursing or Psychiatric Nursing plus two (2) years’ recent related experience working in Indigenous-led or Indigenous-serving organizations providing mental health and substance use clinical services in community-based settings or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Valid BC Drivers License. Local area travel may require the use of a personal vehicle. Pursuant to Section 41 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference will be given to individuals of Indigenous identity (First Nations, Inuit, Metis). Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Comprehensive knowledge and demonstrated ability to provide culturally safe care, has completed Indigenous Cultural Safety training. Demonstrated understanding and in-depth knowledge of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Peoples and history. Demonstrated understanding of provincial and federal guiding principles and documents, for example In Plain Sight Report, and Calls to Action, to eliminate Indigenous-specific racism in the health care sector. Demonstrated ability to identify and recognize current health care system gaps and barriers for Indigenous individuals and communities seeking health care. Demonstrated ability to identify and recognize power inequities within the healthcare system associated with ongoing impacts of colonialism. Demonstrated knowledge of the principles of recovery in mental health and substance use. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in Trauma and Violence Informed Practice Demonstrated knowledge and ability to apply a Harm Reduction approach to care. Knowledge of the principles and practices of a client and family centered recovery model in mental illness. Knowledge of the Mental Health Act as it applies to the rights and obligations of clients and staff. Broad knowledge of crisis intervention and counseling skills. Broad knowledge of mental health illness and treatment. Broad knowledge of psychopharmacology (indication and side effects). Broad knowledge of substance abuse and addictions treatment. Broad knowledge of other facilities and community resources. Demonstrated ability to conduct psychiatric assessments. Demonstrated ability to provide treatment planning, counseling, crisis intervention, and case coordination. Demonstrated skill in CPR techniques. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with clients and their families, colleagues, physicians, and other health care staff, both one-on-one and in groups. Demonstrated listening and information seeking skills that promotes communication and lead to a cooperative approach to problem solving within a multidisciplinary setting. Demonstrated ability to establish workload priorities. Demonstrated ability to adjust schedule to deal with unexpected situations. Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively as a member of a multidisciplinary team. Demonstrated ability to provide consultation and leadership. Demonstrated ability to problem solve. Demonstrated ability to deal effectively with conflict situations. Ability to operate related equipment. Physical ability to perform the duties of the position. Basic computer literacy to operate a computerized client care information system and word processing, Internet and email software. Closing Statement 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. Benefits 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr