Recreation Therapist, Heartwood Centre for Women - BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services

Brainhunter Systems Ltd; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading health service provider is seeking a Recreation Therapist for the Heartwood Centre for Women. The role involves planning and implementing therapeutic recreation activities for women dealing with substance use and mental health challenges. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation and experience in related fields. The position offers flexible hours and a supportive work environment focused on cultural safety and anti-racism.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Health and wellness programs

Flexible work options

Discount programs

Qualifications

• Three years of recent related experience in substance use and mental health.
• Eligible for membership in the BCTRA.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement goal-oriented recreation plans for patients.
• Collaborate with health care professionals and document patient progress.
• Provide community recreation outings for clients.

Skills

Therapeutic Recreation

Cultural Safety

Anti-Racism Education

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation

Job description

Recreation Therapist, Heartwood Centre for Women - BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services

Recreation Therapist

BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services

What is Heartwood Centre for Women

Heartwood Centre for Women (Heartwood) is a 30-inpatient bed, trauma informed, integrated treatment facility for women (19+), including members of Two-Spirit and gender-diverse communities, across B.C, who struggle with severe substance use and mental health challenges. We believe that people, when properly supported, have the strength and resiliency to manage their lives.

• Plan, implement and evaluate a goal oriented plan for assigned patients integrating recreation concepts and document assessment information, goals, interventions, statistics, and progress notes.
• Plan, initiate and provide opportunities that foster participation in leisure activities based on the client’s functional ability and development.
• Observe, record, and report relevant information related to the client as it pertains to recreation and work in collaboration with other health care professionals.
• Work with members of the health care team and communicate issues related to recreation by participating in and attending interdisciplinary team conferences, patient rounds, case discussions, and training sessions.
• Plan appropriate recreation outings in the community for clients of the program.
• Provide guidance and support to Recreation Workers, students, and volunteers as assigned.
• Work collaboratively with other members of the department/program in the development, preparation, and presentation of education and training information.

What you bring

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation from a recognized post-secondary program.
• Eligible for membership in the British Columbia Therapeutic Recreation Association (BCTRA).
• Three (3) years’ of recent related experience working in a substance use and mental health program.
• Valid Class IV B.C. Driver’s Licence and access to a vehicle.
• Valid C.P.R. Certificate.
• 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 healthcare settings. This involves 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 BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services 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, Anti-racism Data 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 leadership in breaking down barriers and ensuring an environment of belonging. Embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility into all aspects of work. This means creating an environment where Indigenous patients feel respected, valued, and understood. Foster trust through respectful communication, active listening, and honoring equity-deserving people's perspectives on health and wellness. Commit to ongoing education and training on Indigenous health issues, cultural safety, and DEI principles. Participate in workshops, cultural immersion experiences, and continuous professional development to stay informed and responsive to equity-deserving groups. Provide patient-centred care that respects Indigenous ways of knowing and healing, respects BIPOC experiences and world views ensuring that care plans are culturally relevant and holistic.
• Knowledge 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

• Comprehensive knowledge of evidence-based Recreation Therapy practice related to applicable program health issues and treatment.
• Comprehensive knowledge of theories and concepts of therapeutic recreation, leisure, social psychology and current trends and practice in designated areas.
• Comprehensive knowledge of recreation therapy theory and practice within a client and family centred model of care.
• Broad knowledge and demonstrated understanding of issues related to mental health, substance dependence and trauma for women.
• Comprehensive knowledge of other health care disciplines and their role in client care.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally safe care and its application to the defined population of clients.
• Demonstrates a commitment to beginning and 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.
• 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: Casual
Wage: $42.27 - $52.81 per hour
Location: 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1
Hours:Wednesday/Thursday/Saturday: 10:07-20:03; Friday: 0907-1930

BCMHSUS program is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).

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 – Cultivate partnerships – Serve with purpose.

PHSA and BCMHSUS are committed to employment equity, encouraging all qualified individuals to apply. We recognize that our ability to provide the best care for our diverse patient populations relies on a rich diversity of skills, knowledge, background and experience, and value a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.

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 [e-mail] .

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.

Labor Agreement Health Science Professionals

Requisition # CAS-RT-HC-2433211

Work Site 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver BC, V6H 3N1

Job Type Casual,Part-Time

Salary/Rate $42.27-$52.81/Hour

FTE 0.01

Hours of Work 10:07-20:30/ 0907-1930

Work Days Wednesday - Saturday

Expiry Date

Privacy Policy

Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) respects your right to privacy and takes seriously its responsibilities regarding the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information. Personal information is collected under the authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act of BC, section 26 (c). The personal information that we collect from you or about you when applying for a job with PHSA will be used to assess your qualifications and suitability as a potential employee of PHSA, as well as for the purposes of recruitment and onboarding. We may also collect and use additional personal information provided by you or your references in the course of the evaluation and hiring process that will become part of your employment file if you are a successful candidate.

Your contact information, education and experience, desired job location and pay information, eligibility and availability, core skills, job functions, getting to know you responses, resumes, cover letters, references, pre-screening questionnaire responses and job application history is recorded in PHSA’s third-party applicant tracking system (“Brainhunter”)in Canada indefinitely and will be shared with our staff on a “need to know” basis. If you require access to your data, PHSA can provide a printout of your data and job application history. We do not sell or rent the information you provide to us to third parties. However, we do contract with a service provider to assist us in maintaining and managing our databases and to communicate with job applicants. We do not authorize this third party to make any other use of your information.

The service provider (“Brainhunter”) allows the option for you to delete your account after signing into the system. Before deletion you are advised with a warning. Your record is permanently purged / deleted from the respective site and the record will not be available in any searches. The job will have only the respective application information that you made previously.

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Personal information will be used by authorized staff only to fulfil the purpose for which it was originally collected or for a use consistent with that purpose. We do not disclose your personal information to other public bodies, third parties or individuals except as required or authorized by law or with your consent. View our PHSA Privacy Policy for more information.

If you have any questions about the management of your personal information during the recruitment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at 604-875-7251, toll free 1-866-744-7363 or #260 – 1770 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver BC, V6J 4Y6. You may also contact External Recruitment at [e-mail].