Mental Health Worker, Main Street Program (Regular, Part Time)

MPA Society; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 45,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

MPA Society is seeking a part-time Mental Health Worker for the Main Street Program in Vancouver. Located in Downtown Eastside, the role provides support to clients in self-contained housing units, coordinating resources and developing individualized goals in a stigma-free environment.

You will work from the site to connect clients with services, implement life skills training, and assist with medication and meal programs while maintaining thorough records and ensuring safety and program

Qualifications

• Diploma in Community Social Service or Mental Health.
• Two years related experience.
• Experience or knowledge of trauma-informed practices and Housing First philosophy.
• Certificates in CPR, First Aid, and FoodSafe.
• Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as per Public Health Orders.
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check.

Responsibilities

• Participates in case planning with clients and healthcare providers, interviewing clients to identify problems and needs.
• Advocates for clients by solving issues related to financial assistance and access to resources.
• Observes and assesses emergency situations, de-escalates behaviours, and reports problems.
• Provides supportive feedback and life skills training for personal hygiene, housekeeping, and financial obligations.
• Provides medication support and meal program assistance.
• Identifies community resources and coordinates referrals to services.
• Arranges transportation for clients to programs/services and accompanies them to appointments.
• Maintains client records, care plans, progress reports, and daily logs.
• Ensures safety and maintenance of program residence and coordinates with external contractors.
• Provides orientation to new staff and supervises volunteers or practicum students.

Skills

Crisis de-escalation

Independent work

Crisis management

Communication skills

Observation abilities

Problem solving

Advocacy

Team collaboration

Education

Diploma in Community Social Service or Mental Health

Two years related experience

Trauma-informed practice knowledge

Job description

POSTING NUMBER: 2026-070 POSITION: Mental Health Worker, Regular Part-Time UNION: HEU - MPA Certification PROGRAM: Main Street Program, Vancouver SALARY RANGE: Grid 34: $33.49 - $35.31 SCHEDULE: Sunday & Monday: 1600 hrs to 0000 hrs Friday & Saturday: 1530 hrs to 2330 hrs HOURS OF PAY: 30 hours per week JOB DETAILS: Please refer to the job description for details of the position. QUALIFICATIONS: Please refer to the job description for qualifications and education required for the position. START DATE: ASAP

All employment is subject to a satisfactory result from a criminal record check done through the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

Internal applications no later than 5:00pm on Friday, September 11, 2026.

External application no later than 5:00pm pm Friday, September 18, 2026.

Job Description - Mental Health Worker

Main Street Program

Classification Benchmark: Support Worker 2 Grid Level: 34 Collective Agreement: Community Subsector Association Reports to: Program Coordinator, Main Street Program

Job Summary

Located in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, the Main Street supportive housing program situated at 162 Main Street consists of 68 units of self-contained apartments for individuals existing homelessness, many of whom have experienced a history of trauma, substance use, and/or mental health challenges. Working in and from the worksite, the Mental Health Worker provides assistance, support, and dignity to clients in their homes through the development of relationships and individualized goal setting in a stigma-free environment.

The Mental Health Worker also provides services through identification, coordination and facilitation of available community resources. These resources may include referral to community mental health services, referral to medical health services and connection to other housing services.

Functions & Responsibilities

• Participates in case planning with clients and/or healthcare providers by performing duties such as interviewing clients to identify problems and needs, by obtaining required information from a variety of sources such as families and care providers, documenting client needs and wants, and assisting clients to determine appropriate programs.
• Advocates for clients by problem solving in areas such as financial assistance, accessing community resources, and obtaining volunteer or work placements.
• Observes clients, identifies and assesses potential emergency situations, and develops short-term strategies to deal with such situations including de-escalating challenging behaviours. Reports medical, behavioral, and other problems as required. Provides feedback and input regarding clients’ needs, performance, and progress.
• Provides supportive feedback, demonstrations, modeling, and behavior management to clients, to assist with the development of physical, social, emotional, and life skills such as maintaining personal hygiene, housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, meeting financial obligations, making and keeping appointments, and interpersonal skills.
• Provides medication support, in accordance with established policy.
• Provides meal programs or support in accordance with established policy.
• Identifies available social, economic, recreational, and educational services and resources in the community that will meet clients’ needs. Provides clients with related information.
• Facilitates clients’ physical, recreational, educational, and employment needs by performing duties such as arranging for clients to be transported to programs/services, assisting clients to attend appointments, and implementing programs.
• Carries out administrative transactions such as petty cash, client accounts, collecting rents.
• Completes and maintains related records and documentation such as care plans, progress reports, statistics, and daily logs.
• Ensures the maintenance, cleanliness, and safety of programs and residence by completing janitorial and maintenance tasks as directed. Contacts outside contractors for maintenance work as required. Ensures the residence’s inventory of supplies is maintained by performing duties such as contacting outside suppliers and following up on discrepancies. Assists clients to secure their housing, negotiate tenancy/program agreements, arrange for security deposits and payments of rent, acquiring furnishings and household items, arranging for utilities, negotiating moving allowances, arranging for movers and physically assisting with moves.
• Receives client feedback, and inquiries and complaints, and responds as required.
• Orientates new staff by sharing job information.
• Provides direction to volunteer and or practicum students as required.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education, Training & Experience

• Diploma in Community Social Service or Mental Health

And recent related experience of two (2) years,

Or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience or other qualifications determined to be reasonable and relevant to the level of work

• Extensive working knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitation approaches and services including individual service plan development and implementation and life skills training
• Understanding of trauma-informed practices and Housing First philosophy
• A solid background and knowledge of concurrent disorders with related work experience
• Certificates in CPR, First Aid, and FoodSafe
• Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as per Public Health Orders
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to work in a harm reduction environment which includes an observed consumption area, as well as familiarization with the principles of harm reduction.
• Demonstrated ability in crisis de-escalation skills and conflict resolution
• Demonstrated ability to work with individuals who are marginalized, underserved, and who may be at risk of homelessness or homeless
• Demonstrated ability working with individuals living with substance use issues and/or an untreated mental illness
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, exercise initiative and good judgment
• Ability to operate related equipment
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to organize and prioritize
• Ability to observe and recognize changes in clients
• Ability to establish and maintain rapport with clients, staff and management and collateral service providers.
• Home management skills
• Ability to instruct
• Ability to analyze and resolve problems
• Ability to assist with medication support and to follow established policies and procedures
• Advocacy skills
• Knowledge of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Concurrent Disorders including theories and methods