Practice Leader - Occupational Stress Injury Response

Occupational Stress Injury Practice Leader

BC Emergency Health Services

Anywhere within British Columbia

Salary Range: $108,147- $ 135,184

Permanent, Full Time, Non-Contract

BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) is hiring an Occupational Stress Injury Practice Leader

 

Role Summary

 

In accordance with the Mission, Vision, Values and strategic direction of PHSA, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

Reporting to the Director, BCEHS Employee Health & Wellbeing, the Occupational Stress Injury (OSI) Practice Lead provides provincial practice leadership for the design, implementation and continuous improvement of BCEHS supports for employees experiencing occupational stress injuries. Working in close partnership with Connect and Recover (CAR) leaders, Psychological Health and Safety, Critical Incident Stress Management, Recover and Return to Work, operational leaders, unions, clinicians and external partners, the OSI Practice Lead helps establish a coordinated, evidence-informed continuum from early injury identification and support through clinical care, recovery and psychologically safe return to work.

The OSI Practice Lead is a senior clinical-practice resource and change agent who translates evidence, professional standards and the realities of emergency medical services into practical pathways, tools and standards. The role leads the clinical and practice framework for the CAR OSI stream, supports consistent decision making in complex situations, and strengthens connections between workplace supports and appropriate community and clinical services. The role does not provide therapy or assume case management accountabilities.

Working from trauma-informed, culturally safe and recovery-oriented principles, the OSI Practice Lead provides consultation, education and system leadership across BCEHS. The role uses data, employee and leader experience, and emerging evidence to evaluate outcomes, identify gaps and improve the accessibility, quality and sustainability of OSI supports for BCEHS employees across the province.

What You’ll Do

• Leads the development, implementation and continuous improvement of the clinical-practice framework for BCEHS occupational stress injury supports, including the CAR OSI stream.
• Establishes evidence-informed practice standards, eligibility and intake guidance, stepped-care pathways, service boundaries, escalation processes, documentation expectations and transition or discharge criteria.
• Provides expert consultation to CAR leaders and staff, Employee Health & Wellbeing teams, operational leaders and partners regarding complex OSI-related situations, appropriate supports and psychologically safe recovery and return-to-work considerations.
• Supports consistent, ethical and proportionate practice while maintaining clear boundaries between workplace support, clinical treatment, WorkSafeBC processes and Recover and Return-to-Work case management.
• Develops clear connections and referral pathways among CAR, Critical Incident Stress Management, Psychological Health and Safety, Recover and Return to Work, employee and family assistance services, benefits, community providers and specialized clinical services.
• Leads the development, review and implementation of OSI-related policies, procedures, practice guidelines, decision-support tools and resources for employees, leaders and program staff.
• Identifies the education and practice-development needs of CAR staff, leaders, peers and other partners. Develops, delivers and evaluates education, consultation and coaching to support safe, skilled and consistent practice.
• Provides practice leadership for suicide prevention, risk recognition and response, safety planning, postvention and escalation pathways within the scope of BCEHS employee health and wellbeing services.
• Builds and maintains relationships with internal and external mental health clinicians, treatment providers, researchers, first responder organizations and community partners to improve access, continuity and quality of care.
• Supports clinical service standards, including the development of selection criteria, service expectations, referral processes and quality review mechanisms for external OSI services and providers.
• Develops and monitors meaningful process, quality and outcome measures. Analyzes quantitative and qualitative information to identify gaps, inequities, emerging needs and opportunities for service improvement.
• Integrates employee and family experience, including the perspectives of rural, remote, Indigenous, equity-deserving and otherwise underserved employees, into service design and evaluation.
• Reviews current evidence, legislation, professional standards and promising practices related to occupational stress injuries, trauma, recovery and return to work, and translates findings into practical recommendations for BCEHS.
• Leads and participates in quality-improvement, evaluation and research initiatives, including partnerships with academic and clinical organizations where appropriate.
• Advises the Director, Employee Health & Wellbeing and senior leaders on OSI service needs, clinical and organizational risks, resource requirements and opportunities to improve the employee experience.
• Represents BCEHS Employee Health & Wellbeing in relevant provincial, health-system and first responder practice forums, committees and working groups.
• Monitors expenditures within established budgets, identifies efficiencies and makes recommendations regarding current and future program and service adjustments.
• Performs other organizational initiatives and projects as required.
  
