Psychologist, Acute Rehab
BC Children’s Hospital and Sunny Hill Health Centre
Vancouver, BC
Psychologists with BC Children’s Hospital, a program of the Provincial Health Services Authority, report dually to the Medical Director and to the senior leadership team for their area of service. Medical professionals work collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams supporting pediatric patients and their families at the Sunny Hill Health Centre.
Working within the centre’s 18-bed Acute Rehabilitation Unit, client focus will be on individualized, comprehensive clinical and diagnostic assessments for children and youth with complex profiles, who are admitted to this inpatient unit. Additionally, Psychologists support the interdisciplinary team through formal and informal consultations, participation in quality improvement and risk management activities, clinical teaching and supervision to Residents and students.
What is Sunny Hill Health Centre & Acute Rehabilitation Unit
Sunny Hill Health Centre is a rehabilitation centre housed on the BC Children’s Hospital campus (together with BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre. The Acute Rehabilitation Unit provides intensive rehabilitation and specialized medical care in a multidisciplinary team environment. The program is child and family focused and goal oriented. The Unit treats children with various conditions, including loss of function due to brain/spinal injury or stroke; and limited multifunctional areas, e.g., developmental, mobility/motor, cognition. Patients have probable rehabilitation potential within a reasonable time frame and often require intervention services of two or more disciplines.
Specific Accountabilities
Medical Expertise
- Completes psychological assessments of clients, utilizing standardized and evidence- based interview and assessment procedures. Within a bio/psycho/social treatment model and working as part of an interdisciplinary team, incorporates psychological assessment results with the broader treatment plan.
- Provides psychological treatment and facilitates the education of referred clients by developing a treatment plan incorporating evidence-based therapies and including the integration of cognitive behaviour therapy, supportive psychotherapy and individual short-term therapy/counselling interventions to clients and group therapy.
- Assesses client’s progress, providing support to client, family members/care givers and facilitating the process of cognitive, emotional and behavioural changes according to the plan of treatment.
- Designs, implements, monitors and evaluates cognitive and/or behaviour therapy programs and assist clients to mitigate dysfunctional behaviour, with more constructive/adaptive coping strategies, for referred clients as required.
- Organizes treatment plans and participates in case management to ensure continuity of care of clients. Follows up with outside agencies including education institutions, health care facilities and related agencies.
Development of Profession/Services
- Promotes the development of psychological services within the hospital/program by performing duties such as planning, organizing, providing and participating in inter-disciplinary and intra-disciplinary professional development programs.
- Evaluates effectiveness and appropriateness of treatment and resources by analyzing learning outcomes, assessing client functioning, identifying opportunities for change and formulating recommendations for quality improvement to ensure optimal outcomes are met.
- Provides clinical teaching and supervision to Psychology Residents, Post Doctoral Fellows, Addiction Medicine Fellows and Psychiatry Residents from a psychological perspective by planning and client assignment, monitoring clinical teaching and skill development and providing evaluations to appropriate individuals to facilitate a conducive learning environment and professional expertise
Knowledge Exchange
- Provides formal and informal consultation to interdisciplinary team members, staff/community psychologists, other health care facilities and students by reviewing client/family needs or a specific client’s progress, problem solving and providing guidance/knowledge in the management of a client or client group and information regarding the appropriate usage of psychology assessment and testing tools.
- Initiates and participates in relevant research by identifying research topics and collaborating on approved research activities. Sources funds from external and internal stakeholders, identifies current trends/gaps in the literature, conducts research and disseminates, presents and publishes findings. Ensures clinical practices and protocols are consistent with current research findings.
What you bring
Qualifications
- Current licensure as a Psychologist with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC.
- Training at the doctoral level in child clinical and/or developmental psychology, pediatric neuropsychology, or a closely related area.
- Recent related experience in women’s and/or children, adolescent, psychodiagnostic, clinical and/or health care environment.
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples within social and health contexts. This includes understanding how these factors contribute to current health disparities and barriers to care. Show a clear commitment to identifying, challenging, and eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and all forms of discrimination impacting equity-deserving groups within healthcare settings. This involves recognizing personal biases, institutional barriers, engaging in anti-racism education and training and advocating for systemic change.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments within BCCH contexts found in the foundational documents 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, BC Human Rights Code, Anti-racism Data Act and how they intersect across the health care system.
Core Competencies
- Brings an understanding of the Indigenous specific racism and the broader systemic racism that exists in the colonial health care structure, and has demonstrated leadership in breaking down barriers and ensuring an environment of belonging. Embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility into all aspects of work. This means creating an environment where Indigenous patients feel respected, valued, and understood. Foster trust through respectful communication, active listening, and honoring equity-deserving people's perspectives on health and wellness. Commit to ongoing education and training on Indigenous health issues, cultural safety, and DEI principles. Participate in workshops, cultural immersion experiences, and continuous professional development to stay informed and responsive to equity-deserving groups. Provide patient-centred care that respects Indigenous ways of knowing and healing, respects BIPOC experiences and world views ensuring that care plans are culturally relevant and holistic.
- Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (The Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).
Skills & Knowledge
- Ability to communicate and present ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Ability to carry out duties in a timely fashion.
- Ability to establish priorities, develop/implement short-term and long-term objectives.
- Ability to deal with others effectively.
- Ability to teach and provide instruction.
- Proficiency in computer skills related to report writing and to recording and managing data.
- Demonstrates a commitment to beginning and continuing their personal learning journey related to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Shows willingness to articulate and share their learning experiences to contribute to a culture of motivation and inspiration among peers.
- Demonstrates foundational knowledge of the social, economic, and political realities of settler-colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving groups within social and health contexts. Understands the impact of social determinants of health-on-health outcomes. Shows a commitment to learning about and upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments outlined in foundational documents such as the 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, Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, the BC Human Rights Code, Anti-Racism Data Act, and the Distinctions Based Approach.
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, 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.
Job Type: Regular, Part-Time (0.80 FTE)
Wage: $56.02 - $69.98/hour
Location: 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver BC, V6H 2N9
Hours of Work: Tuesday - Friday; 0830-1630
Requisition # 200833E
What we do
BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) provides care for the most seriously ill or injured children and youth from across British Columbia.
Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children (SHHC) provides specialized development and rehabilitation services to BC children, youth and their families.
BCCH and SHHC program is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).
PHSA 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 – Create equity – Be courageous.
Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services
PHSA, BCCH, and SHHC are committed to anti-racism and equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently excluded groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.
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 [email protected].
Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and exclusion faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and title of BC First Nations and self-determination of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. PHSA is mandated to uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents including the 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.
Attention current employees of PHSA:
You must apply via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca.
The internal job posting expires on July 6, 2026 and will no longer be accessible. If the internal job posting has expired, please e-mail [email protected] with the six-digit job requisition number and your PHSA employee ID number to be considered as a late internal applicant. Please do not apply for the external job posting.
If you have not yet set up an internal profile, please e-mail [email protected] with your PHSA employee ID number to obtain your temporary password. Our business hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, excluding Statutory Holidays and a Help Desk Representative will respond to you with 1-2 business days.
If you are not a current employee of PHSA and require assistance with your application, please contact the External Careers team at [email protected].
