Mental Health and Substance Outreach Nurse (RN/RPN) - Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)

Vancouver Coastal Health • Richmond, BC

8d • Onsite

About The Position

Come work as a Mental Health and Substance Outreach Nurse with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) at the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team in Richmond, BC! Apply now to join the team! Position works as part of an interdisciplinary team to provide triage and outreach services that are inclusionary and flexible for individuals with mental illness, substance use and/or chronic medical conditions. Conducts mental and physical status assessments and assesses the client’s physiological, psychological, sociocultural and spiritual needs to determine priority of care requirements based on client needs, availability of resources and best practices. Provides counseling and assists client with reducing repeated contact with and use of acute and community healthcare services/programs/resources. Assesses high risk situations and provides crisis intervention. Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to develop, implement and adjust the client’s care plan to meet the client’s need for integrated services and continuity of care across the continuum. Facilitates the movement of clients between acute care, community agency support site and designated health centre. Participates in case conferences/meetings with members of the interdisciplinary team. Assists clients with attendance to needed services such as medical appointments. Practices in accordance with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) standards (professional & practice) and code of ethics for registered nurses or registered psychiatric nurses. Practices within the scope of practice as set by the organization, as per VCH policies and guidelines/clinical practice documents and within own competence. This practice is aligned with the vision, mission, goals and values of the organization as well as with the concept of the resident/client and family centred care model. ACT teams bring health care and life-skills support to clients; all of whom would have difficulty arranging and keeping appointments with traditional office-based health care practitioners. ACT uses a trauma informed approach to promote recovery through community-based treatment and rehabilitation. The ACT team strives to reduce the number of contacts between police and their clients with severe and persistent mental health conditions and substance use concerns.

Requirements

• Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM)
• Two (2) years’ recent related experience working with individuals with mental health and substance use issues, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience
• Valid BC Drivers License and access to a personal vehicle for business-related purposes, as required
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of a client and family centered recovery model in mental illness and substance use
• Broad knowledge of crisis intervention and counseling skills
• Broad knowledge of mental health illness and substance use treatment
• Broad knowledge of psychopharmacology (indication and side effects)
• Broad knowledge of substance abuse and substance use treatment
• Broad knowledge of other facilities and community resources
• Demonstrated ability to conduct psychiatric assessments
• Demonstrated ability to provide treatment planning, counseling, crisis intervention, and case coordination
• Demonstrated skill in CPR techniques
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with clients and their families, colleagues, physicians and other health care staff, both one-on-one and in groups
• Demonstrated listening and information seeking skills that promotes communication and lead to a cooperative approach to problem solving within a interdisciplinary setting
• Demonstrated ability to establish workload priorities
• Demonstrated ability to adjust schedule to deal with unexpected situations
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team
• Demonstrated ability to provide consultation and leadership
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve
• Demonstrated ability to deal effectively with conflict situations
• Ability to operate related equipment
• Basic computer literacy to operate a computerized client care information system and word processing, Internet and email software
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position

Responsibilities

• Provide triage and outreach services that are inclusionary and flexible for individuals with mental illness, substance use and/or chronic medical conditions
• Conduct mental and physical status assessments
• Assess the client’s physiological, psychological, sociocultural and spiritual needs to determine priority of care requirements based on client needs, availability of resources and best practices
• Provide counseling
• Assist client with reducing repeated contact with and use of acute and community healthcare services/programs/resources
• Assess high risk situations
• Provide crisis intervention
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to develop, implement and adjust the client’s care plan to meet the client’s need for integrated services and continuity of care across the continuum
• Facilitate the movement of clients between acute care, community agency support site and designated health centre
• Participate in case conferences/meetings with members of the interdisciplinary team
• Assist clients with attendance to needed services such as medical appointments
• Practice in accordance with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) standards (professional & practice) and code of ethics for registered nurses or registered psychiatric nurses
• Practice within the scope of practice as set by the organization, as per VCH policies and guidelines/clinical practice documents and within own competence
• Align practice with the vision, mission, goals and values of the organization as well as with the concept of the resident/client and family centred care model

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits package, including MSP, extended health and dental and municipal pension plan
• Employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities
• 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
• Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for VCH staff

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees