Mental Health and Substance Use Outreach Nurse (RN/RPN) - Crisis Response/Assessment/Intervention (Mobile Crisis De-Escalation)

Salary Details

The salary range for this position is CAD $41.42/Hr. - CAD $55.91/Hr.

Job Summary

Come work as a Mental Health and Addictions Outreach Nurse with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)! 

Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for a Registered Nurse (RN) OR Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) to join Mobile Crisis De-Escalation Team as a Mental Health and Substance Use Outreach Nurse in Vancouver, BC. Apply today to join our team!

About Mobile Crisis De-Escalation (MoDe):

This new service will provide mobile crisis response to individuals in the inner city who are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. The interdisciplinary team will work closely with community service providers including shelter and supportive housing staff to provide a community-based, healthcare-led crisis response, post-crisis follow up, and service navigation. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a new, specialized service that will evolve to meet the needs of the inner city community.

As a Mental Health and Substance Use Outreach Nurse with VCH, you will:

• Provide mobile crisis response and/or outreach services to individuals experiencing urgent and emergent mental health and/or substance use problems.
• Conduct initial screening and/or assessment as needed, to determine if the client requires, the provision of mobile crisis response, hospitalization and/or other community-based support.
• Assess bio-psychosocial-spiritual needs; conduct safety and risk assessments and formulate initial clinical impression to determine the priority of care requirements and the appropriate services and resources.
• Provide crisis intervention and client care in the form of immediate screening and/or assessment, intervention, referral and support to clients in urgent situations as well as providing assessment and treatment once the crisis period has stabilized.
• Attend to anticipated/unanticipated client responses to care; initiate measures to stabilize the crisis/emergent situations and respond effectively to aggressive behaviour and/or self-harm.
• Provide the client/family/caregiver with education and support and develop the care plan with other key members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Communicate and collaborate with others within community and acute care to facilitate the movement of clients to appropriate services as needs develop or change.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).
• Three (3) years’ recent, related experience working with the designated client population providing treatment services in a variety of community settings including outreach to individuals with mental health issues, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Valid BC Driver’s License as local area travel will require the use of a personal vehicle.

Knowledge & Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of mental health and substance use theory and practice including therapeutic communication, crisis intervention and management, psychopharmacology and pharmacology, interdisciplinary care coordination and case management, individual and group counseling, key VCH and non-VCH community resources, and the nursing process.
• Knowledge of infectious and chronic disease management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of frameworks guiding nursing practice including client and family-oriented care, healthy equity, and psychosocial rehabilitation,
• Demonstrated knowledge of Trauma and Violence Informed Practice, harm reduction approaches, recovery oriented and strengths-based care.
•  Demonstrated ability to promote Indigenous cultural safety.
• Demonstrated ability to provide competent and culturally safe care in a variety of settings including with diverse populations.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, regulatory, policy and decision support tools and professional and practice standards contextualizing and enabling care in this setting (i.e. Mental Health Act, Adult Guardianship Act, BCCNM Standards).
• Demonstrated skill in clinical techniques such as motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy, or individual supportive counselling, group facilitation or psychoeducation.
• Demonstrated skill in the application of the nursing process including appropriate screening, assessment, risk identification, care planning, intervention(s), and evaluation.
• Demonstrated skill in the prudent selection and application of standards, assessments and measures defined by the organization for the service/practice setting.
• Demonstrated ability to work with clients and families using a variety of care modalities - including but not limited to in-person, clinic, virtual and primarily outreach visits.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and mitigate key risks (e.g. overdose risk/prevention, psychosis, suicide risk, medication side effects) through evidence-informed nursing practice, interdisciplinary care coordination, client- and family-centred care planning and case management.
• Knowledge of emergency mental health and crisis stabilization.
• Demonstrated ability to provide crisis intervention/treatment.
• Demonstrated ability to assess and respond effectively to aggressive behaviour and or self-harm.
• Demonstrated de-escalation, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team environment with diverse people through effective verbal and written communication, consultation, problem-solving, facilitation, conflict mediation and resolution.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to unexpected and challenging events, and reconsider workload priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively use clinical digital information systems for care documentation, risk communication, and care planning.
• Basic computer literacy skills including the use of word processors, spreadsheets, printers, fax, email and calendar functions.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Closing Statement

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.

WHY JOIN VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH?

VCH is a world class innovator in medical care, research and teaching, delivering service to more than one million BC residents. At VCH, we embrace thinking boldly, taking smart risks, and "going first" when we believe it will lead to the best possible outcomes for patients and their families. We invite you to join us in creating healthy lives in healthy communities by showcasing our passion for care, connection to the communities we serve and our culture of teamwork that makes VCH a great place to work.

• Comprehensive health benefits package, including MSP, extended health and dental and municipal pension plan
• Grow your career with 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

At Vancouver Coastal Health, our vision of healthy lives in healthy communities inspires us and our values and pillars guide us. We support equitable practices, diverse teams and inclusive environments, which are vital to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and feel supported. We encourage applications from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous Peoples and members of racialized groups, people with disabilities and people of all gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation.

VCH is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, Canada's Top Employers for Young People, and B.C.’s Top Employers in 2025.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for this posting.