Summary

Providence Health Care’s Indigenous Wellness and Reconciliation team is hiring!

 

To learn more about the Indigenous Wellness and Reconciliation team, check us out here.

 

We acknowledge that Providence Health Care & the new St. Paul’s Hospital site is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

 

“We are here to support and advocate for Indigenous folks to ensure that their healthcare is inclusive and that it is just as important as anyone else’s.” – Jaye Currie, Indigenous Wellness Liaison

 

What you will do:
On a day-to-day basis, the Indigenous Wellness Liaison (IWL) will work to establish continuous, safe, and meaningful engagement processes with self-identified Indigenous patients and their families. Through their strong knowledge and lived experience, the IWL will assist to guide the patient and the health care providers to access cultural practices, traditional medicines, ceremony, and access to the All Nations Sacred Space.

 

This opportunity will support the BRIDGE to Transplantation Initiative. This is a province-wide initiative to improve access to kidney transplantation for FNIM patients with kidney failure in BC. The initiative has been developed in partnership with patient partners, Indigenous communities, Providence Health, VCH, and PHSA. As part of this initiative Indigenous Wellness Liaisons (IWL) will work with the multidisciplinary Kidney Transplant team to support self-identified Indigenous patients through their journey from referral for kidney transplantation through to post-transplant care. In addition, self-reported Indigenous individuals who come forward for potential living kidney donation will be supported through their journey through their evaluation and post donation care.

 

Bring your whole self, life experiences and cultural learnings, to this role and make a tangible impact on the health care services provided to Indigenous patient populations at Providence Health Care. We are committed to treating those we serve — and each other — with compassion and respect.

 

About you:

• The successful candidate will have gained a strong knowledge and understanding of the colonial impact on the health care system as it pertains to the Indigenous populations, through their lived and professional experience.
• They will be able to work collaboratively and decisively to support the goals of the Indigenous Wellness and Reconciliation Action Plan.
• They will be able to work under pressure, be solutions focused, deescalate, resolve conflict, and practice cultural humility to address cultural concerns.
• Demonstrated knowledge, experience, and understanding of Indigenous Peoples and cultures and history, an understanding of the roots of harm (colonization and racism) and ongoing harms experienced by Indigenous Peoples, UNDRIP, and the TRC Calls to Action.
• Completion of a Bachelor Degree in social work, health care nursing or related discipline is an asset but we will consider all learning through non-traditional avenues.

Meet the Indigenous Wellness and Reconciliation (IWR) team and what they do:

The IWR team guides Providence Health Care in its commitment to advance Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, informed by seminal reports like In Plain Sight (2021) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. All of us at Providence are responsible for advancing Indigenous human rights in partnership with Indigenous Peoples, through processes underpinned by mutual respect and dignity. We also continually seek to maximize our capacity to deliver exceptional, culturally safe care to the Indigenous patients that we serve. The Indigenous Wellness and Reconciliation team is an integral part of guiding and leading this work.

 

Implementing innovative solutions to challenges is a key part of advancing culturally safe, identify-affirming care. The implementation of innovative solutions often involves multiple teams and services, and requires coordination and respectful collaboration.

 

In this position, you will report to Neil Fowler, Manager, and be joining an exceptional, hardworking team balanced with unwavering support for one another and a great sense of humour: Fancy Poitras, Lindsay Beck, and Sheri Hundseth. The Vice-President of Indigenous Wellness and Reconciliation, Harmony Johnson, leads the team through a strong vision and provides flexibility and autonomy.

 

About Providence Health Care:

Driven by compassion and social justice, we are at the forefront of exceptional care and innovation. Our organization, Providence Health Care, is a proud winner of three prestigious awards:

• 2022 Canada’s Best Diversity Employers
• 2022 BC’s Top Employers
• 2022 Canada’s Top Employers for Young People

What we offer:

• The salary range for this role is $65,884 - $94,708 per year, depending on experience.
• A comprehensive health benefit package, including dental, vision, and life coverage.
• An orientation session and comprehensive onboarding to all new hires.
• A chance to grow professionally and personally, as part of a supportive team driven by innovation and the desire to address the future health needs of patients, families and our communities.
• This position will be required to be on site at St. Paul’s Hospital in downtown Vancouver.

