Road to Recovery (R2R) is now hiring multiple casual Recovery Care Workers to join their harm reduction-driven Transitional Care Unit (TCU) team.

R2R strives to better address treatment of substance use issues by providing the right support to each client at the right time. People who use substances deserve the same access to evidence-based care as anyone else, free from stigma. As with all of our services at PHC, R2R delivers care in a way that strives to be person-centred, trauma-informed and culturally safe.

Launched in 2023, R2R supports clients at every phase of their wellness and recovery journey by coordinating seamless care, even if there are setbacks or relapses along the way. The R2R services in operation today include 25 detox beds located at St. Paul's Hospital, 20 transitional care beds for clients awaiting space in a treatment program or long-term housing, and the R2R Aftercare Team, which launched in Fall 2024, providing outreach aftercare in the community. The initiative is rolling out in steps, with additional treatment services to come soon.

Job Summary

Reporting to the TCU Team Lead, the Recovery Care Worker provides care and support to patients/clients accessing transitional care services at Providence Health Care. Performs duties such as observing, documenting, and reporting changes in patient/client behaviour or physical status. Carries out group discussions with patients to provide standard information regarding policies and procedures in transitional care and share prepared materials on substance use recovery and lifestyle changes etc. Assists with set up and carries out designated leisure and social activities. As a member of the team, provides input into the patient care plan based on patient observation. Provides encouragement and reminders to patients/clients to complete their activities of daily living. Promotes health provider relationships that are trauma informed, free of anti-Indigenous racism, and person centered. Performs security checks and responds to crisis situations in accordance with established policies and procedures. In addition, performs clerical functions such admitting and discharging patients/clients in applicable computerized patient information system.

• Provide direct client care and support: Observe and document changes in behaviour or physical status, support activities of daily living, and promote trauma-informed, person-centred care.
• Support transitional care and harm reduction programming: Assist with patient intake and discharge, deliver group discussions on recovery and lifestyle changes, and foster relationships grounded in harm reduction, cultural safety, and humility.
• Contribute to team care planning and patient engagement: Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members, provide input into care plans based on observations, and assist in organizing social and leisure activities that support recovery.
• Respond to safety and administrative needs: Conduct safety checks, respond to crises and emergencies, perform patient searches, and handle clerical duties such as managing referrals, documentation, and communication with other agencies.

Education, Training and Experience

• Completion of a social services assistant program (e.g., social service worker, mental health worker or community support worker) or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Completion of standard certificates in CPR and First Aid. 

Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of addiction.
• Knowledge of the principles of cultural safety and humility.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
• Ability to work independently and in cooperation with others.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Ability to organize and prioritize.
• Ability to establish and maintain rapport with patients/clients.
• Ability to observe and recognize changes in patients/clients.
• Ability to handle conflict.

• Competitive salary: $27.91 - $29.60 CAD per hour, depending on experience 
• Comprehensive benefits: Eligible employees receive a robust medical and dental benefits package, including unlimited physiotherapy and massage, as well as paid vacation
• Unionized Stability: Enjoy the consistency and security offered by a unionized role.   
• Pension plan: Eligible employees can work towards a comfortable retirement through employer-matched contributions to one of Canada's strongest pension plans! 
• Meaningful impact: Your dedication and expertise will directly impact the lives of patients, including many from marginalized communities.  
• Growth opportunities: We welcome individuals at all stages of their career, offering opportunities for professional development and growth.
• State-of-the-art facilities:  The new St. Paul’s Hospital and health campus will be the most innovative approach to the delivery of integrated care in B.C. and Canada, designed to appropriately address the future health needs of patients, families and our communities. From hospital care to primary and community health solutions, the new St. Paul’s Hospital and health campus will continue to lead innovations in care, research, and teaching. The new St. Paul’s Hospital is expected to open in 2027.
• Inclusive culture: We respect the diversity, dignity and interdependence of all persons. We value the cultural richness that our diverse workforce brings to the care of our equally diverse population of patients and residents. 

Who we are: 

Providence is a non-profit healthcare provider with over fifteen sites, including a large tertiary hospital in the heart of Vancouver’s beautiful and vibrant Downtown, a smaller community hospital in the idyllic Mount Pleasant neighborhood, one of the largest referral centres for rehabilitation in British Columbia, and five long-term care facilities, as well as other clinics. 

As a leading teaching and research organization, and the provincial referral center for Cardiac, HIV/AIDS, and Renal Care, we provide services ranging from acute and long-term care to leading substance use and addiction treatment supporting some of BC’s most marginalized communities. Guided by the motto “how you want to be treated”, delivering exceptional patient and family-centered care is our mission.

Curious about working at PHC and the culture of our teams? Check out the videos below to learn more and meet some of the members of the team you'd be joining:

Your Day to Day:

• Provides direct care to patients/clients by observing, documenting, and reporting changes in patient/client behaviour or physical status. Documents changes and reports concerns to supervisor.
• Observes patients while the patient/client is taking their own medication as per established policy and procedure. Maintains related records.
• Assists with patient/client intake by interviewing patients/families, obtaining information, completing required admission/discharge documentation, and entering information into computerized patient information system. Receives and secures patients’ belongings.
• Provides support to patients/clients in helping them complete activities of daily living by encouraging and reminding them to perform tasks such as maintaining personal hygiene, dressing, doing personal laundry and organizing their own belongings.
• Supports referrals to the unit by fostering relationships that are trauma informed, person and family centered, and embedding principles of harm reduction, cultural safety, and humility in the delivery of care services.
• Carries out group discussions with patients/clients to provide standard information regarding polices and procedure in transitional care using prepared materials on substance use recovery and lifestyle changes etc.
• Collaborates and liaises with other health care professionals by providing input into the patient/client care plan based on observation of the patient and feedback provided by patient/client. Assists Social Worker with referrals to agencies, as required.
• Performs clerical support duties such as answering calls, collating intake packages, taking referrals, maintaining logbooks, and providing program information to clients, other agencies, and the public.
• Responds to emergency situations by alerting emergency medical services such as calling hospital security or dialing 911 and performing first aid if applicable in accordance with established procedures.
• Assists with set up and carrying out leisure and social activities such as board and card games, taking patients/clients on walks or setting out artwork materials.
• Works with team members to manage the patient/client setting by assisting with diffusing hostile situations with patients/clients and performing patient/client searches on intake. Notifies appropriate personnel such as security of escalating situations.
• Performs other related duties as required.

We acknowledge that Providence Health Care & the new St. Paul’s Hospital site is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.