Mental Health and Addictions Outreach Nurse; RN​/RPN - Assertive Community Treatment; ACT

Salary range: CAD $41.42/Hr. – CAD $55.91/Hr.

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 brings 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.

• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide triage and outreach services that are inclusionary and flexible for individuals with mental illness, addictions and/or chronic medical conditions.
• Conduct mental and physical status assessments and assess clients’ physiological, psychological, sociocultural and spiritual needs to determine priority of care requirements based on client needs, availability of resources and best practices.
• Provide counseling and assist clients with reducing repeated contact with and use of acute and community healthcare services, programmes and resources.
• Assess high‑risk situations and provide crisis intervention.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to develop, implement and adjust clients’ care plans and 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 sites and designated health centres.
• Participate in case conferences/meetings with members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Assist clients with attendance at needed services such as medical appointments.

• Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).
• Diploma in Nursing or Psychiatric Nursing plus two (2) years’ recent related experience working with individuals with mental health and addictions illness or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Valid BC Driver’s Licence. Local area travel may require the use of a personal vehicle.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of a client and family centred recovery model in mental illness.
• Broad knowledge of crisis intervention and counselling skills.
• Broad knowledge of mental health illness and treatment.
• Broad knowledge of psychopharmacology (indication and side effects).
• Broad knowledge of substance abuse and addictions treatment.
• Broad knowledge of other facilities and community resources.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct psychiatric assessments.
• Demonstrated ability to provide treatment planning, counselling, crisis intervention, and case coordination.
• Demonstrated skill in CPR techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally 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 promote communication and lead to a cooperative approach to problem solving within a multidisciplinary 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 a multidisciplinary 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.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Basic computer literacy to…