Indigenous Cultural Support Worker

Tla’amin Nation•Powell River, BC

8d•$32•Onsite

About The Position

The Tla’amin Nation is seeking an Indigenous Cultural Support Worker to provide cultural, emotional, and social supports to Indigenous clients experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. This role involves walking alongside clients in their self-identified goals related to culture, connection, and community integration, while advocating for access, rights, and cultural safety. The worker will report back to an interdisciplinary team on client progress, barriers, and lived experiences. The position requires applying Indigenous traditions to build relationships with agencies, screening clients for services, and linking them to appropriate resources. The role also includes co-facilitating healing circles and cultural activities, collaborating with Indigenous Elders and traditional teachers, performing administrative duties, and participating in team planning and quality improvement activities. The Indigenous Cultural Support Worker will work closely with the Mental Health & Wellness team at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) for training, orientation, and service delivery accountability. The successful applicant will adhere to the BCGEU Collective Agreement, Nation policies, and Tla’amin Health policies and procedures.

Requirements

Completion of a certificate in a Community Social Service or related program and two years of recent, related experience working with Indigenous individuals with complex health and/or psychosocial problems or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
Valid BC Class 5 Driver’s License and acceptable Driver’s Abstract as travel within the health authority is required.
Demonstrated Health Care experience; including experience working with Indigenous patients; experience working with Indigenous populations.
Demonstrated knowledge of local First Nations community and other Indigenous serving organizations, including an understanding of wellness and history, cultural knowledge, understanding of intergenerational trauma.
Demonstrated ability to identify and recognize power inequities within the healthcare system associated with colonization and the impact on healthcare to Indigenous people and communities.
Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide culturally safe care, has knowledge of cultural humility and anti-racism practices, has completed Indigenous Cultural Safety training.
Demonstrated knowledge of Trauma and Violence Informed Practice.
Demonstrated knowledge and ability to apply a Harm Reduction approach to care.
Ability to establish and maintain rapport with a diverse range of community members, volunteers, and with health, social and legal service providers for the designated client population/community.
Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully both verbally and in writing.
Ability to organize, prioritize and respond to competing responsibilities.
Ability to recognize changes in client/community members and adjust approaches appropriately.
Knowledge of traditional healing practices.
Ability to solve problems and take initiative.
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
Skills in conflict resolution, facilitation, and advocacy.
Ability to compose business correspondence.
Ability to operate related equipment including applicable software applications.
Physical ability to perform the duties of the job.

Nice To Haves

First Nations, Inuit, Metis ancestry is regarded as directly relevant to the skills and knowledge for excellence in the position. Pursuant to Section 41 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference will be given to candidates who identify as Indigenous including First Nations, Metis or Inuit.

Responsibilities

Performs all duties and responsibilities in accordance with Tla’amin policies, standards, practices, and procedures as directed by the Health Director or designate.
Maintains confidentiality as required pertaining to members, clients, employees and general matters of the Nation.
Works as part of a care team to provide cultural and emotional support to Indigenous clients experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity by maximizing connection, self-worth, and community membership.
Build unique and purposeful relationships with clients that are respectful, trusting, compassionate, and collaborative.
Participates in the development of culturally appropriate integrated intake, care coordination activities, procedures and protocols of the Tla’amin Health Services, Lift Community Services and VCH organizations and staff.
Supports members of the care team to assist clients with completing forms and applications, as well as providing support to connect to services such as substance use treatment, mental health, housing, financial security and other services.
Collaborates with client’s health care team or primary care provider to support and facilitate elements of the treatment plan as needed, i.e. connecting client to services or accompanying client to appointments.
Identifies and locates appropriate community resources for clients, supports access and accompaniment to resources as needed to facilitate connection and strong relationships between community resources and Indigenous individuals.
Works with members of the care team to assist with culturally appropriate co-facilitation of healing circles and cultural activities that honor Indigenous spiritual and cultural identity.
Works both independently and collaboratively toward agency goals and initiatives both within the agency and in the community.
Maintains collaborative relationship with Tla’amin, Lift Community Services and the VCH teams and external agencies.
Participates in team meetings as coordinated by the interdisciplinary team Manager, Clinician or delegated alternate.
Complete required documentation, including electronic charting as outlined in the designated Complex Care Housing procedures.
Performs a variety of general clerical duties, such as responding to calls/answering inquiries regarding routine program information, maintaining up-to-date client files, utilizing a variety of computer software applications and keyboards and producing a variety of documents, filing, photocopying, faxing and data entry.
Carries out responsibilities in accordance with health and safety requirements.
Immediately reports unsafe situations by notifying supervisor or other appropriate personnel.
Respect and maintain confidentiality of clients.
Performs other related duties as assigned.