Program Director - P/T Contract

PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND THERAPIST - Contract

Position Type: Program Director opportunity is available only during our program dates. We operate on a 3 weeks on/ 3 weeks off schedule. You'll provide the Program Director services for 3 weeks, and then you will have three weeks off. There is a longer break at the end of each season between the end of November and mid-January. 

COMPANY: Fresh Start Health Retreat, operating from Ocean Resort at 4384 South Island Hwy, Campbell River, BC, V9H 1E8

Program Director Position Summary: You are a healer by heart and love helping people in their healing journey. You are the primary person responsible for daily health check-ins with people having various physical and emotional issues and looking after program guests' requests. You will do the initial orientation, support people through their healing process, provide nutritional supplementation to support them with their symptoms, facilitate occasional group time, teach some lectures and manage group dynamics. 

This position is 30% about guiding guests group through the program/ education/ health support, 30% about documentation management/ various tasks (collect end-of-stay documentation, keep paper trail of extra appointment requests, do appointment bookings, package supplements, prepare end-of-day shift report and many more), and 30% about managing situations and group dynamics. There are a lot of simple tasks involved, yet you will also have a lot of interaction with guests and various challenges to resolve on a regular basis, which requires emotional and physical resilience. 

CREDENTIALS PREFERRED:

Chartered Herbalist, Registered Natural Health Consultant, Registered Acupuncturist, Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Licensed Practical Nurse, Doctor of Natural Health, Doctor of Homeopathy, Registered Natural Health Consultant,  or other similar credentials. Note: If you do not have the credentials listed, but meet all other requirements, feel free to apply. MOST IMPORTANT: You need to have some understanding of physical and emotional health. 

PROGRAM DIRECTOR (PD) PAY: 

You are paid a set fee per program, not hourly. 

Pay: $25 per hour; if herbology training $30 per hour, Contract pay. Herbalist Certification is a must for this position. If you do not have it, you must complete it within 1 yr. of being hired and get registered for the course before or shortly after you start the position. Recommended Herbology Course: Chartered Herbologist, Dominion College. 

Possible additional income (subject to your skills/credentials): If you have/get an herbalist certification and can also do 1-on-1 sessions/ therapies in the afternoon, you may make around $4,500 per 3 weeks, between Program Director Duties and Therapies.

Total Pay for PD Hours (set fee, for 100 hrs.): $2,500 at $25; $3,000 at $30

Pre-program Profiles Study and Group Health Summary Preparation (2 hrs.)

Sat Pre-Program: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Meet with Program Manager (about guest's health info) (2 hrs.)

Sun 7:45 a.m. - 10 a.m. (2nd, 3rd and 4th Sun); 4:00-7:30 pm (1st, 2nd & 3rd Sun), minus 15-min break (18 hrs.)

Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat 7:45 a.m.- 2:30 p.m., minus 15-min break (6.5 hrs. * 4 days per week * 3 weeks = 78 hrs.)

Note: If some days you need to stay longer, you may leave earlier on others (but not earlier than 1:30 p.m.).

Some Orientation nights may finish later. Occasionally, orientation may be cancelled if there are no arrivals that day.

Note: If some days you need to stay longer and it does not even out with other hours, you may leave earlier on some light days (but not earlier than 1:30 p.m.). It is not allowed to skip breaks. 

Unpaid Duties:

Dinner Finale 2-4 times a year, the last Saturday of program 5:00 pm-7:30 pm, - unpaid for all contractors (=free meal)

Team Meetings 2-4 times a year (Zoom or in-Person)

Hours related to personal research and health studies, and professional growth (reading extra books) are not paid. We expect that you enjoy learning and will take the initiative to read more about the topics you are presenting, the healing process and various health topics in your free time. We will provide additional books and video materials.

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: 

If you are a skilled bodyworker or therapist, other earning opportunities may be available at Fresh Start on a contract basis.  This would be subject to your ability to handle your Program Director duties while being able to stay recharged throughout the program.  You may be able to take 1-on-1 appointments on your days off and after hours.  

