Indigenous Patient Navigator, North Vancouver

Vancouver Coastal Health • North Vancouver, BC

1d • CA$45 - CA$56 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Indigenous Patient Navigator (IPN) is accountable for providing day-to-day health system navigation support to create safe people, places, and systems for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit clients and their families of Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH). The IPN liaises with clients and primary care teams who provide direct client and family support, to ensure their successful access to primary care and community-based health care services. The IPN is responsible for ensuring that patient care occurs in a culturally safe and respectful manner by – people: connecting with clients and families to offer support, helping clients and families voice their questions or concerns to the primary care teams, offering traditional culturally safe resources that compliment current healthcare regimes, mitigate potential complaints by acting as a conduit between client and care team through presence, communication, approach, and understanding. The Indigenous Patient Navigator also liaises with a variety of Indigenous community based agencies. The IPN will inform and influence program development, planning and evaluation of services for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit clients through the patient experience process of navigating the healthcare system. Key partnerships are with the Indigenous Health Program, interdisciplinary VCH health care providers, and VCH leadership. This work is framed within VCH’s commitments to our pillars of Indigenous Cultural Safety, Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and Planetary Health.

Requirements

• Two (2) to three (3) years' recent, related experience working with Indigenous communities in British Columbia, with a combination of training, education and/or experience in a similar field.
• Comprehensive knowledge and demonstrated ability to provide culturally safe care, has completed Indigenous Cultural Safety Training.
• Demonstrated understanding and in-depth knowledge of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Peoples and history.
• Demonstrated understanding of provincial and federal guiding principles and documents, for example In Plain Sight report, and calls to action to eliminate Indigenous-specific racism in the health care sector.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and recognize current health care system gaps and barriers for Indigenous individuals and communities seeking health care.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and recognize power inequities within the healthcare system associated with ongoing impacts of colonialism.
• Broad knowledge of Indigenous and non-Indigenous services and resources currently available within Vancouver Coastal Health’s (VCH’s) communities of care (CoC’s) for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit clients in need of health and social supports.
• Demonstrated knowledge of mental health and substance use.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated intermediate skill with operating wordprocessing, spreadsheet, and database programs.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Travel within the health authority’s geographic area is required, with access to appropriate transportation.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in health care, Social Work, Nursing or related discipline preferred.
• Strong preference given to candidates identifying as Indigenous, including First Nations, Metis, or Inuit.
• Candidates with lived experience with Indigenous communities.

Responsibilities

• Providing day-to-day health system navigation support to create safe people, places, and systems for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit clients and their families of Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH).
• Liaising with clients and primary care teams who provide direct client and family support, to ensure their successful access to primary care and community-based health care services.
• Ensuring that patient care occurs in a culturally safe and respectful manner by connecting with clients and families to offer support, helping clients and families voice their questions or concerns to the primary care teams, offering traditional culturally safe resources that compliment current healthcare regimes, and mitigating potential complaints by acting as a conduit between client and care team through presence, communication, approach, and understanding.
• Liaising with a variety of Indigenous community based agencies.
• Informing and influencing program development, planning and evaluation of services for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit clients through the patient experience process of navigating the healthcare system.
• Maintaining collaborative, respectful, and caring working relationships with colleagues, partners and clients.
• Applying Trauma Informed Practice and Harm Reduction approaches and Strengths-based care.
• Providing culturally safe care in a variety of settings and with diverse populations.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits package, including MSP, extended health and dental and municipal pension plan
• Employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities
• Wellness supports, including counselling, critical incident and innovative wellness services are available to employees and their immediate families
• Award-winning recognition programs to honour staff, medical staff and volunteers
• Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for VCH staff

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level