Job title: Program Family Advisor, Families in Recovery (FIR) – BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre
Company: Provincial Health Services Authority
Job description: Program Family Advisor, Families in Recovery (FIR)
BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre
Vancouver, BC
BC Women’s Hospital’s Families in Recovery (FIR) Program is a provincial specialized perinatal service that provides primary care to antenatal and postpartum women who use substances and to infants exposed to substances in an interdisciplinary approach. Located at BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre in Vancouver, FIR opened in 2003 and is a first of its kind program in Canada. Through the provision of treatment and supports focused on principle based practice and integrated programming, the interdisciplinary team at FIR focuses on stabilization and harm reduction in a recovery oriented approach to care.
The FIR Program Family Advisor is responsible for developing, sustaining and evaluating partnership opportunities between patients/families using services within the Maternal Newborn Program at BC Women’s Hospital.
What you’ll do
- Develop and implement plans to recruit and engage patients/families to participate in service planning, delivery and evaluation, and provide ‘in-the-moment’ and planned feedback to programs, services and initiatives.
- Participate in improving organizational performance through recommending areas or approaches for improvement activities.
- Use feedback from families to identify and inform service improvement opportunities that support program initiatives.
- Identify current issues of concerns from patients/families for the program to address, and advances the persons with lived and living experiences goals and priorities within the context of patients and family centered care.
- Support the orientation and training of new members to the program regarding confidentiality and conflict of interest requirements.
- Identify potential concerns arising from existing systems/practices to FIR Program leadership, and collaborate to achieve workable solutions.
- Consult with health care professionals in practicing appropriate and effective interpersonal approaches to patient and family centered care.
- Work collaboratively with members of the health care team to develop programs and materials that support the woman/person’s journey both at FIR and upon transition to community.
- Liaise as required with programs within BC Women’s Hospital and onsite services and programs in order to support continuity of care for mothers and their babies and families.
- Assist families in understanding information and provides appropriate resources.
What you bring
- A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a post-secondary program in Social Services.
- Five (5) years of recent related experience, including experience as a woman/person who received care at the FIR Program.
You also have:
- Women Centered, Trauma and Violence Informed, Indigenous Cultural Safety. This job requires that the incumbent be female.
- Foundational knowledge and understanding relevant to the specific care area.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with an inter-disciplinary health care team, including patients and families, other staff members, and members of the community; confidence to speak and write articulately to diverse groups of health care professionals; exercise discretion; and foster trust with current and past families and the health care professionals.
- Demonstrated ability to be self-directed, flexible, organized and highly motivated.
- Physical ability to perform the duties of the position relevant to the specific area of care.
- Computer literacy.
- 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).
- 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: Regular, Full-Time
Salary Range: $60,427 – $86,863 /year. The starting salary for this position would be determined with consideration of the successful candidate’s relevant education and experience, and would be in alignment with the provincial compensation reference plan. Salary will be prorated accordingly for part time roles.
Location: 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 2N9
Applications will be accepted until position is filled.
Hours of Work: Sunday to Thursday; 1000-1800
Requisition # 156377
As per the current Public Health Order, full vaccination against COVID-19 is a condition of employment with PHSA as of October 26, 2021.
What we do
(BCW) is dedicated to improving the health of women, newborns and families through a comprehensive range of services, research and education.
BCW is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).
The Provincial Health Services Authority ( ) 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:
PHSA and BCW 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
Please note the internal job posting will no longer be accessible after the expiry date of December 05, 2023. 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 and a Help Desk Representative will contact you the next business day.
Labor Agreement Excluded
Requisition # 156377E-2408986
Work Site 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 2N9
Job Type Regular, Full-Time
FTE 1.00
Hours of Work Sun to Thursday 1000-1800
Work Days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun
Expiry Date 29-Dec-2023
Expected salary: $60427 – 86863 per year
Location: Vancouver, BC
Job date: Fri, 01 Dec 2023 03:02:50 GMT
