Social Worker, Correctional Health Services
BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services
Victoria, BC

 

Are you a Social Worker who resides outside of the Lower Mainland in British Columbia? Relocation Assistance is available for this opportunity!

 

Correctional Health Services (CHS) is a province-wide, specialized program providing care for clients who are incarcerated in one of BC’s 10 provincial correctional facilities. We believe everyone deserves a chance to access healthcare treatments and heal, and CHS offers a non-judgemental place to help make that happen. Check out what it means to be apart of the CHS team HERE. Please indicate in your cover letter why you are interested in joining our Community Transition Team (CTT)!

 

What you’ll do

• Conduct comprehensive health, concurrent disorder, mental health and/or substance use, and family assessments by methods such as interviewing the client and family, obtaining relevant information, gathering social data regarding the client and family and formulation of assessment and plan of intervention, in accordance with professional practice standards and clinical policies.
• Provide clinical intervention in the context of evidence-based care to clients and their families through individual, family and group therapy.
• Support clients and their families by providing education, short-term counselling and crisis intervention after the client’s release from the provincial correctional centres regarding concurrent disorder, mental health and/or substance use issues, child welfare and custody proceedings and change or loss in health functioning.
• Facilitate comprehensive discharge planning for designated clients with the team, client, family and community agencies to ensure psycho-social follow-up.
• Establish and maintain effective collaborative and constructive liaison relationships with a variety of individuals and groups, including clients and families, community providers, MCFD social workers, schools, hospitals and other agencies, in order to coordinate services across the continuum of health care.
• Carry out community outreach services, peer involvement, and community partner resource engagement by methods such as liaising about client resources and access to these resources; engaging with community partners and working collaboratively, providing input from a clinical perspective and to coordinate resources, and acting as an advocate for the program and clients. Actively engage with and supports the clients to access community service providers on a scheduled and as needed basis.

 

What you bring

 

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Social Work from an accredited School of Social Work, including relevant graduate level mental health courses and mental health practicum.
• Minimum 1 year recent related clinical experience working within a correctional health or other related setting; must include experience in child protection, child development and grief and loss, women’s issues, women abuse and harm reduction model; or an equivalent combination of education, training or experience.
• Current full registration with the British Columbia College of Social Workers.
• Valid BC Driver’s License. Local area travel may require the use of a personal vehicle.

 

Skills and Knowledge

• Comprehensive knowledge of Social Work theory and practice, trauma informed care. Demonstrated ability to conduct and document a comprehensive psychosocial and family assessment in a correctional health context.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to provide crisis intervention, short term counselling and individual, family and group therapy.
• Knowledge of the psychosocial needs of clients and their families.
• Commitment to develop knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments 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 – and how they intersect across the health care system.
• Commitment to upholding the shared responsibility of creating lasting and meaningful reconciliation in Canada as per TRC (2015) and BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019).
• As a strong asset for consideration, we are looking for our successful candidate to have: 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.).

 

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: Regular Full-Time
Wage: $44.85 - $56.02 per hour
Location: 70 Colony Farm Road, Coquitlam, V3C 5X9
Hours of Work: Monday - Friday 0800-1600
Requisition # 202225E

 

What we do

 

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

 

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

 

The Provincial Health Services Authority (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.

 

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

 

PHSA and BCMHSUS is committed to 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 marginalized groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.

 

One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya'kula 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 marginalization faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and self-determination of Indigenous communities. PHSA must uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents such as 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.

 

Attention current employees of PHSA:

 

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

 

The internal job posting expires on August 25, 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.