Family Support and Intervention Family Presenter - Heart and Soul Employee Orientation to MHSU

What are we doing?

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) offers a pre-requisite orientation for all new staff joining Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) services. The orientation covers the core values, essential mindset and “heart and soul” required to support individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges. These staff training sessions are delivered collaboratively with family presenters who share some of their lived experiences accessing and interacting with MHSU services.

How can you get involved?

We are looking for 2 to 4 family presenters who can contribute to the orientation by sharing their lived experiences. Family presenters will be asked to speak about their experience navigating mental health and/or substance use services with their loved one and sharing about the impact these services had on their care. An honorarium of $25 per hour will be offered for the orientation attendance and preparation time.

Who should apply?

We are looking for diverse voices, including:

• Family members, care providers, and/or loved ones with lived experience supporting an individual with mental health or substance use concerns

Please note: individuals who take on family presenter roles are usually in a place of relative stability in their lives. Their loved one is connected to services and supports and are not in imminent crisis; they have the ability to speak to issues without experiencing overwhelming emotions; and generally, but not always, are further along in their own journey. Before applying, please consider if this is the right opportunity for you.

What is the attendance format?

Family Support and Involvement Family Presenters will share their own personal journey or story of supporting their loved one who has accessed Mental Health and/or Substance Use (MHSU) services. This presentation happens alongside clinicians who review formal family involvement policy and best practices. Presenters can expect to share their story/experience for approximately 10 minutes and contribute to answering questions from the audience.

The orientation sessions occur on a monthly-basis, and the expected time commitment is:

• 1 to 2 hours for in-person sessions at a community site
• 1.5 hours for virtual sessions via Microsoft Teams
• 1 to 2 hours of preparation time for a presentation.

Family presenters can expect individual support to help prepare their presentation by a VCH Family Support and Involvement co-presenter.

How to participate in this opportunity?

Recruitment will take place until June 30, 2025, with an expected start of September, 2025. Please apply with your interest using the application form below.

We acknowledge that our places of work and the Vancouver Coastal Health sites lie on the traditional homelands of the First Nation Communities of the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo-Xai’xais, Líl̓wat, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), N’Quatqua, Nuxalk, Samahquam, shíshálh (Sechelt), Skatin, Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Tla’amin, Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), Wuikinuxv, and Xa’xtsa.