Social Worker, PainCare 360 - BC Children’s Hospital

Social Worker, PainCare 360

BC Children’s Hospital

Vancouver, BC

This position will assist in the development of the Bereavement program for PainCare 360.

The Social Worker III, PainCare 360 and Palliative Care is designated as the clinical expert in the specialized area of psychological pain and palliative care for children, youth and family who experience significant pain, suffering, anxiety and uncertainty. The Social Worker is responsible for program development, care coordination for psychosocial services supporting subspecialties across Children’s and Women’s Hospital (C&W). This role has the delegated responsibility and accountability for the provision of clinical specialist services to Social Workers, interprofessional staff across sub-specialty teams at C&W by utilizing advanced knowledge and experience to provide consultation and clinical advice on complex cases and challenges for the pediatric and palliative care population, inclusive of cases related to end of life care and bereavement care.

The Social Worker III partners with organizational program partners Pain BC and Canuck Place Children’s Hospice on psychosocial issues and needs of children, youth and families coping and managing pain and palliative care related issues in BC to facilitate community outreach, extending care throughout the province.

What you’ll do

• Provides formal consultation and clinical advice to Social Workers, as well as interdisciplinary team members, residents, and other learners and to communities to ensure integration and support of the care for pain and palliative care services. Participates in complex pain and bereavement care service planning by methods such as consulting on complex cases and collaborating with sub-specialty teams across C&W and external partners across the province for the pediatric pain and palliative care population.
• In collaboration with the Clinical Director, participates in program planning and provides guidance in the development of guidelines, protocols and policies for the PainCare 360 and Palliative Care program. Identifies, promotes and participates in program planning strategies to enhance system processes and resources for patients and their families.
• Provides leadership and clinical guidance through consultation for pediatric pain and palliative care to Social Workers and interprofessional staff for capacity building through identifying knowledge gaps, mentoring, developing and implementing education, resources, clinical guidelines and training using evidence-based approaches.
• Develops curriculum and group facilitation support for pediatric complex/chronic pain population needs and provides education based on clinical expertise across the interdisciplinary team, Social Work learners and internal and external partners. Evaluates the quality of the clinical training/curriculum provided by co-facilitators to children and youth living with pain, in collaboration with Pain BC to identify gaps and needs of programs and services. Provides pediatric consultation to Pain BC and provides training, feedback, debriefing to peer volunteers and facilitators supporting the group interventions to ensure support and safety with facilitation.
• Promotes person and family centered care by participating in committee work as a member of the PainCare 360 and Palliative Care leadership team within the Social Work discipline for related projects, initiatives, and programs. Initiates and participates in psychosocial research by methods such as collaborating with members of the inter-professional team, conducting literature searches, planning for knowledge translation, and implementing appropriate evidence-based research outcomes into strategic planning and professional practice.
• Participates in the planning, review, evaluation, revision and development of clinical support documents to guide practice and for access on PHSA Shared Health Organizations Portal (SHOP), for the care of pediatric pain and palliative care populations consistent with evidence-based practice.

What you bring

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Social Work from an accredited school of Social Work.
• Current full registration with the British Columbia College of Social Workers.
• Minimum five (5) years of recent relevant experience in pediatric pain, palliative, bereavement care, and mental health or an equivalent combination of education, training or experience.
• Additional training in Indigenous Cultural Safety, Trauma & Violence Informed Care and Motivational Interviewing.
• Completion of a recognized leadership program or two (2) years’ recent experience working in a formalized leadership role.
• Additional certification/demonstrated successful completion of advanced training or education specific to pediatric pain, palliative, trauma and/or bereavement care.
• 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 Children’s Hospital 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

• Advanced knowledge & clinical skills of social work theories and family therapies.
• Advanced knowledge & clinical skills in assessment of the complex/chronic pain, and mental health
• Advanced knowledge & clinical skills in crisis intervention.
• Advanced knowledge & clinical skills individual, group and family counseling specific to pediatric pain and palliative care, grief, loss and bereavement.
• Advanced knowledge & clinical skills in system navigation and resource brokerage.
• Advanced knowledge & clinical skills of best practices and evidence based clinical interventions in pediatric pain and palliative care.
• Advanced knowledge of relevant legislation to Social Work practice and national standards of pediatric pain and palliative care: Child, Family and Community Service Act, Mental Health Act, Infants Act, Health Care Consent & Care Facilities Admission Act, Freedom of Privacy and Information, Department of Indigenous Services Act, Adoption Act, and Adult Guardianship Act, Pediatric Pain Management National Standard, International Child Network for Palliative Care Standards.
• 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: Temporay, Full-Time (until April 1, 2026)
Salary Range: $43.88 - $54.82 per hour.
Location: 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver BC, V6H 2N9
Hours of Work: Monday – Friday; 0830-1630
Requisition # 180050E

What we do

BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) provides care for the most seriously ill or injured children and youth from across British Columbia.

BCCH 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 – Create equity – Be courageous.

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.

ATTN: PHSA Employees:

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

Please note the internal job posting will no longer be accessible after the expiry date of March 3, 2025. 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.