Introduction to VAST:
In 1986, a small group of human rights activists and mental health workers gathered in Vancouver to support the flood of refugees arriving from the armed conflicts in South and Central America. They founded the Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture (VAST), and this dedicated group of volunteers built what would become BC’s largest center for refugee mental health. Today, VAST works with refugees from over 100 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. Our programs and services are offered in over a dozen languages, including Arabic, Farsi, French, Mandarin, and Spanish. We support the mental health of refugees who arrive in British Columbia with psychological trauma as a result of torture, political violence, and other forms of persecution on the basis of race, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
We facilitate the healing process for 2500 survivors of torture each year, and their families, by providing accessible and culturally appropriate individual and group counselling and therapeutic services. We also provide psycho-legal documentation and support refugee claimants through the asylum process, and are called in to work with Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada when their particular situation requires our support. Canada is a signatory to the UN’s Convention Against Torture (1985), and the Refugee Convention (1951), both of which oblige us to protect the rights of survivors of forced displacement, including the Right to Rehabilitation, and to provide safe haven to those who at risk of persecution. VAST is an active member of the International Rehabilitation Council for Victims of Torture (IRCT), and the Canadian Network for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (CNSTT).
Founded on the conviction that ‘healing is an act of resistance’, for 40 years VAST has employed a province-leading model of trauma-informed mental health service provision. Our work has created and sustained a resilient, inclusive community amongst newcomers, and over More than half of our team identify as survivors themselves, and their voices are represented at all levels of our organization. We do not believe in working alone, and our mission supports a range of advocacy and capacity building activities to strengthen BC’s mental health sector for newcomers, and encourage understanding of our work amongst government institutions. In so doing, we relieve demand on the BC healthcare sector, especially in dense urban and more isolated rural areas of BC. VAST is more than a healthcare provider and is known throughout BC as a convener of voices with lived experience of torture and trauma, and an influential advisor and trainer to multiple levels of policy makers and practitioners.
Classification & Job Title: Mental Health Services Manager (MHSM)
**This job description is subject to change**
Full Time Position
Rate of Pay: $35/hr.
Office Location Details: Hybrid Offices: Vancouver and/or Surrey
This is position includes a comprehensive health benefits package
Job Summary: The purpose of this role is to support VAST clients, staff, management, partners, and funders in providing high quality mental health services and supports. VAST clients have access to individual, group, community-based, and online services, delivered by the VAST Clinical team members, Community Engagement team members, as well as Management and Contractors, and many esteemed guests and academic and community partners. VAST’s Individual and Group service provision and providers receive Clinical Supervision from VAST’s Clinical Supervisor, with support from the Senior Expressive Arts Therapist, Executive Director, and Social Worker. The MHSM will support and coordinate with other team member’s efforts. The MHSM will support VAST to be active in following VAST’s historical best practices, guidelines, and standards, as well as those established in our sector provincially, nationally, and internationally.
