Provide advanced clinical interventions and ongoing consultation with primary care providers for clients with mental health and/or substance use and concurrent disorders.
Conduct intake and assessment, including crisis intervention, urgent response, and short-term therapy and/or group psychotherapy as applicable.
Provide harm reduction services, immediate support, assessment, and referral within a trauma-informed and culturally competent framework.
Recommend possible treatments and interventions to enhance client care and outcomes.
Consult extensively with primary care providers and refer to community resources as needed, including psychosocial and social determinants of health aspects.
Provide education to support care and treatment planning.
Support care planning, coordination, and follow-through for clients.
Apply non-crisis intervention techniques and non-violent crisis intervention knowledge when required.
Maintain client-centered, holistic care and demonstrate sound judgment, decision making, and problem solving
Requirements summary
Master's Degree in a health related discipline from an approved post-secondary institution.
Minimum two (2) years of recent related experience in mental illness-related post-basic education and/or equivalent combination, including crisis intervention, urgent response, short-term therapy, and group psychotherapy.
Significant understanding of mental health and substance use issues, substance use assessments, change process, community dynamics, and impacts of social determinants of health.
Knowledge of applicable legislation including the Mental Health Act and the Adult Guardianship Act.
Experience working with primary care providers.
Valid BC Driver's License.
Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary team and communicate verbally and in writing.
Ability to apply non-crisis intervention techniques and knowledge of non-violent crisis intervention.
Ability to plan and organize workload, establish priorities, and work independently with initiative.
Demonstrated organizational, problem solving, teaching, judgment, observation, and client assessment skills.
Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
CRC required (criminal record check)
Master's Degree in a health related discipline from an approved post-secondary institutionorganizational skillsnon-violent crisis interventionproblem solvingcrisis interventionharm reductiontrauma-informed careclient assessmenttact and empathycare planning and coordinationmental health and substance use assessmentsurgent responsegroup psychotherapyclient-centered holistic approachjudgment and decision makinginterdisciplinary team collaborationknowledge of social determinants of healthcommunication (verbal and written)
Job description
Close Date Location Comox Valley Nursing Centre - Primary Care (CVNC) - Courtenay, BC V9N 1R2 CA (Primary) Work Area (FBA Only) Multi-Site No Travel Requirement No travel required Shift Start Time/End Time 1000-1800 ; 1312-1930 Days Off Wednesday Vacancy Type Regular PT Salary Range (Hourly Rate) $44.85 - $56.02 Paid FTE 0.62 Worked BI-WEEKLY HOURS 44.00 Planned Start Date Jul. 13 2026 Approximate End Date (For Temporary Assignments ONLY) Pending Return of Incumbent No CRC required? (employee will be working with or have access to children or vulnerable adults and requires a Criminal Record Check) Yes
Job Description
In accordance with the Vision, Purpose, and Values, and strategic direction of Island Health (Vancouver Island Health Authority), patient and staff safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone; as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position. This position provides a platform for advance clinical interventions and ongoing consultation with primary care providers. Consultations include the recommendation of possible treatments and interventions to enhance quality of client care and outcomes. The position provides advanced clinical practice and interventions relating to intake, assessment, crisis intervention, education, treatment, harm reduction consultation and referral for clients experiencing mental health, substance use and/or concurrent disorder problems and issues related to the social determinants of health. This position consults extensively with primary care providers, and refers to community resources when necessary regarding the psychosocial and social determinants of mental health and substance use health aspects of the clients needs. This position provides harm reductions services, immediate support, assessment and referral for clients in a trauma informed and culturally competent framework.
Qualifications
Education, Training And Experience Master's Degree in a health related discipline from an approved post-secondary institution. Minimum of two (2) years of recent related experience; recognised post basic education related to mental illness including experience with crisis intervention, urgent response, short-term therapy, and group psychotherapy or an equivalent combination of education training and experience. Significant understanding of mental health and substance use issues, substance use assessments, the change process, community dynamics and the impacts of the social determinants of health are essential. Knowledge of applicable legislation such as the Mental Health Act and the Adult Guardianship Act is required. Experience working with primary care providers. A valid BC Driver's License is required. Skills And Abilities
short-term therapy
culturally competent practice
education and teaching
non-crisis intervention techniques
workload planning and prioritization
independent practice and initiative
referral and community resource navigation
knowledge of Mental Health Act
knowledge of Adult Guardianship Act
computer skills (Windows-based software)
Ability to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team including primary care providers.
Ability to apply non-crisis intervention techniques.
Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Ability to plan and organize workload and establish priorities.
Ability to work independently and to show initiative and creativity in clinical practice.
Ability to show sound judgment, decision making and problem solving.
Demonstrated organizational, problem solving and teaching skills.
Demonstrated judgment, good observation and client assessment skills, tact and empathy.
Knowledge of non-violent crisis intervention.
Knowledge of and ability to implement problem-solving processes.
Ability to deal effectively with a wide range of community and facility contacts.
Ability to provide a client-centered holistic approach to care.
Proven assessment, care, planning and coordination skills.
Ability to foster good public relations.
Ability to operate related equipment including a personal computer with a variety of windows based software.
Physical ability to perform the duties of the position. Link to Full Job Description https://jd.viha.ca/JD4476.pdf Additional information for applicants Additional Clauses Requisition CA Health Science Professionals Affiliation/Union BCGEU
Market context
Behavioral health roles remain in steady demand
In British Columbia, behavioral-health roles often reflect ongoing demand in acute care, community mental health, and integrated service settings. These positions are competitive because employers typically look for current BC nursing registration, recent experience with acute mental illness, and comfort working on multidisciplinary teams. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits on this platform to quickly compare fit against the original posting, then tailor your application to show relevant mental-health and team-based experience.
