Indigenous Patient Navigator

Squamish General Hospital; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health authority in Vancouver seeks an Indigenous Patient Navigator to support Indigenous clients in navigating health services. The role involves liaising with clients and healthcare teams to ensure culturally safe care is provided. Preferred candidates will have a Bachelor's degree in health care or a related field and experience working with Indigenous communities. The position offers comprehensive health benefits and opportunities for career development.

Benefits

Comprehensive health benefits

Employer-paid training and leadership development

Wellness supports

Recognition programs

Exclusive employee discounts

Qualifications

• 2-3 years experience working with Indigenous communities in BC.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred in health care or related discipline.
• Knowledge of mental health and substance use.

Responsibilities

• Provide health system navigation support for Indigenous clients.
• Liaise with clients and primary care teams for support.
• Ensure patient care is culturally safe and respectful.

Skills

Culturally safe care

Knowledge of Indigenous communities

Effective communication

Trauma Informed Practice

Education

Bachelor’s degree in health care, Social Work, Nursing or related discipline

Tools

Word processing programs

Spreadsheet programs

Database programs

Job description

Salary Details

The salary range for this position is CAD $42.27/Hr. - CAD $52.81/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 at Squamish General Hospital.

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. It will greatly assist us with screening if you refer in your application to your Indigenous identity. Recognizing the impacts of colonization on Indigenous people, it is your choice whether to volunteer information. We will hold your application in strictest confidence, sharing it only with the hiring panel.

Responsibilities

• 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 – 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.
• 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.
• Travel within the health authority’s geographic area is required, with access to appropriate transportation.
• Pursuant to Section 41 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference will be given to individuals of Indigenous identity (First Nations, Inuit, Metis).

Knowledge & Abilities

• 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 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 and culturally safety 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.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

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. Collecting these records will allow for offering of any missing vaccines, and for appropriate actions to be taken in the event of any future exposure to a communicable disease or during outbreaks. 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 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.

At VCH, 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 BC’s Top Employers, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and Canada's Top Employers for Young People in 2025.

• 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

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for this posting.

Apply online today at vch.ca/careers