Prevention Specialist (Bachelor's Degree), Youth Leadership and Resiliency Program

Come work as a Prevention Specialist with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for a Prevention Specialist with a bachelors degree in social or behavioral scienceto join the Youth Leadership and Resiliency Program (LRP). Apply today to join our team!

About the Youth Leadership and Resiliency Program (LRP):

The Youth LRP is a youth leadership and engagement program serving late elementary and early secondary school youth in Vancouver. The program is open to youth attending the schools where the program operates with priority given to youth who could benefit from increased connection to peers adults school and community.

The LPR engages youth in weekly resiliency groups monthly adventure based programming and monthly community volunteer experiences to support the achievement of these outcomes. All LRP staff work in a culturally sensitive way. LRP runs all year long and focuses on the needs and wants of the program participants.

Schedule: Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday one week followed by Wednesday and Thursday the next week flexible hours according to program needs 2 days one week and 3 days the next.

As a Prevention Specialist with Vancouver Coastal Health you will:

• Plans and implements proactive approaches for harm prevention and health promotion services to designated clients within the applicable program.
• Identifies populations in need of prevention services within the community; utilizes a health promotion and prevention planning model liaises with members of the public and community agencies involved with targeted high risk populations.
• Delivers specific courses/programs to meet identified client or group needs; presents educational programs and provides advice to community professionals groups or individuals.

• Provides life skills training to clients and groups. Provides screening and brief intervention counseling services to youth families adults and groups.

Education & Experience

• Bachelors Degree in a Social or Behavioural Science from a recognized program.
• Two (2) years recent related experience providing prevention services and support counseling/treatment and health promotion and/or harm prevention to the designated client population.
• Valid BC Drivers License. Local area travel requires the use of a personal vehicle.

Knowledge & Abilities

• Knowledge of and commitment to strengths-based client-centred counselling practice.
• Knowledge of community development community health agencies and services.
• Knowledge of the range of treatment options and modalities for treatment and services for the designated client population.
• Knowledge of solutions and strategies to reduce various barriers to care for the designated client population.
• Knowledge of facilitation mediation and conflict resolution techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to work competently with the designated program/client population.
• Knowledge of health inequities faced by designated client population.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain supportive trusting and professional relationships with youth and families.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Demonstrative ability to prepare and maintain a variety of charts records and reports
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize workload and adapt to a changing community.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and deliver in-service education sessions to lay and professional groups.
• Demonstrated ability to perform a range of needs assessments with both individuals/groups.
• Demonstrated ability in developing and implementing health promotion and prevention programs.

The hours of work including days off and work area may be subject to change consistent with operational requirements and the provision of the Collective Agreement and applicable statutes. Successful applicants may be required to complete a Criminal Records Review Check.

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):

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.

• Comprehensive health benefits package including MSP extended health and dental and municipal pension plan
• 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 BCs Top Employers Canadas Best Diversity Employers and Canadas Top Employers for Young People in 2025.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for this posting.


***Employees of VCH must apply online via the Internal Career Portal on CareerHub you are currently viewing the External Career Portal. Refer to the site for instructions on how to view internal job postings and how to apply as an employee. Current VCH employees who apply to this posting using this external site will be considered as an external candidate. Seniority will not apply.***

Thank you for your interest in Vancouver Coastal Health.