Northern Health is recruiting a Lifeskills Worker – Specialized Mental Health Substance Use Outreach in Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada.
This permanent part-time position offers an hourly wage of $33.49 to $35.31, with evening shifts from 10:00 PM to 10:00 AM on a rotating schedule. The role involves providing community-based support to people experiencing mental health, substance use, behavioural, and developmental challenges.
For international applicants, Northern Health provides dedicated guidance on its careers website for people applying from outside Canada. However, applicants should independently confirm their eligibility to work in Canada and whether immigration or work-permit support is available for this specific position.
Job Overview
The Lifeskills Worker will work within Northern Health’s Specialized Mental Health and Substance Use Outreach services.
Under the supervision of a manager or designate, the successful candidate will provide community-based support to clients and their families or caregivers.
The position combines practical life-skills assistance with advocacy, coaching, treatment support, observation, and communication with the wider healthcare team.
The successful candidate will help clients develop greater independence while following established treatment and care plans.
Key Responsibilities
The Lifeskills Worker will provide direct support to clients in the community and may be responsible for:
- Providing outreach and community-based support
- Supporting clients receiving mental health and substance use services
- Teaching and reinforcing practical life skills
- Coaching and motivating clients
- Assisting clients with activities of daily living
- Advocating for clients and helping connect them with available services
- Supporting clients and their caregivers or families
- Monitoring and reporting client progress
- Observing and reporting changes in clients’ conditions
- Reporting client reactions to medications
- Promoting independence and positive behavioural change
- Following established treatment and care plans
- Working with multidisciplinary healthcare teams
- Operating equipment relevant to the position
The role requires workers who can balance compassion and patience with sound judgment and the ability to respond appropriately to changing client needs.
Qualifications and Experience
Applicants should have a diploma in Community Social Services or a related field.
Examples of relevant educational backgrounds include:
- Mental Health Worker
- Community Health Worker
- Social Services Worker
The educational background should include post-secondary training in counselling skills.
Candidates also need two years of recent related experience working with people experiencing mental illness or substance use issues, including experience teaching life skills.
Northern Health states that an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may also be considered.
Additional requirements include:
- Current CPR certification
- Current Food Safe certificate
- Valid Class 5 British Columbia driver’s licence
- Access to a personal vehicle
- Appropriate business insurance coverage for the vehicle
Because this is a community-based position, the driver’s licence and access to a vehicle are important requirements.
Skills and Abilities
Northern Health is looking for candidates who can demonstrate strong interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
Important skills include:
- Knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Mental Health Act and Guardianship Act
- Understanding of community-based healthcare programs and how they work together
- Strong verbal and written communication
- Ability to build effective relationships with clients and colleagues
- Ability to prioritize competing client needs
- Strong organizational skills
- Problem-solving ability
- Ability to teach practical life skills
- Sound judgment
- Strong observation skills
- Initiative and independence
- Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Ability to encourage positive change
- Ability to promote client independence
- Physical ability to perform the duties of the position
- Ability to operate related equipment
Salary and Employment Details
The position offers an hourly wage of:
$33.49 – $35.31 per hour
The position is classified as:
- Permanent
- Part-time
- 0.46 FTE
- BCGEU bargaining unit
- On-site/community-based
- Fort St. John, British Columbia
The role involves rotating evening shifts listed as 10:00 PM to 10:00 AM.
The competition number is 05758322.
The application closing date is September 10, 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
Benefits and Employee Support
Northern Health offers a range of benefits and employee programs.
Eligible employees may receive:
- Extended health benefits
- Dental benefits
- Municipal pension plan
- Vacation entitlement
- Moving expense support for eligible positions
- Employee referral incentives
- Employer-paid training
- Leadership development opportunities
- Indigenous employee support programs
- Access to Indigenous Community of Practice
- Cultural, ceremonial, and spiritual leave for eligible Indigenous employees
- Access to outdoor recreational opportunities
Northern Health also highlights the relatively short commuting times and outdoor lifestyle available in northern British Columbia.
Eligible professionals may also benefit from federal and provincial loan forgiveness programs, depending on their profession and individual circumstances.
About Northern Health
Northern Health is one of British Columbia’s major regional health authorities.
The organization provides healthcare services across approximately 600,000 square kilometres, serving communities throughout northern British Columbia.
Northern Health supports healthcare delivery across hospitals and community-based settings and employs more than 12,000 staff and physicians.
Its services cover numerous communities, including First Nations and Métis communities, making community-focused healthcare an important part of its work.
Working in Fort St. John
The position is based in Fort St. John, British Columbia.
Fort St. John is one of the communities served by Northern Health and offers access to outdoor activities alongside employment opportunities within the region’s healthcare system.
Candidates considering relocation should research housing, transportation, healthcare, cost of living, and other practical considerations before accepting an offer.
International Applicants
Northern Health specifically provides information for international applicants interested in pursuing careers with the organization.
International candidates should review Northern Health’s guidance before submitting an application to understand the process and requirements for internationally educated or internationally based applicants.
Northern Health – Information for International Applicants
Importantly, the presence of an international-applicant page does not mean that every Northern Health vacancy provides visa sponsorship. Candidates outside Canada should confirm the work authorization requirements and whether this specific position can support an international hire.
How to Tailor Your CV
Applicants should create a healthcare-focused CV that demonstrates both their qualifications and practical experience supporting vulnerable clients.
Highlight:
- Community social services education
- Mental health experience
- Substance use support experience
- Counselling skills training
- Life-skills teaching
- Client advocacy
- Community outreach
- Activities of daily living support
- Crisis or behavioural support experience
- Client progress monitoring
- Medication observation/reporting experience
- Family and caregiver support
- Multidisciplinary teamwork
- CPR certification
- Food Safe certification
- Driver’s licence
- Relevant healthcare or social-service training
Use specific examples to show how you have helped clients become more independent or supported them through mental health, behavioural, or substance-use challenges.
Who Should Apply?
This opportunity could be suitable for professionals with backgrounds in:
- Community social services
- Mental health support
- Social work
- Community health
- Behavioural support
- Substance use services
- Life-skills support
- Outreach services
It may also be relevant to qualified international social-service and community-support professionals who meet Northern Health’s requirements and can obtain the necessary Canadian work authorization.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their application through the official Northern Health careers portal.
Applicants should prepare their CV, cover letter, education documents, certificates, and any professional registration information that applies to them.
Disclaimer: OpportunityShape shares international employment opportunities for informational purposes. We are not affiliated with Northern Health and do not guarantee employment, immigration support, visa sponsorship, work permit approval, salary, or relocation assistance. Applicants should verify the current vacancy, eligibility requirements, and Canadian work authorization rules directly with Northern Health and the appropriate Canadian authorities.
