Social work

An overview of the services social workers provide at Providence Health Care.

Overview

Social workers provide counselling and services for your safety and well-being. They focus on short-term health care crisis intervention.

Issues social workers may help you deal with include:

  • Adjusting to illness
  • Finances and financial assistance
  • Housing problems
  • Placement issues
  • Caregiver issues
  • Suspected adult abuse and neglect
  • Palliative care/bereavement
  • Confusion/dementia behaviour management
  • Relationship issues
  • Conflict resolution and mediation
  • Advocacy

What to expect

Social workers contribute to care at Providence Health Care by working closely with doctors, nurses, and allied professionals across acute care, community and long-term care sites. They provide services to patients in and out of hospital in all of the following areas:

  • HIV/AIDS
  • Kidney/Renal
  • Heart Centre
  • Medicine
  • Acute services: palliative care, ICU, emergency and maternity
  • Surgery
  • Rehabilitation
  • Seniors services
  • Mental health
  • Substance use

Support for Indigenous Peoples

The Indigenous Wellness Liaison Team is here to support your health journey. Team members offer cultural support and healthcare advocacy. Learn more below or call them at 604-682-2344,62937 or email IWL@providencehealth.bc.ca.

  • Indigenous wellness services

    The Indigenous Wellness Team at Providence is available to support Indigenous patients and their families. We are here to coordinate culturally safe wellness supports and services.

Education & resources

If you are looking for information on accommodation or travel assistance plans, please visit the appropriate Patient & Visitor guide. 

PHC Student Internship

Providence collaborates with the University of British Columbia School of Social Work to provide an integrated and comprehensive education program for graduate-level Social Work students who want to pursue a career in health care. Students from other accredited Masters of Social Work programs are eligible to apply for placements. The goal of this hospital-based internship is to provide training and education to ensure students are achieving the highest level of competency and job preparedness upon graduation. 

Learn more

Contact

Please note that this office reaches social work services across all Providence sites.

Hours

Monday to Friday
9:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.

Careers in social work

Social workers at Providence have Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degrees. All social workers at Providence must be registered with the British Columbia College of Social Workers. Our social workers are part of many exciting opportunities. They work full-time, part-time and in casual positions in all program areas. Visit our Job Seekers section for information about working at Providence.