In 1986, a small group of human rights activists and mental health workers gathered in Vancouver to support the flood of refugees arriving from the armed conflicts in South and Central America. They founded the Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture (VAST), and this dedicated group of volunteers built what would become BC’s largest center for refugee mental health. Today, VAST works with refugees from over 100 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. Our programs and services are offered in over a dozen languages, including Arabic, Farsi, French, Mandarin, and Spanish. We support the mental health of refugees who arrive in British Columbia with psychological trauma as a result of torture, political violence, and other forms of persecution on the basis of race, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation. 

We facilitate the healing process for 1,000 survivors of torture each year, and their families, by providing accessible and culturally appropriate individual and group counselling and therapeutic services. We also provide psycho-legal documentation and support refugee claimants through the asylum process, and are called in to work with Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada when their particular situation requires our 

support. Canada is a signatory to the UN’s Convention Against Torture (1985), and the Refugee Convention (1951), both of which oblige us to protect the rights of survivors of forced displacement, including the Right to Rehabilitation, and to provide safe haven to those who at risk of persecution. VAST is an active member of the International Rehabilitation Council for Victims of Torture (IRCT), the Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR), and the Canadian Network for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (CNSTT). 

Founded on the conviction that ‘healing is an act of resistance’, for 36 years VAST has employed a province-leading model of trauma-informed mental health service provision. Our work has created and sustained a resilient, inclusive community amongst newcomers, and over More than half of our team identify as survivors themselves, and their voices are represented at all levels of our organization. We do not believe in working alone, and our mission supports a range of advocacy and capacity building activities to strengthen BC’s mental health sector for newcomers, and encourage understanding of our work amongst government institutions. In so doing, we relieve demand on the BC healthcare sector, especially in dense urban and more isolated rural areas of BC. VAST is more than a healthcare provider and is known throughout BC as a convener of voices with lived experience of torture and trauma, and an influential advisor to multiple levels of policy makers and practitioners.

Job Description 

We are looking for candidates for Interpreter positions in our Trauma Recovery & Torture Rehabilitation organization. We are open to all relevant languages, but specifically looking for Bengali-speaking candidates. We are looking for candidates with trauma-related education, training, experience (preferably working with forced migrants and refugees), and lived experience. 

Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada. 

Position Summary: 

The role of the interpreter is to facilitate communication between VAST clients and VAST staff. This position reports to the Community Engagement Team Co-Leads. 

Responsibilities: 

1. The interpreter must confine their role to interpretation only.

2. The interpreter must seek to debrief with a VAST counsellor or other designated staff member when required as a way to mitigate vicarious trauma.

3. The interpreter agrees to keep firm boundaries with clients, including but not limited to the following points:

(a) The interpreter will not give their cell phone number or personal email address to clients. If it is necessary to call a client outside the VAST office for appointment scheduling, the interpreter will withhold their number using *67.

(b) The interpreter will not agree to meet with a client outside of the VAST office, unless this is under exceptional circumstances agreed to with the VAST Clinical Supervisor and Executive Director.

(c) The Interpreter agrees not to interact with clients on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

4. The interpreter will check their VAST email account regularly and use it to send any correspondence related to VAST activities.

5. The interpreter will notify VAST if they have to call in sick or change their hours in any way.

6. If any incidents occur with a client or in the office in general, the interpreter will immediately notify the Executive Director, Associate Director, Clinical Supervisor, CET Co-Leads.

7. Follow up with clients to book, change, re-book, or cancel appointments. Ensure to keep the Counsellor, Psychologist, Psychiatrist, or other VAST designated member informed

8. Train clients on Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, WhatsApp, etc

9. Conduct interpretation for clinical sessions as booked, and for VAST groups as booked

10. Translate forms, posters, update documents, and VAST Social Media posts in a timely manner

11. Coordinate sessions with CET co-leads and directly with clinicians

12. Perform other duties as requested

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Qualifications:

1. Fluency in English and Bengali 

2. Experience with cross-cultural communication

3. Experience working with Trauma 

4. At least 2 years experience in interpreting

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