Indigenous Patient Navigator

Vancouver Coastal Health; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established healthcare provider is seeking an Indigenous Patient Navigator to enhance access to culturally safe healthcare for Indigenous communities. This role is pivotal in bridging the gap between clients and healthcare services, ensuring that care is delivered in a respectful and culturally competent manner. You will work closely with various Indigenous organizations and health teams, promoting equity and inclusion while addressing the unique health needs of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit clients. Join a team that values diversity and is committed to reconciliation and healing, making a significant impact on the health and well-being of Indigenous populations in the region.

Benefits

Comprehensive health benefits package

Employer-paid training

Wellness supports

Recognition programs

Exclusive discount offers

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of experience with Indigenous communities in BC.
• Bachelor's degree in health care or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide health system navigation support for Indigenous clients.
• Liaise with clients and primary care teams for healthcare access.

Skills

Cultural Sensitivity

Communication Skills

Community Engagement

Knowledge of Indigenous Health Issues

Collaborative Working Relationships

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Health Care

Social Work Degree

Nursing Degree

Tools

Word Processing Software

Spreadsheet Software

Database Programs

Job description

Salary

The salary range for this position is CAD $38.13/Hr. - CAD $54.82/Hr.

Job Summary

Come work as an Indigenous Patient Navigator with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for an Indigenous Patient Navigator to join the Indigenous Health Patient Experience team. Apply today to join our team!

Vancouver Coastal Health is committed to improving the health and access to culturally safe healthcare of the Indigenous people in our region, and we recognize that we all have a contribution to make in reconciliation and healing. VCH’s Indigenous Health team works with staff and physicians across all programs and departments to provide strategic leadership, partner collaboration and community engagement to assist VCH to become a more culturally competent and safe organization.

Strong preference given to candidates identifying as Indigenous, including First Nations, Metis, or Inuit. We are striving to build a diverse team that has lived experience with Indigenous communities.

As an Indigenous Patient Navigator with Vancouver Coastal Health you will:

• Be 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).
• Liaise 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.
• Be responsible for 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 complement current healthcare regimes
  • mitigate potential complaints by acting as a conduit between client and care team through presence, communication, approach, and understanding.
• 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 of navigating the healthcare system.

Key partnerships are with the Indigenous Health Program, interdisciplinary VCH health care providers, and VCH leadership. This work is aligned with VCH’s people-centred values and focused on advancing Indigenous Cultural Safety, anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• 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.
• Bachelor’s Degree in health care, Social Work, Nursing or related discipline preferred.
• Preference will be given to Indigenous applicants, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit Peoples.
• Travel within the health authority’s geographic area is required, with access to appropriate transportation.

Knowledge & Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of community-based First Nations, Metis, and Inuit organizations in British Columbia.
• Extensive knowledge of health issues impacting First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities.
• 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 ability to deal with cultural issues sensitively.
• General knowledge of Trauma Informed Practice and Harm Reduction approaches and Strengths-based care.
• Demonstrated ability to promote Indigenous Cultural Safety.
• Demonstrated ability to provide competent and 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 word processing, spreadsheet, and database programs.

Closing Statement

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 Ministry of Health policy, all health care workers working in publicly-funded health care facilities are required to report their past receipt of certain vaccines or history of certain infections. For all new hires and appointments to Vancouver Coastal Health, you will be asked to provide this information as part of the onboarding process.

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.

• 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

At Vancouver Coastal Health, our vision of healthy lives in healthy communities inspires us and our values and pillars guide us. We support equitable practices, diverse teams and inclusive environments, which are vital to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and feel supported. We encourage applications from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous Peoples and members of racialized groups, people with disabilities and people of all gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation. Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in 2024.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for this posting. Employees of VCH must apply online via the Internal Career Portal on CareerHub, you are currently viewing the External Career Portal. Thank you for your interest in Vancouver Coastal Health.