Mental health counselor Jobs in New Westminster, BC

Health Care Worker, Maximum and Multi-Level Security Units

BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services

Coquitlam, BC

This is a Temporary Full-Time (Until September 30, 2026) opportunity is with the Ashworth 2 (A2) – Specialized assessment and psychiatric intensive care program.

What is the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital?

The Forensic Psychiatric Hospital (FPH) is a 190-bed secure facility located in Coquitlam, on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded core territory of the kwikwəƛ̓əm First Nation (Kwikwetlem). We treat people who have been found not criminally responsible for a crime or unfit to stand trial due to a mental health disorder. We deliver services to patients using the “Clinical Program Model,” which aims to deliver high-quality care to meet the specific needs of patients and is currently the best practice in health care.

What you’ll do

• Establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with patients/families and provides support following established care plans; greet patients/families, assist with storage of personal belongings and creation of a safe/comfortable environment, including fostering a culture of patient and staff safety. The health care worker maintains confidentiality and respect for the patient’s rights and privacy.
• Provide personal care to patients such as bathes, showers, grooms, dresses, assists with oral hygiene and toileting needs, maintains skin by applying creams and ointments as applicable, serving meals and assisting with feeding patients as required; ensures dietary needs are met.
• Perform nursing care functions as applicable such as ensuring they know the Kardex, risk triggers and signature behaviors, nursing care plans of any and all patients they are assigned to and the unit milieu. Communicate reports and records in the patient chart, any patient behaviors’ of concern including patient verbal or physical aggression, or violence to the nurse.
• Respond to call bells/alarms by alerting the appropriate health care team member and/or assisting as necessary. Respond to emergent situations by calling appropriate code and assisting care team in accordance with unit/program guidelines.
• Observe and monitor patient progress and behavioral changes and reports significant observations such as discomfort and/or pain, or condition/ complaints and/or accidents, which the patient reports and feedback from the patient into the care planning progress to the Registered Nurse or designate; as applicable.

What you bring

Qualifications

• Grade 10. Graduation from a recognized Nursing Assistant or Care Attendant program, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• 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 Mental Health & Substance Use Services 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

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to deal with others effectively.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
• Ability to organize work.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• 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.

2% of the straight-time hourly rate of pay for employees working in Minimum and Medium security units and community settings; 4% of the straight-time hourly rate of pay for employees working in Maximum and Multi-level security units.

Location: 70 Colony Farm Rd, Coquitlam, BC V3K 5Z1
Hours of Work: Rotating; 0700-1500/ 1500-2300

Requisition # 188155E

What we do

(BCMHSUS) cares for people with complex mental health and substance use challenges.

BCMHSUS program is part of 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.

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.

Learn more about PHSA and our programs:

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 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-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.

Attention current employees of PHSA:

You must apply via your internal profile at .

The internal job posting expires on September 2, 2025 and will no longer be accessible. If the internal job posting has expired, please e-mail 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 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 .