Indigenous Patient Navigator

Vancouver Coastal Health • Vancouver, BC

5d • CA$45 - CA$56 • Hybrid

About The Position

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is seeking an Indigenous Patient Navigator to join their Indigenous Health Patient Experience team. This role is crucial in improving the health and access to culturally safe healthcare for Indigenous people within the region. VCH is committed to reconciliation and healing, and the Indigenous Health team collaborates across departments to foster cultural competence and safety. Strong preference is given to candidates who identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Metis, or Inuit) and have lived experience with Indigenous communities, as this lived experience is invaluable for screening and building a diverse team. The organization emphasizes confidentiality when applicants volunteer information about their Indigenous identity.

Requirements

• Two (2) to three (3) years’ recent, related experience working with Indigenous communities in British Columbia.
• A combination of training, education and/or experience in a similar field.
• Bachelor’s degree in health care, Social Work, Nursing or related discipline preferred.
• Travel within the health authority’s geographic area is required, with access to appropriate transportation.
• Comprehensive knowledge and demonstrated ability to provide culturally safe care.
• 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 on how to apply Trauma Informed Practice and Harm Reduction approaches and Strengths-based care.
• Demonstrated knowledge of mental health and substance use.
• Demonstrated ability to provide culturally safe care in a variety of settings and with diverse populations.
• Demonstrated ability to initiate and maintain collaborative, respectful, and caring working relationships with colleagues, partners and clients.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Candidates identifying as Indigenous, including First Nations, Metis, or Inuit.
• Candidates with lived experience with Indigenous communities.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day health system navigation support to create safe people, places, and systems for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit clients and their families within Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH).
• Liaise with clients and primary care teams to ensure successful access to primary care and community-based healthcare services.
• Ensure patient care occurs in a culturally safe and respectful manner by connecting with clients and families to offer support, helping them voice concerns to care teams, offering traditional culturally safe resources, and mitigating potential complaints by acting as a conduit between client and care team.
• Liaise with a variety of Indigenous community-based agencies.
• Inform and influence program development, planning, and evaluation of services for First Nations, Metis, and Inuit clients through the patient experience process.
• Maintain key partnerships with the Indigenous Health Program, interdisciplinary VCH healthcare providers, and VCH leadership.
• Work in alignment with VCH’s people-centred values and focus on advancing Indigenous Cultural Safety, anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

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