Heart & Hands Seeking Acupuncturist to offer Cupping (and possibly more…)

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  1. Heart & Hands Seeking Acupuncturist to offer Cupping (and possibly more…)

About us

Founded in 2010, Heart & Hands Health Collective is a grassroots, WoC+queer operated and social justice-focused Community Acupuncture & Holistic Health clinic in Lekwungen Territories, or the Quadra Village neighbourhood in Victoria BC. We share our nest and mission with our sister business, Green Muse Herbs.

Each month, Heart & Hands provides 300-400 of streamlined acupuncture sessions, in a supportive group setting with clients lying comfortably in zero gravity recliner chairs, all at an accessible $30-60 sliding scale. We also offer affordable Cupping Therapy sessions as a compliment to our acupuncture services at $40-70 sliding scale. We are committed to exploring approaches to keep our services affordable, accessible and inclusive to a segment of the community that may not have extended health benefits and/or those who are typically under-served by many holistic health services. We are working class practitioners building and sustaining a practice serving working class people.

We believe that Community Acupuncture is a tool for social change, a way to honor the ancestral roots of barefoot medicine, a cultural bridge between modern and traditional, a thriving example of mutual aid and economic justice in action. It is an innovative approach that makes acupuncture accessible and inclusive for many.

And now more than ever, with the ever-growing social divide, it is imperative that we support spaces such as ours. We strive to be a place of community care, mindful consideration, socioeconomic justice and a soft place to land. We serve as a sanctuary for the part of our community that often does not have access to safe(r), inclusive spaces to receive holistic, traditional, collective health care. 

Our organization appreciates the diversity of human beings and does not discriminate based on race, age, size, national origin, language, religion, ability, education, HIV status, marital status, sexual orientation, sex or gender identity. We invite everyone who comes through our doors to share similar attitudes of acceptance of individuals from all walks of life.

We look forward to meeting community-minded, open-hearted and motivated practitioner to join our busy and vital Community Acupuncture practice!

About the position

We are primarily looking to fill vacant Cupping & Gua Sha shifts that compliment our Community Acupuncture services. This allows clients the option to book back-to-back Community Acupuncture sessions with Cupping. It is also a treatment alternative for clients who are needle-hesitant. Cupping & Gua Sha is already an established and highly sought after service, so this is a great opportunity to generate regular income.

  • 2-3 weekly Cupping & Gua Sha shifts
    • Offering 30 minute sessions within a 45 minute timeslot, at the rate of $40-70 sliding scale
    • Possible morning timeslots – Monday – Friday 10:00am – 1:45pm (5 x 45 minute timeslots)
    • Possible afternoon-evening timeslots – Monday – Friday (except Wednesdays), 3:00 – 6:45pm (5 x 45 minute timeslots)

Position details

  • Practitioners are contractors.
  • The contract is 2 years – there is an initial short-term probationary period of 6 months with a 3 month training period
  • Cupping & Gua Sha wages are on a commission basis, 60/40 split on per shift revenue to cover our operating costs
  • All equipment provided – massage table and massage chair, linens, silicone cups, gua sha tools, massage oil, linens, laundry facilities
  • We utilize JaneApp for online scheduling, charting and invoicing
  • A commitment to community health and safety – at H&H we still mask and screen clients for symptoms of illness. We are choosing to prioritize the safety of our immunocompromised practitioners and clients – many clients seek us out for our continuous masking policies. To see our COVID health and safety policies, READ HERE. 
    *If you are not in agreement with our measures, please do not apply for this position.
  • Once settled into regular weekly Cupping & Gua Sha shifts, there is the opportunity for the candidate to begin the process of training for Community Acupuncture shifts. Candidates will complete a selection process to ensure they possess the skills and ongoing drive to complete the onboarding process and integrate into our busy Community Acupuncture practice.

Selection process

Our intention is to find an individual who will integrate well into the Community Acupuncture practice at Heart & Hands. So while the successful candidate will start off providing Cupping & Gua Sha, ultimately, this selection process is to assess whether candidates are a fit for our practice and client-base as a future Community Acupuncturist.

Most importantly, this an opportunity for candidates to critically assess whether they are prepared for the rigors of training to become proficient in our community setting. Adapting to practicing Community Acupuncture can be a steep learning curve for some, but extremely rewarding for those who can adjust to the clinical format.

  • Candidates with suitable qualifications, relevant experience and compatible values will be invited for an interview
  • Candidates who move on to the next stage of assessment will be invited to the following:

Criteria for the ideal candidate

Heading into our 15th year of practice, Community Acupuncture has been our bread and butter, the engine driving our mission and principles at Heart & Hands. This practice model is a synthesis of all the elements that optimize the delivery of acupuncture to many, from our group treatment setting and sliding scale to our focus and dedication to Balance System Acupuncture and other distal style treatments that provide efficient and effective results.

Acupuncture need not be expensive to be effective and in fact for over a decade, we have been doing this time and time again. We provide an affordable and accessible means for our community to partake in a grassroots, inclusive, holistic, individualized and traditional form of health care. We have been serving the segment of our community that is often priced out of holistic modalities.

