Mental Health & Substance Use Outreach Nurse - Registered Nurse; RN​/Registered Psychiatric Nurse; RPN

Come work as a Mental Health and Substance Use Outreach Nurse with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) as part of the Assertive Community Treatment team in Richmond, BC!

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 is a team-based, person-centered service delivery model that combines treatment, rehabilitation and support services using transdisciplinary team-based care as a community alternative to psychiatric hospitalization. These teams provide intensive, specific and continuous services to meet the needs of individuals living with serious and persistent mental health and/or substance use challenges, who have not benefited from traditional outpatient programs. ACT teams bring health care and life-skills support to clients, all of whom would have challenges accessing health care and other social supports.

ACT uses a trauma informed approach to promote recovery through community-based treatment and rehabilitation. The ACT team strives to support clients to maintain wellness in the community, reduce the number of client contacts with police, access substance use supports and harm reduction, and improve the quality of life for clients.

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.

As per Ministry of Health policy, all health care workers working in publicly-funded health care facilities are required to report their past receipt of certain vaccines or history of certain infections. Collecting these records will allow for offering of any missing vaccines, and for appropriate actions to be taken in the event of any future exposure to a communicable disease or during outbreaks.

For all new hires and appointments to Vancouver Coastal Health, you will be asked to provide this information as part of the onboarding process.

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