Suggested additional therapy schedule: 3 hrs. of appointments per day, 3 afternoons per week, 3:30-7 p.m.

Estimated Total Earnings from additional services: $1,500 (25 hrs. at $60). Claimable Registered Therapist services rates differ from this (ex., Reg. Acupuncturist, TCM). If you can handle more or longer days, your income may increase, but it is most important is that you take time for rejuvenation and that therapies are not competing with your PD hours and permanent therapists' business.

Example of therapies: massages, salt scrub, reflexology, food detox with light massage, hot and cold fomentations, laser therapy, 1-on-1 health coaching sessions. 

SKILLS AND QUALITIES REQUIRED:

• Excellent communication and people skills: you enjoy working directly with people, have a warm, nurturing personality, and connect with others naturally. You are a very good listener. You will be a mama/ papa for the group, a person who embraces guests, who gives them hugs, who genuinely cares for them.
  
  
  
  • You have a natural sense of peace around you; people relax in your presence because you are relaxed.
    
  
  
  • Positivity, adaptability and emotional stability; you are non-confrontational and humble.
    
  
  
  • Group dynamics management skills - you are able to "feel" the group spirit, you are a preventer: can identify the arising issues and prevent their aggravation, and resolve them by educating guests.
    
  
  
  
  

• Outstanding time management, punctuality and self-organization.
  
  
  
  • You are able to tactfully cut a conversation short in order to get things done.
    
  
  
  • You are able to work with a large number of various details, follow up on tasks and not let things or people "fall through the cracks."
    
    
  
  
  
  


• You are not afraid of challenges and even enjoy resolving them. There will be various situations you will come across. For example, guests may be upset, make assumptions, be emotionally unstable, experience a host of physical symptoms and crises, there may be challenges with group dynamics/ gossip etc.). 
  
  
  
  • You must have a high level of maturity and ability to handle people's emotions, complaints, and dissatisfaction without taking them personally, reacting or blaming.
    
  
  
  • You are not afraid of working with guests with physical symptoms and health challenges; you always work on prevention and can look after people in a healing "crisis" (ex. give the diabetics a protein shake, somebody who experiences an emotional breakdown - to support them through it, or the worst case scenario- you call an ambulance and support the person until it arrives - though of course, this is not something that happens usually, you can deal with such unusual situation, too).
  
  
  • If anything happens, you do not panic, do not "avoid," and do not look at the clock that you need to leave - you will stay till the situation is resolved or come back to look after the person.
    
  
  
  • You are solution-oriented and, when it is challenging, you do not freeze, do not panic and do not create drama.
    
  
  
  • In emergency cases, you will not drop the client and will stay over time (ex. take the person or visit in the hospital).
    
  
  
  
  

• You are an engaging public speaker and an avid researcher.
  
  
  
  • You are articulate, and people are drawn to you because you have knowledge.
  
  
  • Being an engaging/ dynamic speaker for workshop/lecture presentations would be an asset.
  
  
  • You are evaluative and do not rush into making a decision, can listen and are not afraid to consult.
    
  
  
  
  

•  You have a good understanding of physical and emotional health:
  
  
  
  • You understand the detoxification process, healing crisis/healing symptoms, and ability to address health symptoms as they arise.
  
  
  • You have experience working with people with various physical and emotional health conditions.
    
  
  
  • You are able to ask questions related to health, in order to identify the person's issue and/or condition in depth.
    
  
  
  
  

• You find satisfaction and enjoyment in office work, getting the paperwork accurate and getting small details taken care of. There are a lot of simple and repetitive tasks and routines.

• Physical and emotional resilience. You are physically and emotionally able to carry the load and reliably be at the retreat centre at 7:45 am start time and to finish 1-on-1 therapies at 7 p.m. (considering you'll have a good break after your 3 weeks).

• You are a quick learner of processes, procedures and systems. Some basic technical skills are a must (there will be a limited number of tasks, but you need to be able to learn how to use our system to do them).

