Professional Practice Leader, Social Work

BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services

Vancouver, BC

 

This Temporary, Full-Time (Until March 16, 2027) opportunity is with the Red Fish Healing Centre.

 

What is Red Fish Healing Centre

 

θəqiʔ ɫəwʔənəq leləm’ (the Red Fish Healing Centre for Mental Health and Addiction, or Red Fish Healing Centre) is a 105-bed facility that treats individuals from across the province who live with the most severe concurrent and complex mental health and substance use disorders. Clients admitted to the Red Fish Healing Centre have both a mental illness and a substance use disorder; many clients also have other chronic health problems. Clients may be admitted voluntarily, or involuntarily under BC’s Mental Health Act. 

 

Check out what it means to be apart of the Red Fish Healing Centre’s team!

 

Watch this video to learn about working with BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services.

 

What you’ll do

           

• Provides leadership in Social Work professional standards and practice and participates in the planning and coordination of Social Work services at the designated site by methods such as providing clinical guidance and expertise, mentoring and coaching, and facilitating workplace solutions; developing, establishing, communicating and evaluating professional practice standards; developing and overseeing a review system to ensure compliance with standards; developing, communicating and evaluating goals and objectives for the discipline to ensure practice is consistent with program and service goals and objectives; and providing advice on professional practice standards, codes of ethics and issues such as registration.
• Collaborates with the Clinical Services Manager and/or Program Director in various staffing issues as they relate to the clinical practice as required by methods such as providing input into employee performance evaluations to promote quality work performance, acting as a resource to clarify the role of the discipline in delivering patient and client care services, providing clinical performance support and creates practice plans to meet professional standards, participating in the development of Social Work job descriptions, assisting in determining orientation and training requirements, discussing progress, referring items requiring disciplinary action to the Clinical Services Manager and/or Program Director and assisting with staff selection by participating on interview panels and providing recommendations regarding evaluation of candidates to facilitate optimal hiring decisions.
• Provides leadership, direction and guidance in Social Work education, practices, and special initiatives by methods such as developing an education plan to provide continuing education for Social Work staff -discipline specific and interdisciplinary; identifying, promoting and supporting professional development initiatives by practice members in collaboration with the Clinical Services Manager and/or Program Director and/or Director, Professional Practice; providing relevant education and training to multidisciplinary staff; and developing an orientation material for new social work staff and assisting by providing orientation to new social work staff at the designated site.
• Conducts comprehensive concurrent disorder, mental health and/or substance use, and psycho-social and family assessments by methods such as interviewing the client and/or family, obtaining relevant information, gathering social data regarding the client’s family, environment, living situation, and financial status, and interpreting the data to therapeutically impact the client's and family's coping abilities. Formulates assessment and plan of intervention and intervenes in cases of complex social-emotional or family issues.
• Provides clinical intervention in the context of evidence-based care to clients and their families through individual, family, and group therapy. Provides individual, family and group counselling services by methods such as exploring emotional responses to illness/injury in order to identify problems, personal concerns and treatment objectives and to facilitate change in coping style, behaviour, attitude, feelings and adaptive responses to an adverse life event. Refers to community services for follow-up as necessary.

 

What you bring

 

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited university.
• Three (3) years' recent related experience providing treatment services to individuals with complex concurrent psychiatric disorder and/or substance use issues and/or individuals who have a developmental disability and concurrent mental health and/or behavioural issues including one (1) year in a supervisory capacity or an equivalent combination of social work education, training and experience.
• Current full registration with the BC College of Social Workers.
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples within social and health contexts. This includes understanding how these factors contribute to current health disparities and barriers to care. Show a clear commitment to identifying, challenging, and eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and all forms of discrimination impacting equity-deserving groups within healthcare settings. This involves recognizing personal biases, institutional barriers, engaging in anti-racism education and training and advocating for systemic change.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments within BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services contexts found in the foundational documents including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, BC Human Rights Code, Anti-racism Data Act and       how they intersect across the health care system.

 

Core Competencies

• Brings an understanding of the Indigenous specific racism and the broader systemic racism that exists in the colonial health care structure, and has demonstrated leadership in breaking down barriers and ensuring an environment of belonging. Embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility into all aspects of work. This means creating an environment where Indigenous patients feel respected, valued, and understood. Foster trust through respectful communication, active listening, and honoring equity-deserving people's perspectives on health and wellness. Commit to ongoing education and training on Indigenous health issues, cultural safety, and DEI principles. Participate in workshops, cultural immersion experiences, and continuous professional development to stay informed and responsive to equity-deserving groups. Provide patient-centred care that respects Indigenous ways of knowing and healing, respects BIPOC experiences and world views ensuring that care plans are culturally relevant and holistic.
• Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (The Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).

 

Skills & Knowledge

• Broad knowledge of complex concurrent mental health and substance use issues and developmental disability with concurrent mental health and/or behavioural issues, including current trends, best practices and modalities of treatment.
• Broad knowledge of mental health and substance use service delivery system, service mandates, referral guidelines, legislation and government policies.
• Broad knowledge of Trauma-Informed Practice and its application to the defined population
• Demonstrated ability to conduct mental health and social work bio psycho social assessments, and to provide treatment planning and case coordination.
• Demonstrates a commitment to beginning and continuing their personal learning journey related to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Shows willingness to articulate and share their learning experiences to contribute to a culture of motivation and inspiration among peers.
• Demonstrates foundational knowledge of the social, economic, and political realities of settler-colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving groups within social and health contexts. Understands the impact of social determinants of health-on-health outcomes. Shows a commitment to learning about and upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments outlined in foundational documents such as the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan, Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, the BC Human Rights Code, Anti-Racism Data Act, and the Distinctions Based Approach.

 

What we bring

 

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That’s why we’re focused on your care too – offering health, wellness, development programs to support you – at work and at home.

• Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations – offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
• Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
• Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
• PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
• Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

 

Job Type: Temporary, Full-Time (until March 16, 2027)
Wage: $45.66 - $57.04 per hour

Hours of Work: Monday – Friday; 0800-1600
Location: 2745 Lougheed Hwy., Coquitlam, BC V3C 4J2
Requisition # 193124E

 

What we do

 

BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services (BCMHSUS) cares for people with complex mental health and substance use challenges.

 

BCMHSUS program is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).

 

PHSA plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include: Respect people – Be compassionate – Dare to innovate – Cultivate partnerships – Serve with purpose.

 

PHSA and BCMHSUS are committed to employment equity, encouraging all qualified individuals to apply. We recognize that our ability to provide the best care for our diverse patient populations relies on a rich diversity of skills, knowledge, background and experience, and value a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.

 

Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services

 

PHSA is committed to anti-racism and equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently excluded groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.

 

One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes ongoing commitments to Indigenous recruitment and employee experience as well as dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya’k̓ula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at indigenous.employment@phsa.ca.

 

Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and exclusion faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and title of BC First Nations and self-determination of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. PHSA is mandated to uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents including the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.

 

Attention current employees of PHSA:  

 

You must apply via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca. 

 

The internal job posting expires on January 9, 2026 and will no longer be accessible. If the internal job posting has expired, please e-mail internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca with the six-digit job requisition number and your PHSA employee ID number to be considered as a late internal applicant. Please do not apply for the external job posting. 

 

If you have not yet set up an internal profile, please e-mail internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca with your PHSA employee ID number to obtain your temporary password. Our business hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, excluding Statutory Holidays and a Help Desk Representative will respond to you with 1-2 business days.  

 

If you are not a current employee of PHSA and require assistance with your application, please contact the External Careers team at careers@phsa.ca.