Psychiatry

About the role

The Cowichan Valley Department of Psychiatry of Vancouver Island Health Authority (Island Health) is seeking a General Psychiatrist to join the Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) programs. The Cowichan Valley supports a continuum of services including Cowichan District Hospital’s (CDH) 15-bed Psychiatry In-Patient Unit, which collaborates with primary care providers.

Through Duncan’s Mental Health Substance Use programs, the successful candidate will consult to:

• Short Term Services (community Crisis Response and Brief interventions), where the Psychiatry team provides part of the response to GP referrals;
• Case Management Services for moderate community support and a more intense Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team;
• An Early Psychosis Intervention program;
• Substance Use programs providing counselling and access to residential treatment, integrated with community responses to the opioid crisis.

All programs and services are integrated with a graduated housing program supporting individuals to live in the community who otherwise could not. Separate psychiatric services for seniors are provided by Island Health, and members of the Psychiatry team may participate in these services.

Two tertiary psychiatry facilities in the Cowichan Valley serve as island-wide resources and are supported by the Duncan Psychiatrist team:

• Seniors tertiary care with 25 beds;
• Adult tertiary care with 27 beds.

The MHSU program provides a modified psychiatrist on-call response with a crisis response team for the Cowichan District Hospital Emergency Department and throughout the hospital, connected to the consultation-liaison function. This can be supported by BC’s Medical On Call Availability Program (MOCAP) depending on the level of service.

As Island Health is part of the UBC Faculty of Medicine Island Medical Program, there is an opportunity for training medical students and residents, and support for applying for a clinical appointment. Participation in research is supported and can be facilitated by Island Health.

Administrative duties include attending clinical team meetings and providing reports to the Department of Psychiatry meetings.

This is an opportunity to contribute to the development of psychiatry services within a new, state-of-the-art acute care campus. The new Cowichan District Hospital is expected to open in Fall 2026, with psychiatry services including a dedicated psychiatric emergency zone in the Emergency Department, a four-bed psychiatric intensive care unit, and a 20-bed inpatient unit serving the Cowichan Valley.

Start Date

As soon as possible.

Community Information

Located in the beautiful Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, the City of Duncan enjoys Canada’s most temperate climate. The area features diverse landscapes from lush countryside to scenic coastal villages and charming inland communities, encompassing freshwater lakes, saltwater beaches and marinas, and farmland. Outdoor activities include hiking and biking trails, golfing, sailing, canoeing, and ocean kayaking. The South Cowichan Valley boasts five top vineyards and wineries, and Duncan offers many local artisans and attractions. Public education is complemented by renowned private schools, and Victoria, located 45 minutes south, provides excellent educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities. Vancouver Island offers a rewarding career combined with an enviable quality of life, renowned for its natural beauty and blend of urban and rural living.

Compensation

Compensation type: Fee-for-Service. Estimated remuneration: Mixed Fee-for-Service and Sessional Billing.

Benefits and Incentives

• May be eligible for additional remuneration under the Rural Subsidiary Agreement (RSA), including:
  • Retention Premium: 4.2%
  • Retention Flat Fee: $6,374
  • Relocation Funding: Up to $15,000
  • Recruitment Incentive: $10,000
• Additional incentives under RSA (subject to eligibility):
  • Rural CME starting at $3,000/annum in years 3 & 4 in community, increasing to a maximum of $6,000/annum after 4 years;
  • Free shared office space, secretary, telephone, fax, and email.