• You are ready to commit to 1-2 yrs. to Program Director Duties - training takes time, and we want to make sure that the person is committed for at least an annual contract and getting their herbalist course asap (ideally within 6 months).

DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS:

Herbalist Certification (if do not have, within 1 yr. of Contract, register right after being hired- at own cost)

Acquire and maintain First Aid (at own cost)

Provide Criminal Record Check (at own cost)

If Herbalist or Bodyworker/ Therapist - Liability Insurance 

GST # - a must-have for a Contractor. Must provide a registered Company and number prior to start date

MAIN DUTIES: 

#1: Guest Requests and Documentation Management 

You work under the guidance of the Program Manager. Every morning, you collect health-related and other forms filled out by the program participants. You review, process and save the forms, as per guidelines. Then you present the solution plan and consult with the Program Manager before implementing it (especially initially) and to follow the existing procedures and supplement protocols. Carefully keeping a paper trail is essential. 

The documentation includes the following:

• Daily Morning Well-Being sheets (may contain health-related requests/ concerns, additional treatment bookings and any other guests' requests). 


• Program Participation charts (contain records of daily BP, BMs, amount of water the guests drank and participation in essential program activities).


• Sign-up Sheets for certain activities such as walks, steam baths and Isotonic Drink.
  


• Additional Appointment Request, Program Extension, Meal Customization Request and other forms. 


• Daily End-of-Shift Report.


• End-of-Stay Documentation (Before and After Health Self-Assessment, Emotional Wellness Questionnaires; Meal Take-out Request, Feedback, Tip and Video Testimonial Forms).

The processing of requests typically will include the following:

• Courtesy calls to the guests who did not show up for Daily Check-in


• Carefully keep an eye on various health indicators, and guests' physical and emotional well-being, to ensure no one request or action "falls through the cracks." 


• Provide guests with one-time protocols (supplements) to alleviate detox/healing symptoms (ex. headache, insomnia, HBP, hypoglycemia, nausea), as per our guidelines.
  


• If specific tasks, related to guests' requests and needs are delegated to other team members, you must ensure that it has been done and done correctly.
  


• Miscellaneous program-related tasks, as needed (ex., printing a new schedule for a guest who extended the program, preparing a binder for the last-minute registrant).


• Book additional appointments, after ensuring there are no contraindications.


• Provide emotional support to participants.
  


• Urgent errands to town (pharmacy, hospital etc.). Very rare, typically delegated to other team members. 


• Daily call or email and report to the Program Manager about what has been done.

#2. Guest Education and Program Guidance

You are responsible for the following:

• New arrivals orientations, Quit Smoking Orientations, program explanation and guests’ education on the program process, keeping them motivated and accountable


• Facilitate occasional group sessions


• Present lectures as scheduled, to quickly learn and present new lectures, as per program need and to substitute other presenters
  


• Group dynamics management, complaints management, conflict resolution, guest emotional support
  


• Facilitate Morning Digestive Flush Twice a Week  


• Assist a guest who has severe detox/healing symptoms


• Drop off guests/guides for a group outing (very occasional, 5-min drive)


• Prepare Tips4Journey (post-program tips to take home), using the templates provided; create lists of suggested supplementation, if requested by the Program Manager.


• Pre-program meeting (zoom or in-person) - to review the health of guests attending the upcoming program  and prepare Summary of Group Health (ex. contraindications for therapies, precautions, constipation, sleep issues etc.).
  
  
  

#3 Team Spirit: 

• We are a small team and are looking for a person for whom there is no job below him/her. Our Managers and Directors do emergency toilet cleaning when needed. Occasionally (if someone gets sick) you may  be asked to substitute a lecture, help in the kitchen, sub an evening instructor for a bonfire or games night, or to assist the Program Coordinator with laundry, clean-up and other duties. 

Disclaimer: The list of duties above is not exhaustive, as the processes and procedures change over time. 

