Recovery Advocate - Mental Health & Substance Use

Come work as an Recovery Advocate with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH!)

Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for a Recovery Advocate to join the Vancouver Detox team in Vancouver, BC as a Recovery Advocate. Apply today to join our team!

As an Recovery Advocate with Vancouver Detox you will

• Provide outreach services, assists with coordinating recovery support programming and organizes venues and materials for educational sessions and social and recreational activities.
• Work as a member of a community recovery-based team to provide individual and group recovery support and information sessions to a designated client population/community.
• Provide advocacy for clients to access substance use recovery-based services free of discrimination, stigma, and barriers and supports clients and their support network with locating health, social and substance use services for the designated client population/community.
• Develop relationships based on respect.
• Perform word processing duties, assists with research and other special projects, maintains and compiles statistics, participates in committees, task groups, and/or corporate initiatives and engages in and assists the Team Lead with ongoing team planning, development, evaluation and quality improvement activities.

Vancouver Detox Centre

Vancouver Detox Centre (VDC) is an inpatient medical WDM program with 24-hour nursing care. Located at 377 East 2nd Avenue in Vancouver, VDC offers withdrawal management services through pharmacology, psychosocial intervention and low-barrier groups such as yoga, acupuncture and NA/AA/CA panels. VDC offers cultural services such as a Talking Circle, smudging and spiritual care. Clients are supported by a multi-disciplinary team that includes physicians, nurses, social workers and detox workers.

Education & Experience

• Personal experience accessing substance use services in the designated client population/community.
• Diploma in a Community Social Services program and two (2) years’ recent related experience advocating and/or providing support to the designated client population/community, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Knowledge & Abilities

• Knowledge of health concerns for the designated client population/community.
• Ability to operate related equipment including applicable software applications.
• Ability to provide work direction.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the job.
• Ability to work under the pressure of interruptions and adapt to changes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of trauma-informed practice.
• Ability to problem solve and take initiative.
• Ability to communicate effectively/tactfully both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated knowledge of LGBTQ2S+ services and programs in the community.
• Ability to facilitate supportive groups with attention to participants’ emotional well-being and safety.
• Knowledge of the substance use recovery and harm reduction system in British Columbia.
• Ability to organize and prioritize.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to compose business correspondence.
• Demonstrated, knowledge of traditional healing practices.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles of harm reduction in a health care setting.
• Skilled in conflict resolution, facilitation, and advocacy.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Indigenous Cultural Safety.
• Ability to establish and maintain rapport with a diverse range of community members, volunteers, and health, social and community service providers for the designated client population/community.

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 the current Public Health Orders (Long Term Care/Seniors Assisted Living Provincial Health Officer Order and the Health Sector Order), as of October 26, 2021, all employees working for Vancouver Coastal Health must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required.

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
• Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for VCH staff
• 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

Diversity, equity, 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 2023.

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.