Mental Health Clinician - Child & Youth (Indigenous)

Come work as a Mental Health Clinician Child & Youth with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for a Mental Health Clinician with a Master's Degree in Social Work, Clinical Counseling, or Psychology to join the Youth Outreach Mental Health team in Vancouver, BC.

As a Mental Health Clinician with Vancouver Child & Youth Mental Health, you will:

• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team conducting mental health assessments with Indigenous identified child and youth who may experience marginalization, challenges and barriers to engagement and experience current and emergent mental health and possible substance use concerns and providing treatment services that are sensitive to Indigenous cultures including direct clinical services in the form of assertive outreach assessment/intervention/referral and support to clientele using a Two-Eyed seeing approach; a combination of western and Indigenous cultural care practices and approaches.
• Establish and maintain relationships based on respect and understanding, initiates and participates in case conferences/meetings, provide support to colleagues and consultative services to children & youth service providers for continuity of care.
• Implement the Indigenous Cultural Safety policy to provide culturally safe and responsive mental health & wellness supports to Indigenous children/child and youth and families to reduce barriers to accessing services, increase the quality and safety of services and improve clinical outcomes.
• Nurture meaningful and transformative engagements with Indigenous children/youth.

Education & Experience

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Clinical Counseling or Psychology.
• Three (3) years recent, related experience working with Indigenous children/youth and their families who may experience challenges and barriers to accessing mental health supports and may experience marginalization, or equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Eligibility for registration with the appropriate professional body or association, as applicable.
• Valid BC Driver’s License. Local area travel may require the use of a personal vehicle.
• First Nations, Inuit, Metis ancestry is regarded as directly relevant to the skills and knowledge for excellence in the position. Pursuant to Section 41 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference will be given to candidates who identify as Indigenous including First Nations, Metis or Inuit.

Knowledge & Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles of recovery in mental illness.
• Knowledge of Psychosocial Rehabilitation methodology.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of behavioural, social emotional and mental health/psychiatric problems impacting Indigenous children and youth.
• Broad knowledge of mental health & substance use diagnosis and treatment.
• Broad knowledge of psychopharmacology (indications and side-effects).
• Broad knowledge of psychotherapeutic and counselling skills.
• Broad knowledge of Indigenous health, social and community services.
• Broad knowledge of other facilities and community resources.
• Broad knowledge of other health care disciplines and their role in client care.
• Broad knowledge of the normal growth and development of children.
• Broad knowledge of school, legislation and government policies and procedures that relate to/impact client.
• Demonstrated ability to work with Indigenous children/youth with behavioural, social, emotional and mental health/psychiatric issues.
• Demonstrated ability to do assertive outreach with Indigenous youth who may experience marginalization and/or street involvement.
• Broad knowledge of working with youth who are substance using/concurrent.
• Broad knowledge of the impact of colonization on Indigenous peoples and the effects of intergenerational trauma on Indigenous individuals, families and communities.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in Trauma Informed Practice and Harm Reduction approach.
• Demonstrated ability to perform psychosocial assessments and provide treatment planning and care.
• Demonstrated ability to apply knowledge of theory and practice to a case coordination process within an Indigenous cultural safety framework.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with Indigenous children/youth and their families/identified supports, educational personnel, Indigenous child welfare and resources social workers, other service providers, colleagues, physician, and other health care staff.
• Demonstrated listening and information seeking skills that promotes communication and lead to a co-operative approach to problem solving within a multidisciplinary setting and within an Indigenous cultural framework.
• Demonstrated ability to establish workload priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to take clinical input and direction from a supervisor.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated ability to work with individuals with diverse ethnic backgrounds and exhibits a cross-cultural competency.
• Demonstrated ability to adjust to new or unexpected events, to problem solve, and to deal effectively with conflict and crisis situations.
• Demonstrated ability to provide consultation, leadership and work direction.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Basic computer literacy to operate computerized client care information system and word processing, spreadsheet, Internet and e-mail software.

We strive to build a diverse team with lived experience with Indigenous communities. Therefore, strong preference will be given to applicants who self-identify as Indigenous. It will greatly assist us with screening if you refer in your application to your Indigenous identity.

However, recognizing the impacts of colonization on Indigenous people, it is your choice whether to volunteer information.
We will hold your application in the strictest confidence, sharing it only with the hiring panel.

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.

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

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are essential to our goals of creating a great place to work and delivering exceptional care. We acknowledge and accommodate unique differences and ensure special measures are in place so that all prospective and current employees are given an opportunity to succeed.

We are committed to building a representative workforce and encourage applications reflecting diversity of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization or ancestry, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

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.