Psychiatrist, Assertive Community Treatment - Outreach & Support

Job description

Job Summary

Job Title:

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Psychiatrist

Work Site:

Vancouver, BC – 865 West 10th Avenue

Status:

Permanent - Part Time to Full Time

Start Date:

To be mutually agreed upon

Compensation Type:

Mixed Sessional Contract and Fee-for-Service (MSP)

Come work as an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Psychiatrist with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

Our five Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams provide specialized, community-based treatment and psychosocial rehabilitation for individuals living with serious and persistent mental illness, often alongside concurrent substance use disorders, complex medical needs, and significant psychosocial challenges. Through an interdisciplinary, outreach-based model of care, our teams deliver comprehensive, individualized treatment and support to promote recovery, stability, and meaningful engagement in the community.

As an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Psychiatrist with Vancouver Coastal Health, you will:

- Provide outreach-based longitudinal psychiatric care for a small case-load of highly complex clients living in community who exhibit complex mental health needs and high levels of comorbidity (substance use disorders, general health problems and/or significant risk of aggression).

- Work closely with an engaged interdisciplinary team including nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, peer support workers, family physicians, health care workers, concurrent disorder counsellors, recreational therapists and spiritual care providers.

- Work collaboratively with other supports including inpatient psychiatric teams, tertiary care teams, housing providers/staff, community clinics, pharmacies to provide support for clients.

- Be supported by Vancouver Police Department (VPD) for police-accompanied clinical care in community when deemed indicated to provide safe care in community.

Qualifications

Education, Licensing, & Experience:

-

- Provisional OR unrestricted license to practice medicine from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC).

- Eligibility or active fellowship in psychiatry from the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC).

- Eligibility or current appointment as clinical faculty with University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine.

- Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) – Mandatory

-

Knowledge & Abilities:

- Demonstrated experience working with individuals living with serious and persistent mental illness, often complicated by concurrent substance use disorders, complex medical needs, and significant psychosocial challenges. Understanding of community psychiatry, assertive outreach, mandated community psychiatric care and recovery-oriented approaches to care.

- Ability to provide flexible, patient-centred psychiatric care in community and outreach settings, including clinical decision-making, risk assessment, and management of complex presentations.

- Strong collaborative skills and an understanding of interdisciplinary team-based care, including shared decision-making, coordinated treatment planning, and effective navigation of health, housing, and community support systems.

Opportunities & Professional Development:

- Opportunities for clinical teaching and supervision of psychiatry residents and concurrent disorder/addictions medicine fellows, including elective and longitudinal training experiences.

- Engagement in quality improvement initiatives, research, and other scholarly activities.

- Opportunities to contribute to program development, service innovation, and continuous improvement in the delivery of community-based psychiatric care.

- Access to medical leadership training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.

- Supportive and collaborative operational and medical leadership teams, with dedicated administrative support to facilitate clinical practice.

Closing Statement Join a collaborative and dedicated team providing innovative, community-based psychiatric care to some of Vancouver’s most vulnerable populations. ACT offers a unique opportunity to build meaningful, long-term therapeutic relationships, work alongside a highly skilled interdisciplinary team, and make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals with complex mental health needs. We welcome psychiatrists who value flexibility, teamwork, and the opportunity to deliver high-quality care beyond traditional clinical settings.

Closing Statement

Interested in applying? Feel free to reach out to Ben Murphy, Executive and Medical Staff Talent Acquisition Advisor: [email protected] or click “Apply Now.”

Please note that a resume and cover letter are required to apply for this position.

As per Ministry of Health policy, all health care workers working in publicly-funded health care facilities are required to report their past receipt of certain vaccines or history of certain infections. Collecting these records will allow for offering of any missing vaccines, and for appropriate actions to be taken in the event of any future exposure to a communicable disease or during outbreaks. For all new hires and appointments to Vancouver Coastal Health, you will be asked to provide this information as part of the onboarding process.

WHY JOIN VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH?

VCH is a world class innovator in medical care, research and teaching, delivering service to more than one million BC residents. At VCH, we embrace thinking boldly, taking smart risks, and "going first" when we believe it will lead to the best possible outcomes for patients and their families. We invite you to join us in creating healthy lives in healthy communities by showcasing our passion for care, connection to the communities we serve and our culture of teamwork that makes VCH a great place to work.

- Grow your career with employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities

- Wellness supports, including counselling, critical incident and innovative wellness services are available to employees and their immediate families

- Award-winning recognition programs to honour staff, medical staff and volunteers

- Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for VCH staff

At Vancouver Coastal Health, our vision of healthy lives in healthy communities inspires us and our values and pillars guide us. We support equitable practices, diverse teams and inclusive environments, which are vital to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and feel supported. We encourage applications from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous Peoples and members of racialized groups, people with disabilities and people of all gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation.Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, BC’s Top Employers, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and Canada's Top Employers for Young People in 2026.