With persistence and dedication, we have demonstrated that there is another, more innovative way to deliver traditional health care to our community. One that not only pays our bills, but also aligns with our politics and values. We invite inspired and motivated individuals who are looking for a long term “home” to join us.

General criteria

  • Acupuncturist (R.Ac. or R.TCMP), with a valid license to practice in BC, in good standing with the CCHPBC and carrying professional liability insurance
    • For an R.TCMP. there is the additional possibility of offering TCM Herbal consultations in the future once settled into their Cupping and Community Acupuncture hours.
  • Seeking a long term position (2+ years) – acupuncture practices are built by being rooted in a community, sustained for long periods of time. There are no shortcuts or substitutes for staying put so folks can find you.
  • Ready to empty their cup and being prepared to learn (a lot)
  • Detail-oriented, organized and punctual
  • Effective communication skills – we serve a diverse client base from a many different backgrounds, lived experiences as well as varying abilities to read or speak English.
  • Open-mindedness and adaptability to serve individuals from all walks of life requiring patience, humility and compassion
  • Excellent time management skills, multi-tasking, thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume setting to manage busy clinic hours and our action-packed community setting
  • Being committed to the ongoing process of being trauma informed and decolonizing the practice of acupuncture and TCM

A working knowledge and understanding of the Community Acupuncture model

Experience with Balance System Acupuncture (BSA) is a MUST

  • Our large Community Acupuncture client base is shared among all members of our acupuncture team, so it is not unusual for clients to maintain their course of treatment by seeing more than one acupuncturist. Therefore, a universal clinical approach is essential to ensure clients receive a consistent, cohesive treatment over time.
  • We are a Balance System Acupuncture practice, with both our existing team members being certified in BSA through the Tan Academy of Balance. This approach has been our bread and butter since 2010 because of it’s potent results:
    • This ensures the whole team provides efficient, effective and consistent DISTAL point prescriptions in our community setting.
    • This also ensures everyone on our team will speak the same clinical language as well as an understanding of Balance theory and technique.
    • That the candidate can yield the similar clinical results that our clients are accustomed to from using effective Balance point combos
  • A working knowledge of adjusting/adapting clinical approaches and point prescriptions to treating any and all conditions using points below the elbows and the knees (a core BSA concept of holographic mirroring and imaging)
  • A firm grasp of the BSA concept of Li Gan Jian Ying (立 竿 见 影), “Set up a pole and see the shadow”
  • For the right candidate we can provide supplementary training in Levels 1 & 2 as well as the advanced levels of the BSA system (Systems 3-6)

Additional BSA resources:

Ability to thrive in a fast-paced clinical setting

  • Ability to problem solve and perform under pressure
  • Ability multi-task and manage time, vital attributes necessary to work in a high-volume setting (timing, flow, technique)
    • Our Cupping & Gua Sha sessions are ~30 minutes in length during a 45 minute timeslot
    • Our Community Acupuncture sessions are booked on a 15 minute basis, with treatment length being up to 50 minutes.
      Practitioners are providing 4 or more sessions hourly
  • Effective and compassionate bedside manner to build client trust and compliance to a course of treatment
  • Adapting to the unorthodox administrative infrastructure of our busy clinic (reception, online booking, emails)
  • Maintaining clear clinical records and completing them in a timely manner

Motivated

  • Taking necessary measures to maintain client retention (ie. client communication, advising on course of treatment, encouraging receiving care for maintenance reasons, etc.)
  • Demonstrating the initiative to promote themselves on their own channels (ie. email, social media, in-person outreach)
  • Attracting and recruit new clients via:
    • Participation in community-based marketing/outreach via workshops, seminars, open house events, etc.
    • Participation in structured marketing strategies including writing for our blog and creating content for social media

Team Ethic

  • Acting and thinking collectively – within one’s capacity, striving to support your fellow practitioners through clear communication, lending a hand with small tasks and participating in a general culture of kindness, openness and compassion
  • Being available to participate in staff meetings every other month
  • Being available for the occasional community outreach and open house events (generally quarterly or seasonal)
  • Maintaining regular communication between practitioners in order to coordinate and serve our shared client-base
  • Contribute to the daily/weekly housekeeping required for the upkeep of a shared clinical space

Accountability

  • First and foremost, to follow our health and safety measures in order to protect our clients, coworkers and yourself
  • To the caliber of your work and providing high quality care to our clients
  • To regularly participate in professional development to continuously build and refine your clinical skills
  • Ensuring you receive adequate self-care, which may include receiving regular acupuncture from fellow H&H practitioners
  • Be open to constructive feedback and conflict resolution should such situations arise

How to apply

Tell us about yourself, how your practice serves the community and how H&H as an organization aligns with your values and politics. For more about our organizational structure, please review our Collective Agreements & Policies document.

Intake for potential candidates will remain open until a suitable individual has been found.

Interested individuals, please email in PDF format to info@heartandhandscommunity.ca, and use the subject line, Seeking Community Acupunk. Please include:

  • Resume
  • Letter of interest
  • 2 references

We will not be responding to inquiries that do not include the above requested items. Please direct any questions regarding this position by email, no phone calls or walk-ins.