The Island Health Department of Psychiatry has an opportunity for a Psychiatrist to provide ambulatory and outreach care through the Crisis and Transitional Care Team.

This program aims to stabilize individuals and families experiencing acute mental health, situational, or substance use–related crisis through rapid, multidisciplinary trauma informed interventions that prioritize safety, dignity, and access to care recognizing the complex and intersecting needs of people in crisis. The program aims to reduce reliance on police responses and hospital admissions by offering client-centered community-based care.

The Crisis and Transitional Care Team is a multi-disciplinary team of clinical staff who provide urgent response to people of all ages in community in crisis (psychiatric, medical w psychiatric/substance use features, situational, environmental).

We accept referrals from any source, most commonly self referrals; crisis line(s), other health teams, concerned family/friends, schools, by law/police, and many other community sources.

We see people for assessment and immediate intervention as indicated including mental status exam, substance use and withdrawal risk, harm reduction needs, and brief stabilization follow up (7-10 days). The service also offers transitional care (up to 3 months) for individuals waiting for specialty MHSU services.

The Psychiatrist will provide clinical leadership and mentorship to the team, patient consultations/assessments, medication recommendations and prescriptions, consult to primary care, brief care episodes (up to 3 months) while patients await attachment to another service. This role may also provide brief support for clients receiving interventional psychiatry services, not otherwise attached to a community Psychiatrist. 

We are seeking a part-time Psychiatrist who is collaborative and enjoys working as part of a multi-disciplinary team. The successful candidate must have:

• Relevant experience or interest working in crisis and short term stabilization care
• Interest in working in a community clinic, virtually, and/or outreach setting
• A recovery-oriented approach.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• An established track record of exemplary team work, including experience working with team members to plan and lead admissions and discharges from a variety of referral sources
• An interest and experience working with patients living with a broad range of mental health and/or substance use challenges.
• A passion for delivering interactive and dynamic care in a short term community setting

Clinical Duties

• Provision of clinical care including psychiatric assessment, case formulation, medication and medication management to patients with moderate to severe mental health and or substance use disorders together with other members of the clinical care team.
• Clinical consultation to the team, including for clients the team serves but who do not require psychiatry services
• Patients may be experiencing housing insecurity or other challenges related to the social determinants of health
• Provision of vacation and absence coverage for psychiatrists of other South Island teams as needed (such coverage will also be provided to the successful candidates by these psychiatrists as needed)
• Participation in SI on-call schedule.

Administrative Duties

• Participates in the SI Department of Psychiatry and in the Division of Tertiary (Mental Health) Care including the promotion and fostering of programmatic evaluation and quality improvement.
• Attendance in clinical team meetings and providing reports to the Department of Psychiatry meetings.

Teaching & Research

• Ensuring an excellent learning experience for medical and other students and residents. Appointment to the University of British Columbia (UBC) Department of Psychiatry, and with the UBC Island Medical School, is an expectation of this position.
• There is no research requirement but ample opportunity for an interested psychiatrist. 

Start Date

As soon as possible

Benefits

Furnished office, computer, and administrative support provided.

Community Information

Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, on the unceded and traditional territories of the Lekwungen People, now known as the Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) and Songhees Nations – Victoria is a forward-thinking, active community and the largest city on the Island. The municipality of Victoria is home to approximately 92,000 people with the Greater Victoria region counting over 397,000 residents. The capital city of British Columbia has a dynamic, thriving economy and a vibrant arts and culture scene, with an unparalleled natural environment enjoyed by residents and visitors. For children entering elementary and secondary school, education options are available through School District 61 or other private alternatives. The region also hosts the University of Victoria, Royal Roads University and Camosun College for post secondary. Greater Victoria offers a mix of unique neighbourhoods, world-class attractions and urban amenities to make it one of the most livable cities on the west coast.