Provincial Overdose Mobile Response Team, Crisis Intervention Specialist, HEMBC

Provincial Overdose Mobile Response Team, Crisis Intervention Specialist, HEMBC

HEMBC Provincial Overdose Response

Vancouver, BC

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Provincial Health Services Authority, patient and employee safety are a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

Reporting to the Program Manager, Provincial Overdose Mobile Response Team (MRT), the MRT Crisis Intervention Specialist provides training, education and crisis response to first responders, frontline workers, and people with lived experience/peers working on the frontlines of overdose public health emergency throughout British Columbia. This includes people who have been impacted by the psychosocial effects from critical incidents, multiple overdoses, and deaths.

The MRT Crisis Intervention Specialist assesses incidents, working environments and the need for care and/or emotional wellness of individuals at the site, scene, workplace or meeting area to provide appropriate support. Crisis Intervention Specialists network and advocate on behalf of the first responders, frontline workers, and people with lived experience/peers by raising issues of importance or concern to management in a professional confidential manner. This program requires the Crisis Intervention Specialist to be on-call 24/7 based on an on-call schedule for provincial deployments in response to identified needs and/or critical incidents. The Crisis Intervention Specialist is part of an integrated and interdisciplinary team that liaises with Health Authority representatives, partners, and community.

What you’ll do

• Provides one-to-one and group support following critical incidents, overdoses and deaths by coordinating and delivering customized flexible psychosocial outreach support services that help promote resilience and emotional wellness.
• Promotes long-term, sustainable peer-led psychosocial programs.
• Develops and facilitates skill-based training and education related to psychological first aid such as grief and loss workshops, road to mental health readiness training, managing human responses to trauma, dealing with critical incident stress and vicarious trauma.
• Provides individual and community defusings and debriefings immediately following an incident or in follow-up. Applies trauma informed care in response to grief and loss, traumatic deaths and critical incidents and effectively manages emotionally charged situations in rapidly changing environments.
• Commits to carry and administer Naloxone when required. Delivers training to community members on overdose intervention and the use and application of Naloxone.
• Collects qualitative and evidenced-based data for research and evaluation with the goal of informing future interventions. Identifies challenges and barriers potentially impacting the work and service delivery. Conducts analysis and summaries of service evaluation data collected.
• Works collaboratively with partners, the community and in partnership with Health Authorities and Government to provide client or agency-centered psychosocial supports. Assists with program communication and promotion of new programs by staying in contact with various agencies.
• Provides ongoing communication and recommendations to MRT Leadership.
• Complies with MRT policy and protocols related to safety and weekly reporting.
• Performs other relevant duties as assigned.

What you bring

Qualifications

• A level of education, training and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, plus a minimum of five (5) years’ recent and related experience working with clients in the field of crisis response, mental health and addiction.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples in social and health contexts, including supported by significant knowledge of Indigenous-specific mandates, including clear understanding of and commitment to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination and embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility.
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples within social and health contexts. This includes understanding how these factors contribute to current health disparities and barriers to care. Show a clear commitment to identifying, challenging, and eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and all forms of discrimination impacting equity-deserving groups within health care settings. This involves familiarity and understanding Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility recognizing personal biases, institutional barriers, engaging in anti-racism education and training and advocating for systemic change.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments within HEMBC Provincial Overdose Response contexts found in the foundational documents including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study - BC Human Rights Code, BC Anti-racism Act and how they intersect across the health care system.

Core Competencies

• Brings an understanding of the Indigenous specific racism and the broader systemic racism that exists in the colonial health care structure, and has demonstrated initiatives in breaking down barriers and ensuring a safe environment ensuring a sense of belonging to all and informed by Indigenous Cultural Safety.
• Awareness of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (the Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).

Skills & Knowledge

• Should have working knowledge and understanding of the provincial overdose public health emergency. Knowledgeable in the delivery of critical incident response and crisis management. Experience in providing leadership and/or coaching in diverse and complex work environments.
• Ability to remain calm in emotionally volatile situations. Should have experience in community engagement and facilitation. Strong diplomacy skills, and superior verbal, written and presentation communication skills, including the ability to present complex information to a variety of audiences and collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams. Superior decision making, analytical, and problem solving skills.
• Demonstrated discretion in preparing and handling confidential or sensitive information. Ability to self-direct, work well independently and multi-task in challenging work environments. Should be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities in an active deployment situation.
• Demonstrated knowledge of technology and equipment to effectively deliver education and information sessions. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other software applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook and Explorer). Ability to be on call 24/7 and be able to travel extensively throughout the province of British Columbia. Valid B.C. Driver’s License required.
• Demonstrates a commitment to beginning and/or continuing their personal learning journey related to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Shows willingness to articulate and share their learning experiences to contribute to a culture of motivation and inspiration among peers.
• Demonstrates foundational knowledge of the social, economic, and political realities of settler-colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving groups within social and health contexts. Understands the impact of social determinants of health-on-health outcomes. Shows a commitment to learning about and upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments outlined in foundational documents such as the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan, Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, the BC Human Rights Code, Anti-Racism Data Act, and the Distinctions Based Approach.

What we bring

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That’s why we’re focused on your care too – offering health, wellness, development programs to support you – at work and at home.

• Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations – offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
• Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
• Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
• PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
• Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

Job Type: Regular, Full-Time

Salary Range: $74,618 - $107,264 /year. The starting salary for this position would be determined with consideration of the successful candidate’s relevant education and experience, and would be in alignment with the provincial compensation reference plan. Salary will be prorated accordingly for part time roles.
Location: 1333 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6H 1G9
Closing date: Applications accepted until position is filled
Hours of Work: 08:30-16:30 (Monday to Friday)
Requisition #: 189844E

What we do

The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include: Respect people – Be compassionate – Dare to innovate – Create equity – Be courageous.

Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services

PHSA is committed to anti-racism and equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently excluded groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.

One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes ongoing commitments to Indigenous recruitment and employee experience as well as dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya’k̓ula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at indigenous.employment@phsa.ca.

Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and exclusion faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and title of BC First Nations and self-determination of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. PHSA is mandated to uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents including the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.

ATTN: PHSA Employees:

To be considered as a PHSA employee (internal applicant) for this position, you must apply online via your internal profile at internaljobs.phsa.ca

Please note the internal job posting will no longer be accessible after the expiry date of October 13, 2025. If the internal job posting has expired, please contact the Internal Jobs Help Desk and advise that you would like to be considered as a late internal applicant for this position. Please do not apply for the external job posting.

If you have not registered your internal profile, a password is required to log in for the first time. To obtain your password, please contact the Internal Jobs Help Desk at 604-875-7264 or 1-855-875-7264. Please note regular business hours are Monday – Friday (excluding stats), 8:30am to 4:30pm. For inquiries outside of regular business hours, please email the Internal Jobs Help Desk at internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca and a Help Desk Representative will contact you the next business day.