Forensic Community & Liaison Nurse, Registered Nurse (RN) / Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN), Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) Team, Forensic Psychiatric Surrey Regional Clinic - Surrey, BC

Forensic Community & Liaison Nurse - Registered Nurse (RN)/ Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)
BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services
Surrey, BC

Join our multi-disciplinary team of passionate and committed professionals working to support our clients who experience mental health and/or substance use challenges and who have involvement with the criminal justice system to integrate into the community with support. This nurse position will support the Forensic Assertive Community Treatment Team (FACT).

FACT is a newly established service delivery model intended for people with enhanced care needs who are involved in the criminal justice system. The FACT team is a multi-disciplinary healthcare team of professionals who work together to provide holistic and comprehensive services to best serve client needs. This team will be based in Surrey and support specific clients living in the communities of Surrey and Langley. The team operates on an outreach based model of care.

Although currently operating as Monday to Friday 0830hrs-1630hrs, this will eventually be a rotating position. The hours will rotate from 0830 hrs – 1630 hrs and 1000 – 1800hrs on weekdays (Monday to Friday) and statutory holidays. On the weekends, the position will rotate from 1000hrs – 1800hrs.

This role is ideally suited to a person who enjoys supporting clients to achieve success with reintegration in their community, working in a team environment, solving problems, and working collaboratively with partners. This person must be committed to upholding the shared responsibility of creating lasting and meaningful reconciliation in Canada as per TRC (2015) and DRIPA (2019).

What you’ll do

• Conduct initial intake and ongoing biopsychosocial nursing psychiatric assessments including current mental status examinations, general assessments of physical health, special needs/precautions, and complete all related assessment tools as per policy. Identify, develop and implement an Integrated Treatment Plan (ITP) based on the evaluation of clinical risk and need through the completion of the Short-term Assessment of Risk & Treatability (START). Ensure the Regional Clinic Manager is informed of emerging problems, unusual circumstances, plans of action, and legal issues concerning assigned clients. Screen to determine whether referral to or liaison with other agencies is required and whether appropriate community options exist.
• Provide community case coordination and advocacy services for clients by methods such as communicating and monitoring client contacts with mental health teams, private psychiatrists, family physicians, probation, other specialists, and social service agencies that are involved in the provision of services to the client to ensure continuity of care and sharing of pertinent information; establishing and maintaining excellent working relationships with all resources; communicating closely with treating psychiatrists/psychologists to ensure ongoing evaluation and effective treatment; and working in collaboration with other community resources to meet the client’s need for assistance including financial, housing, medical and psychiatric care, substance abuse intervention, family support, employment/skills training opportunities, life skills training, transportation, and prosocial/recreational programs.
• Maintain concise and accurate documentation of relevant information on client files in accordance with FPSC policy standards to meet regulatory requirements and provide evidence and rationale to support findings and treatment plan such as compiling pertinent background information for clinical case planning and collecting information to assist psychiatrists/psychologists in the preparation of reports for the Courts. Provide written reports and summaries as per FPSC policy, standards and guidelines.
• Provide nursing services, information and support, and short-term, time-limited follow-up as required by methods such as addressing immediate social or mental health needs, providing counseling/therapeutic support to individual clients and their families, and acting as a group co-facilitator as required; assisting with finding shelter, food, financial assistance, medication or referral to other appropriate resources; administering medications and assessing their effectiveness, monitoring client for presence of side effects such as extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), tardive dyskinesia and other movement disorders related to psychoactive medications, providing information on medication management, including teaching the client about benefits and possible side effects; and giving advice and information about mental illness, personality disorders, range of treatment options available, court process, community options, and resources and education on mental illness.

What you bring

Qualifications:

• Graduation from an approved School of Nursing with current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives (BCCNM).
• Two (2) years recent, related experience working with individuals in the community with severe and persistent psychiatric illness.
• Valid BC Drivers License. Local area travel may require the use of a personal vehicle.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Broad knowledge of nursing theory and Forensic Psychiatric Nursing practice
• Broad knowledge of British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives (BCCNM) standards of professional practice and Code of Ethics.
• Broad knowledge of other facilities and community resources.
• Broad knowledge of other health care disciplines and their role in client care.
• Broad knowledge of Bill C30 and the Provincial Court system.
• Broad knowledge of psychopharmacology (indications and side-effects).
• Awareness of and commitment to learning and understanding the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight Report (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), and other related reports.
• Commitment to upholding the shared responsibility of creating lasting and meaningful reconciliation in Canada as per TRC (2015) and BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019).
• As a strong asset for consideration, we are looking for our successful candidate to have:  Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities impacting indigenous communities and familiarity with Indigenous Cultural Safety and anti-racism and accompanying reports (BC DRIPA, TRC, etc.)

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: Temporary Full-Time (until February 14, 2025)
Wage: $42.34 - $56.83 per hour
Location:10022 King George Highway, Surrey BC V3T 2W4
Applications will be accepted until position is filled.
Hours of Work: Rotating
Requisition: #160466

What we do 

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

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

The Provincial Health Services Authority (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.

Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services

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.

Reconciliation is an ongoing process and a shared responsibility for all of us. The BC Governments’ unanimous passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act was a significant step forward in this journey—one that all health authorities are expected to support as we work in cooperation with Indigenous Peoples to establish a clear and sustainable path to lasting reconciliation. True reconciliation will take time and ongoing commitment to work with Indigenous Peoples as they move toward self-determination. Guiding these efforts Crown agencies must remain focused on creating opportunities that implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Mandate. 

ATTN: PHSA Employees:

To be considered as a PHSA employee (internal applicant) for this position, you must apply online via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca

Please note the internal job posting will no longer be accessible after the expiry date of February 23, 2024. If the internal job posting has expired, please contact the Internal Jobs Help Desk and advise that you would like to be considered as a late internal applicant for this position. Please do not apply for the external job posting.

If you have not registered your internal profile, a password is required to log in for the first time. To obtain your password, please contact the Internal Jobs Help Desk at 604-875-7264 or 1-855-875-7264. Please note regular business hours are Monday – Friday (excluding stats), 8:30am to 4:30pm. For inquiries outside of regular business hours, please email the Internal Jobs Help Desk at internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca and a Help Desk Representative will contact you the next business day.