  

Qualifications

What you bring

A Master's degree, or equivalent, in a clinical mental health discipline such as counselling psychology, clinical psychology, social work, nursing, occupational therapy or a related field. Current registration or licensure in good standing with the applicable regulatory college or recognized professional association, with a scope of practice relevant to mental health assessment, intervention and consultation.

At least five (5) years of recent, related experience in mental health practice, including significant experience with trauma- and stressor-related conditions, occupational stress injuries, or first responder and public safety personnel populations, and at least two (2) years of formal or informal leadership, practice leadership, clinical consultation or program-development experience. 

Skills & Knowledge

• Advanced knowledge of occupational stress injuries, trauma- and stressor-related conditions, evidence-informed treatment and recovery, suicide prevention and postvention, and psychologically safe return-to-work principles.
• Demonstrated understanding of the occupational context, culture and mental health risks of paramedics, emergency medical services, first responders or other public safety personnel.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, culturally safe and person-centred practice, with the ability to apply these approaches in a workplace setting.
• Demonstrated clinical judgment and consultation skills, including the ability to navigate complex, high-risk and ethically sensitive situations while maintaining role clarity, confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Knowledge of the distinct roles and interfaces among workplace mental health programs, clinical treatment, disability management, occupational health and safety, benefits, labour relations, WorkSafeBC and recovery and return-to-work services.
• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing and evaluating clinical or employee-support programs, practice standards, pathways, policies and quality-improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of research methods and critical appraisal, with the ability to translate evidence and data into practical service improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to develop meaningful performance measures, analyze service and outcome information, and communicate findings and recommendations to clinical, operational and executive audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to lead collaboratively across professional and organizational
• Basic computer literacy to operate a computerized patient care information system.
  
  

Indigenous Cultural Safety and Diversity

• Knowledge of Canadian colonial impacts on Indigenous people in social and health contexts, supported by significant knowledge of Canadian and Indigenous ideologies, including knowledge, and understanding of Indigenous cultural safety, cultural humility, Indigenous-specific racism and anti-racism.
• Awareness of and commitment to learning and understanding the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Site Report (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), and Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls calls for justice, and how they intersect across the health care system.
• Supports team members on their learning journey, ensuring education strategy for team/department to implement Indigenous Cultural Safety at a practical level.
• Works collaboratively with appropriate Indigenous teams/departments to ensure ICS lens applied holistically.
• 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.)
  
  

While BCEHS would consider a foundation in Indigenous cultural safety to be a strong asset for consideration, our commitment to enhancing Indigenous cultural safety includes providing all employees with access to resources and training programs in partnership with San'yas Core Health Indigenous Cultural Safety Training and Anti-Indigenous Racism Response Training. 

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.employment@phsa.ca.

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, and 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 2,000+ in-house courses including a range of experience level, profession-specific, or other essential training on Indigenous Cultural Safety; Indigenous-specific anti-racism; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and accessibility, mental health and well-being, and more.
• 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.
  
  

What We Do

The British Columbia Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) is the lead Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agency in British Columbia, the largest EMS provider in Canada, and one of the largest in North America responding to over 600,000 ground calls and 7,800 air calls every year. BCEHS program is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). We are also responsible for the delivery, coordination and governance of appropriate and effective out-of-hospital and inter-facility health services throughout B.C.

BCEHS is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) which 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: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services

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 PHSA must uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents such as 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.

Accommodations are openly offered without consequence or negative impact to all applicants – please contact NonUnionizedRecruitment@bcehs.ca for further information.

Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time, Non-Contract

Salary Range: $108,147- $ 135,184

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.

Location: Anywhere within British Columbia

Closing date: October 9th, 2026

Requisition # 204889

Contact: NonUnionizedRecruitment@bcehs.ca (Only applications submitted online through this posting will be considered. Please do not send resumes to this email address, as email applications will not be reviewed.)

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