Licensed Practical Nurse

Status: Casual

Schedule: Various

Location: Coquitlam & Surrey, BC 

Salary Range: $32.84 to $41.35

Job Summary
Under the direction of the Program Director and Clinical Coordinator, and as a member of a multi-disciplinary team, the LPN provides a broad range of nursing functions and direct care; including psychiatric and physical assessments, crisis interventions, medication administration, group facilitation and other duties as required.

The LPN role is in accordance with the LPN scope of practice and clinical direction is provided by the RPN/RN on duty. The LPN is responsible for implementing the delivery of trauma-informed care for people that may have or have experienced homelessness, severe addictions, mental illness, concurrent disorders, trauma and family, cultural and community disconnection. Clients may also have involvement in the criminal justice or forensic systems. As a member of the multi-disciplinary team, the nurse shares information with team and other professionals in relation to client progress, care planning and interventions.

Required Qualifications

• Graduation from a recognized program for Licensed Practical Nurses and ability to maintain full practising license with the BCCNM
• Ability to provide/obtain the following upon hire:
  • Valid B.C. Class 5 Driver's License
  • Valid First Aid Certificate ("Emergency First Aid – Community Care" or equivalent)
  • Criminal Records Clearance from the BC Ministry of Justice.
  • Tuberculosis Clearance (Done within the past 6 months)
  • Immunization Records
  • WHMIS Certificate

Knowledge and Abilities

• A good understanding of the issues facing women / men with complex needs related to psychiatric disability, addiction, past trauma / victimization.
• Ability to work with people with a mental illness and addictions.
• A good understanding of mental illness, addiction issues, psychotrophic medications and psychosocial rehabilitation principles/ strengths-based model.
• Ability to establish and maintain rapport with clients.
• Ability to observe and recognize changes in clients.
• Knowledge of and ability to implement psychosocial rehabilitation framework and strength-based, recovery-oriented techniques
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care.
• Knowledge of and ability to implement techniques related to concurrent disorders (mental illness and addiction), including motivation enhancement techniques and harm reduction.
• Knowledge of an ability to work with the culturally diverse group of clients, including Aboriginal clients.
• Knowledge of housing issues and community resources in Metro Vancouver.
• Ability to effectively organize work
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position
• Ability to work independently and in cooperation with others
• Ability to operate related equipment (i.e. computers)
• Ability to organize and prioritize

About Coast

Coast Mental Health (Coast) is one of the largest mental health non-profit societies in Canada and operates a large array of innovative housing and community-based rehabilitation services for people with a mental illness living in and around Vancouver. Coast operates in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia providing approximately 1000 people with supportive housing and 4000 clients living in the community with a wide variety of programs and services. 

Coast fosters a client-driven, recovery-oriented environment that promotes restoring health, personal growth and a return to society for individuals with a mental illness through advocacy and providing direct programs and services. Coast is deeply invested in cultural safety, reconciliation, and anti-racism. Our employees receive training on cultural humility, trauma-informed practice, and inclusive leadership. We strive to reflect the communities we serve and value lived experience alongside professional qualifications.

Why Coast

• We recognize safety as a top priority for the organization.
• We believe in our people and recognize hard work.
• We operate client-centered care under the principles of psychosocial rehabilitation.
• We offer a variety of work placement opportunities within the organization.
• We strive to be the best that we can be.
• We hold Exemplary Standingwith Accreditation Canada.
• We have been recognized with numerous awards for our innovative programming.
• We care about our employees, and believe in living our values and culture throughout the organization

Some of the Benefits we Offer

• 100% employer-paid benefits for employees and their families.
• Vision Care, Dental Care, Prescription Drugs, Naturopath, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Group Life, Massage therapy, Physiotherapy, and Unlimited Out-of-Province and Out-of-Country Emergencies.
• General sick-leave accruals.
• Long-term disability programs.  Short-term disability programs available to exempt positions only.
• 5 days of paid leave for Indigenous Employees for Ceremonial, Cultural, and Spiritual events per year.
• 8 weeks of paid leave for gender affirming care for medical procedures for transgender and gender diverse employees, cumulative total.
• Employee and Family Assistance Program, which includes personal counselling, Life Coaching, Financial Coaching, Legal Referral and Advisory Services, and Health Coaching. In addition, Coast provides a cognitive behavioural therapy program (CBT abilities program) and Headversity for managing a variety of life issues and includes self-paced therapeutic support.
• Municipal Pension Plan with guaranteed lifetime monthly pension when you retire. More information can be found at: 

***For any unionized positions, current/internal Coast employees must apply within seven (7) days of the posting date with their internal UKG account (using their Coast email address), in order to be considered as an internal applicant. Current/internal Coast employees who apply to a unionized position using an external account (or email), or after the seven (7) day deadline will be considered an external candidate. In this case, seniority will not be considered.***

Coast Mental Health is committed to creating a culture of diversity and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion or disability.