Come work as an Indigenous Cultural Practitioner at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!
Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for an Indigenous Cultural Practitioner to join the Indigenous Health Homelessness Team in Vancouver, BC. Apply today to join our team!
As an Indigenous Cultural Practitioner with VCH you will:
- Be responsible in the support of an integrated traditional wellness program in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) neighborhood, and connecting with VCH clinicians across Mental Health, Substance Use and Primary Care services, to integrate traditional wellness into care plans for Indigenous clients.
- Work in part in an outreach capacity, and without general supervision, the Indigenous Cultural Practitioner provides culturally competent, and safe interventions or practices for Indigenous clients who are experiencing or are at risk for homelessness with complex substance use and mental wellness issues, within community settings.
- Provide culturally safe and sensitive services to Indigenous individuals experiencing complex psycho-social challenges including but not limited to: chronic health concerns, intergenerational trauma history, mental health and substance use, significant financial insecurity, experiences of violence and housing instability.
- Provide direct client care, and must be equipped to provide strength-based and trauma-informed cultural interventions in the context of the care plan, and consultation with complex discharge planning, establishing, maintaining and enhancing therapeutic relationships, coordinating and evaluating clients’ response to the care plan.
- Develop and enhance community communications/relationships, provide consultation services to VCH clinicians across Mental Health, Substance Use and Primary Care services, engage in on-going team planning, development, evaluation and quality improvement activities to achieve excellence in client care, and will inform policies and procedures in collaboration with the Indigenous Cultural Outreach team.
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree, in a related field or related experience, with demonstrated work with Indigenous communities, supplemented with a minimum of two (2) years of offering cultural traditional practices, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience in the health authority system, and in particular working with Indigenous individuals, communities or organizations on issues related to health and wellness.
- Experience coordinating and delivering traditional wellness/medicine within community.
- 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.
Knowledge & Abilities
- Comprehensive knowledge and demonstrated ability to provide Indigenous culturally competent and sensitive care.
- Demonstrate understanding of provincial and federal guiding principles and documents, for example In Plain Sight report, and calls to action to eliminate systemic racism in the health care sector.
- Demonstrate the ability to identify and recognize current health care system gaps and barriers for Indigenous individuals and communities seeking health care.
- Demonstrate the ability to identify and recognize barriers Indigenous individuals seeking health care face such as, but not limited to attitude and approach to care, values and beliefs, structural, socioeconomic, historical, language, and communication.
- Demonstrate the ability to identify and recognize power inequities within the healthcare system associated with colonization and the impact on healthcare to Indigenous people and communities.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply strength-based and Trauma-Informed Principles to practice, has completed trauma informed training.
- Have completed the ICS training or have experiential lived experience.
- Demonstrate knowledge and ability to apply a Harm Reduction approach to care.
- Demonstrate the ability to conduct spiritual and cultural and historical assessments, to understand clients’ potential lived experience of intergenerational trauma and health inequities.
- Broad knowledge of other health disciplines and their role in healthcare.
- Comprehensive knowledge of mental illness and substance use issues including current trends, best practices and modalities of treatment.
- Broad knowledge of mental health, primary care and substance use service delivery system, service mandates, referral guidelines, legislation and government policies.
- Demonstrate knowledge or experience in mental health and substance use, and to provide treatment planning and case coordination.
- Demonstrate the ability to be flexible and open to a range of treatment modules for substance use from abstinence and harm reduction.
- Demonstrate the ability to plan, implement, facilitate and evaluate cultural groups, as applicable.
- Demonstrate the ability to facilitate team building. to work both independently and collaboratively, and ability to model and foster a positive, collaborative, and respectful team working environment.
- Demonstrate the ability to adjust to new or unexpected events, problem solve, and deal effectively with and/or guide others in resolution of conflict issues.
- Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with clients and their families, colleagues, physician, and other health care staff, both one-on-one and in groups.
- Demonstrate listening and information seeking skills that promotes open and direct communication and leads to a cooperative approach to problem solving.
- Demonstrate the ability to set priorities, organize work, and meet deadlines.
- Demonstrate the ability to work effectively with community partners and with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Demonstrate the ability to operate related equipment.
- Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
- Basic computer literacy to operate a computerized client care information system and word processing, spreadsheet, Internet and e-mail software.
The hours of work including days off and work area may be subject to change consistent with operational requirements and the provision of the Collective Agreement and applicable statutes. Successful applicants may be required to complete a Criminal Records Review Check.
As per the current Public Health Orders, as of October 5, 2023, all employees working for Vancouver Coastal Health must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have received a single dose of the most-recent, updated COVID-19 vaccine. Proof of vaccination status will be required.
WHY JOIN VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH?
VCH is a world class innovator in medical care, research and teaching, delivering service to more than one million BC residents. At VCH, we embrace thinking boldly, taking smart risks, and "going first" when we believe it will lead to the best possible outcomes for patients and their families. We invite you to join us in creating healthy lives in healthy communities by showcasing our passion for care, connection to the communities we serve and our culture of teamwork that makes VCH a great place to work.
- Comprehensive health benefits package, including MSP, extended health and dental and municipal pension plan
- Grow your career with 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
Equity, diversity, and inclusion are essential to our goals of creating a great place to work and delivering exceptional care. We acknowledge and accommodate unique differences and ensure special measures are in place so that all prospective and current employees are given an opportunity to succeed.
We are committed to building a representative workforce and encourage applications reflecting diversity of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization or ancestry, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.
Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in 2023.
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for this posting.