Clinical Specialist, Perinatal Substance Use, Families in Recovery (FIR) Program
BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre
Vancouver, BC
The Clinical Specialist, Perinatal Substance Use is the designated clinical expert in the specialized area of perinatal substance use and child protection services for patients and families, supporting patients from pregnancy through to postpartum or after birth care. The role utilizes specialized education, training and experience to provide formal clinical and/or technical consultation and advisory services to Social Workers and other interprofessional staff across C&W, PHSA and Health Authorities. The role plans and assesses treatment procedures and practice for perinatal substance use best practice. The Clinical Specialist partners with multiple community agencies and delegated Ministry offices on psychosocial issues and focuses on the needs of the birther and their families who are coping and managing mental health and substance use. The role fosters a team learning environment and coaches and mentors’ staff to advance perinatal substance use best practice.
What you’ll do
- Provides perinatal substance use consultation and clinical advice to Social Workers, interdisciplinary team members, residents, learners and communities. Consults on child protection assessments and legislation. Participates in complex care planning with interdisciplinary team and external partners across the province.
- Provides guidance and expertise to support the development of guidelines, protocols and policies for perinatal substance use and child protection services. Identifies, promotes, and participates in program planning strategies to enhance system processes and resources for patients and their families.
- Provides consultation and clinical expertise in the planning, review, evaluation, revision and development of clinical support documents to guide best practice for the care of perinatal substance use patients and families and child protection assessment and legislation.
- Uses clinical expertise and advanced practice to foster a learning environment, promote practice improvement, role model, and coach and mentor staff, to ensure best practice and effective outcomes.
- Serves as a clinical resource to peers, facilitators and external partners through activities such as consultation, group intervention support and debrief facilitation, to ensure support and safety with facilitation.
- Provides clinical social work services to patients, their families and the community through interventions such as psychosocial assessments, brief and crisis counselling and/or group counselling, facilitating appropriate referrals and supporting with system navigation and resource brokerage. Collaborates in the care for perinatal substance use population through co-development with other initiatives within the MHSU portfolio. Escalates complex and unresolved situations to Manager and/or Professional Practice Leader appropriately.
- Promotes person and family centered care by participating in committee work as a subject matter expert for related employer projects, initiatives, and programs to ensure best practice and effective outcomes for perinatal substance use patients.
What you bring
- Current full registration with the British Columbia College of Social Workers.
- Additional certification/demonstrated successful completion of advanced training or education specific to perinatal substance use.
- Minimum five (5) years of recent relevant experience in perinatal substance use or an equivalent combination of education, training or experience.
- Additional training in Indigenous Cultural Safety, Trauma & Violence Informed Care and Motivational Interviewing.
- 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 BCW 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.).
You will also have:
- Advanced knowledge & clinical skills of social work theories and family therapies.
- Advanced knowledge & clinical skills in assessment of perinatal substance use, mental health and child protection.
- Advanced knowledge & clinical skills in crisis intervention.
- Advanced knowledge & clinical skills individual, group and family counseling specific to perinatal substance use, mental health and child protection.
- Advanced knowledge & clinical skills in system navigation and resource brokerage.
- Advanced knowledge & clinical skills of best practices and evidence based clinical interventions in perinatal substance use and mental health.
- Advanced knowledge of relevant legislation to Social Work practice and national standards of Perinatal Substance Use, 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.
- 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 2,000+ in-house courses including a range of experience level, profession-specific, or other essential training on Indigenous Cultural Safety; Indigenous-specific anti-racism; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and accessibility, mental health and well-being, and more.
- 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: $50.19 to $62.69 per hour
Location: 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 2N9
Hours of work: Monday – Thursday; 0730 – 1722
Requisition #: 201262E
What we do
BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre (BCW) is dedicated to improving the health of women, newborns and families through a comprehensive range of services, research and education.
BCW are 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.
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 dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya'kula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at [email protected].
Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and marginalization faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and self-determination of Indigenous communities. PHSA must uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents such as 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.
Attention current employees of PHSA:
You must apply via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca.
The internal job posting expires on July 17, 2026 and will no longer be accessible. If the internal job posting has expired, please e-mail [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected].
