Horticulture Therapist, Forensic Psychiatric Hospital - Coquitlam, BC

Horticulture Therapist, Minimum and Medium Security Units

BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services

Coquitlam, BC

This Regular Full-Time opportunity is with the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital. The Horticulture Therapist plans, develops, implements, and evaluates patient therapeutic garden programs and provides horticulture therapy to promote, maintain, and restore patient’s mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health and fit the specific needs of forensic patients who have complex mental health illnesses and may have co-occurring substance use issues and medical conditions. 

What is the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital?

The Forensic Psychiatric Hospital (FPH) is a 190-bed secure facility located in Coquitlam, B.C., on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded core territory of the kwikwəƛ̓əm First Nation (Kwikwetlem). We treat people who have been found not criminally responsible for a crime or unfit to stand trial due to a mental health disorder. We deliver services to patients using the “Clinical Program Model,” which aims to deliver high-quality care to meet the specific needs of patients and is currently the best practice in health care.

Learn about working as a member of the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital team.

Watch this video to learn about working with BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services!

What you’ll do

• Plan, develop, implement, and evaluate horticulture therapy programs for patients, review patient records, interviews patient and/or family, assess needs/goals, create an intervention plan, evaluate the effectiveness of the plan/intervention and documents horticulture therapy care.
• Receive and screen referrals from a variety of internal/external sources; gather information from referral source/patient/other relevant persons, evaluate/screen information, visit patients on the wards to identify treatment goals and recommend alternative treatment sources as required.
• Coordinate individual or group leisure/horticulture program and related activities and/or projects for patients in conjunction with recreation therapy; provide patients with the opportunity for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual expression. Plan appropriate program activities and related materials according to patients’ interests and cognitive and physical abilities.
• Provide functional direction to patients for horticultural activities. Demonstrate and teach horticulture techniques and processes such as watering, planting, pruning, landscaping to patients and adapt activities based on patients’ physical and cognitive needs; support patients in therapeutic landscaping program.
• Provide orientation, guidance, and demonstration of equipment to patients and staff involved in garden maintenance and improvement of indoor and/or outdoor garden areas and greenhouse. Plan and facilitate horticulture crafts.
• Implement safe and secure horticulture therapy services for patients and staff by methods such as ensuring patients have the necessary security clearance to attend designated programs and escorting patients who do not have grounds clearance; taking attendance and immediately initiating appropriate security procedures if a discrepancy is discovered; checking that all equipment, tools, materials and chemicals used in the program are accounted for; observing patient behaviour and noting any patient behavioural changes which may be of a safety or security concern and immediately initiating appropriate security and reporting procedures; and ensuring that the facility and equipment do not become a security risk when working with maximum security patients.

What you bring

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Horticultural Therapy or in a related health science discipline such as Clinical Counselling or Recreational Therapy supplemented by coursework directly related to the field of horticultural therapy.
• Two (2) years’ recent related experience working with individuals with complex mental health and substance abuse issues, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Eligible for registration with the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association (CHTA).
• Valid B.C. Driver's license.
• 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

• Knowledge of the principles of recovery in mental illness.
• Knowledge of community, social and health resources.
• Knowledge of mental health issues, treatment, and behavioral management.
• Knowledge of basic concepts, theories, and principles related to horticulture.
• Knowledge of physiological, psychological, and sociological effects of plants on people.
• Knowledge of adaptations to horticultural equipment and resources pertaining to the patient
• Knowledge of safe, sustainable, and accessible horticulture practices.
• 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.
• 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

Wage: $42.27 - $52.81 per hour

2% of the straight-time hourly rate of pay for employees working in Minimum and Medium security units and community settings; 4% of the straight-time hourly rate of pay for employees working in Maximum and Multi-level security units.
Location: 70 Colony Farm Rd, Coquitlam, BC V3K 5Z1
Hours of Work: Monday – Friday; 0800-1600
Requisition # 181066E

What we do

BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services (BCMHSUS) cares for people with complex mental health and substance use challenges.

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.

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.

Attention current employees of PHSA:

You must apply via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca.

The internal job posting expires on March 27, 2025 and will no longer be accessible. If the internal job posting has expired, please e-mail internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca with the six-digit job requisition number and your PHSA employee ID number to be considered as a late internal applicant. Please do not apply for the external job posting.

If you have not yet set up an internal profile, please e-mail internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca with your PHSA employee ID number to obtain your temporary password. Our business hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, excluding Statutory Holidays and a Help Desk Representative will respond to you with 1-2 business days.

If you are not a current employee of PHSA and require assistance with your application, please contact the External Careers team at careers@phsa.ca.