Mental Health Worker, Looking Glass Residence
BC Children’s Hospital
Vancouver, BC
Reporting to the Nurse Supervisor, the Mental Health Worker supports individuals admitted to the Woodstone Residence in the recovery process by participating in service/care planning activities including planning, implementing and evaluating recreation/leisure program(s) as part of the resident’s individualized recovery plan through one-to-one and group contact as well as providing day-to-day physical, emotional and social support to promote independence among admitted residents. Operates the Centre’s passenger transportation vehicle to drive residents to designated locations. Supports the program milieu as required.
What you’ll do
- Contribute to residents achieving their goals by planning, implementing and evaluating recreation/leisure program(s) based on the individualized recovery plans. Act as a role model, demonstrating, participating and assisting residents in lifespan development activities such as activities of daily living, meal support, healthy lifestyles and interpersonal communication.
- Monitor, evaluate, and document resident progress within the recreation/leisure program(s) and reports observations such as emotional well-being and social behaviour to nursing/medical staff as required.
- Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team in the development of individualized recovery plans by identifying and assessing resident needs, skill, interest and goals; gathering appropriate history, and collecting relevant records and documentation. Recommend approaches to provide appropriate treatment that addresses identifiable risk factors and enables independence and integration into the community; and monitor, reassess and adjust the treatment plan to reflect the resident’s progress.
- Participate in continuous quality improvement activities by performing duties such as providing input/feedback to supervisor on processes and opportunities for process improvement; report unsafe situations as per provincial and organization’s policies and procedures
- Drive residents to designated locations as scheduled, by operating the Centre’s passenger van/bus with a seating capacity of 11 to 25 passengers, including the driver. Assist clients with embarking and disembarking the vehicle. Conduct inspections of vehicle by checking oil, gas and fluid levels, tire condition and ensuring that lights and signals are functioning; clean interior and exterior of vehicle after use; and maintain records of distances traveled, gas expenditures and inspections. Recommend vehicle and equipment repairs as required.
- Support program milieu as required by maintaining a physically and emotionally safe environment for residents.
- Provide direction to volunteers and students during activity programs and demonstrates related techniques as required.
- Participate in departmental and other meetings as requested.
- Maintain inventory of equipment, tools and materials and reports malfunctioning equipment, potential hazards, and supply needs to the Nurse Supervisor.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
What you bring
Qualifications
- Grade 12, Certificate in Community Mental Health, and one year recent related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
- Valid Class 4 BC Driver's License.
- Valid First Aid Certificate and current CPR certification.
- 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 Program Name Here 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
- Ability to organize work.
- Ability to supervise.
- Ability to deal with others effectively.
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
- Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
- Ability to operate related equipment.
- 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 2,000+ in-house courses including a range of experience level, profession-specific, or other essential training on Indigenous Cultural Safety; Indigenous-specific anti-racism; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and accessibility, mental health and well-being, and more.
- 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
Salary Range: $33.83/hour
Location: 4116 Angus Drive, Vancouver, BC V6J 4H9
Hours of Work: 07:00-19:00, 19:00-07:00, Rotating
Requisition # 203667E
What we do
Looking Glass Residence is a 14-bed residential treatment facility for young men and women aged 16 to 24, with anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating, and other eating disorders. The facility is part of BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH), which provides care for the most seriously ill or injured children and youth from across British Columbia.
BCCH 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 – Create equity – Be courageous.
Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services
PHSA and BC Children’s Hospital are 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 [email protected].
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 September 9, 2026 and will no longer be accessible. If the internal job posting has expired, please e-mail [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected].
