Mental Health Worker (casual)

Portland Hotel Society; Vancouver; On-site; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading organization in low barrier housing and harm reduction services as a Mental Health Worker. You will support marginalized individuals, respond to emergencies, and work as part of a dedicated team. This role offers a dynamic environment with opportunities for growth within the organization.

Benefits

Access to family assistance program

Union position with premiums for overnight and weekends

Qualifications

• 1-2 years’ experience working with marginalized populations is an asset.
• An equal combination of education, training and experience is acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Provide harm reduction, support, and housing services.
• Respond to emergency situations, particularly overdose response.
• Crisis intervention and de-escalation.

Skills

Compassionate

Crisis intervention

Harm reduction

Education

First Aid and CPR certification

Job description

join or donate to Team PHS in the 2025 Under Armour Eastside 10K

Early Bird rates and discount codes available now.

PHS Community Services Society is looking for casual Mental Health Workers to fill a variety of frontline positions supporting marginalized people at our properties in Vancouver.

Mental Health Workers are the backbone of PHS. They are embedded within PHS housing projects and programs to support residents and participants with immediate, practical day-to-day needs. In this position, you are the first to respond to and assess emergency situations, particularly overdose response.

PHS is expanding the casual pool due to ongoing growth and opening new residential units and support programs. Our buildings operate 24/7, and there will be a requirement to work nights and weekends.

We’re looking for people who work hard, think on their feet, and operate seamlessly as part of a team.

Want to know if it’s for you?

There’s a behind-the-scenes view of the job duties (and the interpersonal skills we’re looking for) in this blog post.

And this is what we do:

Why work here?

PHS isrecognized as North American leaders in low barrier housing and harm reduction services. We are innovators, highly regarded across the sector, looking for people to join experienced, supportive multi-disciplinary teams.

PHS hires from within. Mental Health Worker and Home Support Worker roles provide foundational skills for individuals looking to progress within the organization.

It’s a CUPE 5536 union position, overnight and weekend premiums apply, and there’s access to our family assistance program.

Responsibilities

Job duties include (but are not limited to):

• Provide harm reduction, support, and housing services for PHS residents and service users.
• Safety and security measures.
• General cleaning duties for the project or program.
• Crisis intervention/de-escalation.
• Responding to emergency situations, particularly overdose response.

Education and experience

We are looking for people from all walks of life. Different types of experiences are valued at PHS, including volunteer and lived experience. The ideal candidate for this role has the following qualifications and skills:

• Current First Aid and CPR certification is required.
• 1 – 2 years’ experience working with marginalized populations an asset.
• Need a non-judgmental, compassionate, harm reduction approach.
• Class 5 Driver’s Licence preferred.

An equal combination of education, training and experience is acceptable.

Terms of employment

Salary: $31.56 p/hr plus 10 per cent in lieu of benefits. Overnight and weekend premiums.

This is a unionized position under CUPE 5536.

Successful applicants will be required to complete a criminal records check.

PHS strives to create an inclusive and welcoming workplace that reflects the community we serve. We seek a diversity of skills, knowledge, backgrounds, and professional and lived experience in our staff. We particularly encourage applications from Indigenous individuals.

How to apply

Send your resume to [e-mail] today! Please include a cover letter identifying the position title you are applying for, and the qualities and competencies that would make you a suitable candidate.