Outreach Worker

Come work as an Outreach Worker with the Overdose Outreach Team in Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for an Outreach Worker to join the Overdose Outreach Team in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Apply today to join our team

As an Overdose Outreach Worker with VCH, you will:

• Work as a member of an interdisciplinary team to provide support services to individuals and their families with accessing opioid agonist therapy and related support services for the designated program area. 
• Monitor clients by methods such as observing client's health condition and environment.
• Arrange, plan, escort and accompany designated/marginalized individuals on appointments, errands and other activities, as required.
• Create linkages to other community resources and programs.
• Assist clients in accessing benefits or assistance as appropriate and provide brief planning and coordination on issues related to substance use, opioid agonist therapy, overdose prevention and harm reduction.
• Under the direction of the Registered Nurse, administer medication to clients and provide medication reminders.
• Liaise and work with community resources and healthcare providers.
• Provide basic health-promoting information and promote development of life-skills to clients.
• Perform a variety of general clerical duties, attend meetings and participate in patient care planning and coordination.

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

• Diploma in Community Social Services and one (1) year related experience working with people who use substances and those suffering from complex mental health issues and/or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Valid BC driver's license and vehicle.
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to work with marginalized and culturally diverse populations including those with substance use issues and mental illness.
• 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 rapport with clients and families in order to explore issues that are beyond the initial presented concerns.
• A working knowledge and familiarity with health and social service programs specific to the North Shore and more generally speaking in the Lower Mainland.
• Working knowledge of harm reduction principles.
• Working knowledge of British Columbia's Decriminalization Framework.
• Crisis prevention/intervention and conflict resolution/de-escalation skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment as well as capacity to work in partnership with other community agencies.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated skill in CPR techniques and First-aid.
• Physical ability to carry out 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. 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
• 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 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.