Indigenous Cultural Support Worker

Tla’amin Nation; British Columbia; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative organization is seeking an Indigenous Cultural Support Worker to provide essential cultural and emotional support to Indigenous clients facing homelessness. This role involves working collaboratively within a dedicated care team to maximize community integration and self-determination for clients. The successful candidate will engage with various community resources, facilitate healing circles, and advocate for clients' rights and cultural safety. Join a forward-thinking team committed to making a meaningful impact in the lives of Indigenous individuals and communities.

Qualifications

• Completion of a certificate in a Community Social Service or related program.
• Two years of experience working with Indigenous individuals with complex health issues.

Responsibilities

• Provide cultural and emotional support to Indigenous clients experiencing homelessness.
• Collaborate with health care teams to facilitate treatment plans and access services.

Skills

Culturally Safe Care

Communication Skills

Conflict Resolution

Trauma-Informed Practice

Advocacy

Education

Certificate in Community Social Service

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Tla’amin Health operates within the Tla’amin Nation. The Tla’amin Nation is a modern, forward thinking, self-governing nation located on the beautiful upper Sunshine Coast (qathet Region).

Position Summary
Job Status: Permanent, Full Time
Job Title: Indigenous Cultural Support Worker
Hours of Work: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (Monday – Friday)
Worksite: Tla’amin Health
Start Date: May 5, 2025
Posting Date: Open until filled
Salary: $31.68 per hour
Reports to: Health Director or Designate
Reference #: 2025-05-02-ICSW-PFT
Internal/External Posting

Within the context of a client-centered care model and in accordance with established vision and values of the organization and the nation, the Indigenous Cultural Support Worker works as a member of an interdisciplinary team to provide a variety of day-to-day cultural, emotional, and social supports to Indigenous clients experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. Walks alongside clients in their self-identified and self-determination goals of culture, connection/reconnection and community integration; while advocating for access, rights and Cultural safety as needed. Reports back to interdisciplinary team on clients’ goals, barriers, and lived experience.

Applies Indigenous traditions to establish working relationships with various agencies. Screens clients for eligibility for services and links clients to appropriate internal and external resources. Works as part of a care team to co-facilitate healing circles, cultural activities and public education. Collaborate with Indigenous Elders, traditional teachers, and/or Knowledge Keepers to develop relationships based on mutual respect. Performs word processing duties, assists with research and other special projects, maintains and compiles statistics, participates in committees, task groups, and/or corporate initiatives. Engages in and assists the inter-disciplinary team with on-going planning, development, evaluation and quality improvement activities.

The Indigenous Cultural Support Worker will work closely with the Mental Health & Wellness team at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) including training and orientation, and day to day in terms of accountability regarding service delivery to client.

The successful applicant will be required to work in accordance with the BCGEU Collective Agreement as well as the Nation policies and benefits therein, in addition to all relevant Tla’amin Health policies and procedures. The successful applicant will be in good physical health. This position is open to applicants of all genders.

Key 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, medical, 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.

Qualifications

Training, Education, Experience

• 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 Driver’s License and acceptable Driver’s Abstract as travel within the health authority is required.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

For this position, we also want to highlight that 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.

• 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.

Working Conditions
Work is performed primarily in an office environment, with the expectation that work may be required from time-to-time in the field. Occasional travel to attend meetings or training is required.

Additional Information

All employees working for Tla’amin Health must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required.

How to Apply
Please reply by sending your resume accompanied with a cover letter to: https://tlaaminfirst.bamboohr.com/careers/222

OR

Mail or drop off:

Attention: Human Resources
Tla’amin Health
4895 Salish Drive
Powell River, BC
V8A 0B6

We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.