[Hiring] Crisis Line Responder @Vancouver Island Crisis Society

Role Description

The Vancouver Island Crisis Society (VICS) is seeking applicants for Part-Time and Full-Time Crisis Line Responder positions. This position reports to the Crisis Line Supervisor and/or Crisis Line Services Manager.

Highlights of this Opportunity:

• Passionate about supporting individuals in crisis with empathy, compassion, and nonjudgmental care.
• Thrive in a fast-paced, supportive environment where you can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
• Remote Crisis Line Responders must be situated on Vancouver Island and have their own desktop or laptop computer that meets VICS technology requirements.
• On-Site Crisis Line Responders must work within commuting distance to Nanaimo at the Vancouver Island Crisis Society's Centre.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Support individuals in crisis, including those experiencing distress, anger, or suicidal ideation.
• Be the first point of contact for individuals seeking help, providing immediate support through voice and SMS communication channels.
• Offer compassionate assistance, helping service users through assessment, problem-solving, and resource exploration within defined Crisis Intervention Models.
• Conduct careful evaluations to identify and address any indications of suicide ideation, planning, or attempts in progress.
• Take decisive action to initiate interventions when necessary to ensure the safety of individuals in crisis.
• Stay informed about local resources, particularly Mental Health and Substance Use Crisis Response Services.

Qualifications

• Flexibility: Ability to work flexible hours on a monthly rotational schedule, including weekends and overnights.
• Team Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team setting, valuing diverse perspectives and experiences.
• Communication Skills: Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken. Proficiency in additional languages is an asset and highly encouraged.
• Empathy and Non-Judgment: Reliable, non-judgmental, and empathetic approach to work, with a commitment to respecting and valuing individuals from all backgrounds.
• Technical Proficiency: Basic computer literacy, with support provided for learning and adapting to new technologies and platforms.
• Crisis Management: Ability to handle stressful situations and make decisions promptly, maintaining calm and composure under pressure.
• Criminal Record Check: Passes a police record check that includes vulnerable sector screening.
• Educational Requirement: High school diploma or equivalent, and a minimum age of 19 years. Relevant experience or additional education in social services, mental health, or a related field considered an asset.

Requirements

• Private space to take interactions while ensuring confidentiality.
• PC Desktop or Laptop (Windows 11 or higher) or MAC Desktop or Laptop (macOS 11 Big Sur or greater).
• Chromebook (tablets and smartphones do not meet criteria).
• Browser recommendations: A current, supported version of Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox that supports TLS 1.2 or higher.
• Minimum speed requirement of 50Mbps for downloads and 10Mbps for uploads.

Benefits

• Starting wage is $27.00 per hour, or $29.00 per hour for employees who are already cross trained on both the PHSA and 9-8-8 systems.
• Three-month probationary period with the opportunity for cross training on both systems.
• Full-Time employees are eligible for employer-paid extended health benefits after six months of employment.
• Full-Time employees receive 84 hours of paid sick leave and 70 hours of vacation annually, prorated based on their regular hours of work.
• Part-Time employees also receive paid sick leave and vacation, prorated based on their regular hours of work.
• After one year of employment, Full-Time employees are eligible for an employer contribution to the Group Retirement Savings Plan equal to 3% of gross earnings.

Company Description

In our words and actions, we are committed to recognizing and addressing the challenges faced by individuals experiencing inequities, while acknowledging our own privileges. We continuously work to identify and remove biases and barriers within our recruitment and hiring processes to create an equitable and inclusive environment for all candidates.

If you require accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, please reach out, and we will do our best to support you.

Please submit resume and cover letter by August 28th at noon. Please direct any questions to: [email protected]

Our services are located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Kwakiutl Peoples.