Kamloops, B.C.: Day One Society (DOS) in Kamloops is ringing in the new year by putting out a call for additional staff members to join their growing team with a significant signing bonus.
According to DOS’s executive director Siân Lewis, the organization has already seen several excellent resumes coming in from across the country.
“Our organization is blessed to have a core group of dynamic staff members who are committed to delivering services and programs to our clients, but in order to meet the demand, we need to add to our team to increase our capacity and shorten our waitlists,” remarked Lewis.
"Our staff are remarkable people."
DOS has been providing services and programs to bring hope, help, and healing to youth and adults experiencing issues or challenges with substance use since 1973. Programs include a detoxification (detox) program which is medically monitored on-site at the Phoenix Centre location, youth counselling and family support, and supportive recovery for adults. Throughout the over 50 years the organization has been operating, hundreds of people from communities all throughout the province of British Columbia have been assisted on their journey from addiction to wellness. Lewis noted that the healthcare professionals who work at DOS find the work challenging, but also incredibly rewarding.
“Our staff are remarkable people,” said Lewis. “To work as licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, or registered psychiatric nurses with Day One Society takes special people not only with the education requirements, but experience working with people who have substance use issues. Our team tells us that when someone goes through our program and reaches their goal of sobriety, it is one of the most rewarding experiences of their professional careers. Fortunately, our team gets to be a part of this wellness journey and often gets to celebrate our clients’ sobriety.”
Back in the summer of 2023, DOS officially opened its new youth detox wing, looking to provide youth with a more separate area at the Phoenix Centre to go through the detox program. With a lack of nurses seemingly everywhere in the province, DOS hasn’t been able to welcome youth into that wing just yet, although they still provide youth with the services they need in the current facility.
“Although we lack the nurses to staff this youth-specific wing, we are still able to care for the youth who come to us,” said Lewis. “Our ideal situation is to get enough nurses to staff this wing which will in turn free up more space in our adult wing to address our wait lists. We know that when people make the decision to enter our programming, time is of the essence. If we can get people in right away as soon as they are ready, that is what is most helpful to them. The signing bonus we are offering for nurses to join us is meant to provide that added incentive to attract the right people to join our team to help more people.”
As far as the signing bonus goes, DOS is offering a one-time incentive of $20,000 for licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and registered psychiatric nurses who are hired and stay with the organization for a minimum of two years.
“We are pleased to have been able to work with our colleagues at Interior Health Authority and from the union that represents our staff to get the go ahead to offer these bonuses. We have already had some excellent candidates come forward and we are hoping that by spreading this news broadly, healthcare workers will consider a career with Day One Society to utilize their expertise in a smaller centre to help people find the healing they so desperately desire.”
Details of the positions can be found under the CAREERS tab of the Day One Society website at www.dayonesociety.ca. Job postings will be live until all the positions are filled.
For an interview, please contact:
Aleece Laird, Communications Liaison, aleece@amplifyinc.ca | 250.574.0221