PROGRAM DIRECTOR DAILY DUTIES SCHEDULE:

Each day you have regular repeatable responsibilities, such as going through guests' morning documentation, organizing/providing one-time protocols and group education/support. Hours and days vary slightly from program to program, depending on the number of guests, number of new arrivals/departures per specific day, duties that may be transferred to other team members, and other reasons. 

Consistency in your ability to complete the duties within allotted hours and your time management/self-organization skills is critical. 

Main PD Duties Per Day (Subject to Change as per need):

Pre-Program Week: 

     • Fri 2 hrs. study of guest profiles, prepare Health Summary
      • Sat 10-12 p.m. Call with another PD and Program Manager

Weeks 1-3:
        NOTE: each day you check in with the guests, identify their needs/symptoms/ requests and decide what you do
        about it.
     • Sun 7:45- 11 a.m. (2nd, 4rd and 4th weeks - 2.45 hrs.) Main Duties: Goodbuys to departures.

• Sun 4 pm-7:30 pm, minus 15-min break (1st, 2nd and 4rd weeks - 3.25 hrs.) Main Duties: facilities tour and orientation; Program Orientation; Quit Smoking orientation (if needed).


• Mon 7:45 am-2:30 pm (6.25 hrs.) Main Duties: The 2nd part of orientation, Facilitation of the group time. 


• Wed 7:45 am - 2:30 pm (6.25 hrs. ) Main Duties: Facilitation of the Digestive Flush and health support after.


• Thu 7:45 am - 2:30 pm (6.25 hrs. ) Main Duties: Facilitation of the Digestive Flush and health support after; Re-Entry Class for Departures.


• Sat 7:45 am -1:30 pm (5.25 hrs.) Main Duties: assist Program Coordinator with departures and assist Program Manager with juggling of appointments for next week.

INITIAL PRE-PROGRAM TRAINING:

Training will be paid separately at a pre-agreed, flat rate, depending on how many lectures/procedures you need to learn. It won't be hourly pay. The training may include studying the Fresh Start lectures and videos, company philosophy/policies and PD procedures/processes. Consists of personal study, essays and Q&A with PD over Zoom and LMS (Learning Management System). If intermediate or advanced training is required between programs, it will also be paid at a pre-agreed, flat rate. All training is done between programs. 

ABOUT THE COMPANY:

Fresh Start is a Health Restoration Retreat that has been operating since 2005. We are a healing centre; people come here to improve their health using natural means. We specialize in physical and emotional health restoration, quitting smoking and detox & recharge programs.

FACILITIES PICTURES https://healthretreat.box.com/s/myrmx5aju2sy4qlp95npuix0a1mhp760 

THERAPIES PICTURES https://healthretreat.box.com/s/uwyx0ewvvs01cr0s6pj777i0xaibbb9v 

GUESTS EXPERIENCE https://healthretreat.box.com/s/buagqnf3f20q093p5vzk6nhl6a2pag9u 

OUR GUESTS' STORIES: the stories are long; please feel free to listen to the intro or the entire one

STORY 1 https://www.healthretreat.ca/testimonial-items/my-blood-sugar-has-normalized-completely-and-thats-with-zero-medication/ 

STORY 2  https://www.healthretreat.ca/testimonial-items/my-inflammation-was-at-9-out-of-10-and-now-its-around-a-2/

STORY 3 https://www.healthretreat.ca/testimonial-items/i-overcame-resentment-towards-a-parent-and-love-and-grieve-that-parent-now/ 

WHY WORK WITH US?

Seeing the health transformation of the guests and making a difference! The great positive vibe, an excellent team, a beautiful facility and ocean-front location, access to therapies and supplements at cost, and access to the gym in free time.

HOW TO APPLY: 

If you are excited about working with us, please read a detailed description and apply with a resume on our online company job board: https://www.healthretreat.ca/fresh-start-jobs. If you have issues with applying online, please apply in person with a resume.

If you love working with people, feel that your skills and the position description match, and are a positive happy individual and a great team player, we'll be glad to hear from you!