Youth Clinician (Master's Degree), Mental Health & Substance Use - Powell River, BC

The salary range for this position is CAD $44.85/Hr. - CAD $56.02/Hr.

Come work as a Youth Clinician with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)! Staff Housing and Relocation Assistance may be available.

Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for a Youth Clinician to join the Integrated Child & Youth team at qathet General Hospital in Powell River, BC. Apply today to join our team!

As a Youth Clinician with Vancouver Coastal Health you will

• Provide services to children, youth and families including comprehensive psychosocial assessments and individual, group and family counselling.
• Develop, implement, and adjust individualized treatment plans for youth with substance misuse issues and who often have mental health issues; establish trust with youth and engages them at their level of readiness for change.
• Provide screening and referral services including psychoeducation, family sessions and parent groups; determine appropriateness of request, client eligibility and availability of resources.
• Collaborate and consult with colleagues, school personnel consultative services and others.
• Attend and participate in meetings, develop linkages with other facilities, agencies, and support groups, and participate in quality improvement initiatives.

About Powell River, Bc

On the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, where endless green mountains meet sheltered Pacific Ocean waters, Powell River provides a stimulating blend of outdoor adventure and cultural amenities. Originally founded as a resource extraction centre - once home to the world's largest pulp and paper mill - Powell River now offers adventurers countless opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, golfing, boating, hiking, biking, fishing, and scuba diving. This area is host to world-class art galleries, tremendous dining opportunities, and memorable events and festivals.

On the doorstep of both Vancouver and Vancouver Island, the Powell River region offers an array of experiences for travelers of all kinds, no matter the season. Experience the legendary Sunshine Coast Trail and Powell Forest Canoe Route, rock-climb the Eldred Valley, snowshoe in the Knuckleheads; this is the adventure destination you've long been waiting for.

Education & Experience

• Master’s Degree in Behavioural Sciences or Social Work.
• Three (3) years’ recent, related experience providing counselling services including two (2) years’ providing professional services to youth with mental health and substance use, or an equivalent combination of training, education and experience.
• Valid BC Drivers License. Local area travel may require the use of a personal vehicle.

Knowledge & Abilities

• Comprehensive understanding of child and youth mental health and substance use.
• Comprehensive knowledge of mental health and substance use services and treatment protocols based on bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach to client care
• Broad knowledge of bio-psycho-social-spiritual issues that may occur in response to changing mental health and substance use needs.
• Knowledge of Early Psychosis Intervention, Attachment Theory and Crisis Intervention and family systems theory.
• Broad knowledge of the normal growth and development of youth.
• Broad knowledge of psychopharmacology (indications and side-effects).
• Broad knowledge of psychotherapeutic and counselling skills.
• Broad knowledge of school, and legislation and government policies and procedures that relate to client.
• Knowledge of First Nations issues with respect to youth substance use and protocols for working with First Nations Communities
• Knowledge of School and School District policy around care of students and the responsibility of the Principal (fair and just parent role)
• Demonstrated ability to perform psychosocial assessments and provide treatment planning and care.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct risk assessments and provide treatment planning for youth with complex mental health and substance use issues.
• Demonstrated ability to establish programming to assist youth with accessing school and work opportunities using a rehabilitative approach.
• Demonstrated ability to apply knowledge of theory and practice to a case management process.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with children and youth, and their families, educational personnel, service providers, colleagues, physician, and other health care staff, both one-on-one and in groups.
• Demonstrated listening and information seeking skills that promotes communication and lead to a co-operative approach to problem solving within an interdisciplinary setting.
• Demonstrated ability to establish workload priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated ability to adjust to new or unexpected events.
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve.
• Demonstrated ability to deal effectively with conflict situations.
• Demonstrated ability to provide consultation and crisis intervention.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Basic computer literacy to operate computerized client care information system and word processing, spreadsheet, Internet, and e-mail software.

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. Successful applicants may be required to complete a Criminal Records Review Check.

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.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, BC’s Top Employers, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and Canada's Top Employers for Young People in 2026.

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

* Employees of VCH must apply online via the Internal Career Portal on CareerHub, you are currently viewing the External Career Portal. Refer to the site for instructions on how to view internal job postings and how to apply as an employee. Current VCH employees who apply to this posting using this external site will be considered as an external candidate. Seniority will not apply. *

Thank you for your interest in Vancouver Coastal Health.