Application:

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent. We want to learn about you and your journey as it relates to this role. In lieu of a cover letter we encourage you to submit the story of your journey – this can be in a written/oral story, video, or even infographic. In your application, please let us know if you identify as Indigenous in Canada such as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit. Preference will be given to those who self-identify as being First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit.

Qualifications / Skills and Education

Education
Bachelor's degree in social work, healthcare, nursing or a related discipline. Three (3) years’ experience working in a healthcare environment. Demonstrated knowledge, experience, and understanding of Indigenous Peoples and cultures. Demonstrated deep understanding of Canadian and Indigenous history, an understanding of the roots of harm (colonization and racism) and ongoing harms experienced by Indigenous Peoples, UNDRIP, and the TRC Calls to Action. OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Preference will be given to applicants of indigenous Ancestry.


Skills and Abilities
Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the healthcare system and mainstream institutions.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Ability to be solutions-focused, deescalate and resolve conflict.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with others effectively.
To work independently, as well as collaboratively, in a team environment.
To address cultural concerns as they arise, practicing cultural humility to ensure safety.
Knowledge and experience with marginalized populations.
Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development.
Ability to work well under pressure, either related to deadlines to unforeseen circumstances.
Ability to operate related equipment, including hardware and software systems.
Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provides day to day consultation and navigational support for Indigenous patients, family, the community, and health professionals, by acting as a liaison to understand and identify client needs by supporting cultural interpretation and/or health literacy translation services and by supporting the provision of culturally safe care (e.g., access, removing system barriers and navigation challenges).

Provides support and acts as a resource, as required, for healthcare providers, including primary healthcare physicians, regarding the provision of culturally-safe care. Facilitates client/family access to Cultural Practices and/or access to the All Nations Sacred Space within St. Paul’s Hospital to support Indigenous health and wellness. Coordinates connections to Indigenous community resources and supports, as required.

Provides patient support services within the hospital system by initiating and maintaining working relationships with Indigenous clients to assess their needs and ability to access and receive culturally-safe care. Supports clients, across all acute care services and the longitudinal care of patients engaged primary care and outpatient clinics. Assists clients in addressing their concerns by linking with the Patient Care Quality Office complaint process.

At the client or healthcare provider’s request, the IWL provides client support services related to discharge planning by participating in the discharge planning process, including assisting in the early identification and assessment of clients’ needs and liaising with the appropriate community program/services (e.g., mental health, addictions, and/or other community resources) to coordinate services.

Provides client-specific navigation of services for Indigenous patients in conjunction with an interdisciplinary care team that may include such work as attending daily rounds, supporting staff with client/family culturally-safe needs assessment, and checking for referrals. As required, provides support to coordinate client referrals to and from urban Indigenous organizations, and other health programs and services.

Acts as liaison between Indigenous communities and healthcare providers and supports Indigenous Peoples’ understanding of Providence Health Care in the provincial healthcare system, the First Nations Health Authority, and federal healthcare systems where applicable. Provides information regarding the provision of and access to healthcare programs and services to Indigenous clients, families, and communities.

Acts as a liaison between the Indigenous Cultural Safety team and navigates opportunities for service providers to support their journey in understanding cultural safety and humility, Indigenous-specific racism, and applying learnings to care environment.

Maintains and updates appropriate documentation and records related to the provision of client care. Completes summary and statistical casework information as required.

Attends regularly scheduled Indigenous Wellness & Reconciliation departments meetings. Charts client referrals, including documenting referrals from community service organizations, and travels as required.

Performs other related duties, as required.

Vaccination Flag

As per the current Public Health Orders (Long Term Care/Seniors Assisted Living Provincial Health Order and the Health Sector Order), as of October 26, 2021, all employees working for Providence Health Care must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required.