Indigenous Peer Support Worker

Providence Healthcare; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 54,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking compassionate individuals to join their Indigenous Wellness and Reconciliation team. This role focuses on providing peer support and advocacy for Indigenous patients, drawing from personal lived experiences to foster a culturally safe healthcare environment. As a vital part of a dedicated team, you will engage in meaningful projects aimed at improving health services and addressing the unique challenges faced by Indigenous communities. If you are passionate about making a tangible impact in healthcare and possess a deep understanding of Indigenous cultures, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Comprehensive health benefit package

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Life coverage

Orientation session for new hires

Professional growth opportunities

Qualifications

• Valuable lived experience related to systemic racism and trauma.
• Understanding of Indigenous cultures and practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide peer support and advocacy to patients and families.
• Support initiatives in the Indigenous Wellness Program.

Skills

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving

Conflict Resolution

Adaptability

Education

Training in Peer Support

Substance Use Counselling

Social Sciences

Tools

Word Processing Software

Email

Spreadsheets

Job description

Salary

The salary range for this position is CAD $27.92/Hr. - CAD $29.60/Hr.

Summary

Providence Health Care’s Indigenous Wellness and Reconciliation team is hiring!

To learn more about the Indigenous Wellness and Reconciliation team, check us out here.

“We are here to support and advocate for Indigenous folks to ensure that their healthcare is inclusive and that it is just as important as anyone else’s.” – Jaye Currie, Indigenous Wellness Liaison

Your duties will include:

• Support patients and families one-on-one by sharing your own lived experiences with challenges like racism, trauma, substance use, poverty, or health issues.
• Work with Indigenous Wellness Liaisons and other Peers in the Indigenous Wellness Program to provide care that is safe, respectful, and trauma informed.
• Offer emotional support to patients, speak up for their needs, and help build positive relationships with healthcare providers.
• Take part in projects like planning, harm reduction programs, and improvements to health services.
• Share your lived experience to support research and help shape better programs and policies.
• Help create a care environment that values patients’ needs, respects Indigenous cultures, and fights against racism.
• Bring your whole self, life experiences and cultural learnings, to this role and make a tangible impact on the health care services provided to Indigenous patient populations at Providence Health Care.

What You Bring

• The successful candidate is someone with valuable lived experience, such as navigating challenges related to systemic racism, intergenerational trauma, substance use, poverty, sex work, or health concerns. They bring a deep understanding of Indigenous cultures and practices, enabling them to provide culturally safe and meaningful support to others.
• While training in Peer Support or related fields (such as Substance Use Counselling or Social Sciences) and one year of experience in areas like mental health, housing support, or healthcare is an asset, candidates with equivalent knowledge, skills, and lived experience are equally valued and encouraged to apply.
• An understanding of the impacts of colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and integrates harm reduction and trauma-informed approaches into work.
• Strengths in communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution, being adaptable, capable of managing time effectively, and working collaboratively or independently.

About you:

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent. We want to learn about you and your journey as it relates to this role. In lieu of a cover letter, we encourage you to submit the story of your journey – this can be in a written/oral story, video, or even infographic. In your application, please let us know if you identify as Indigenous in Canada such as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit. Preference will be given to those who self-identify as being First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit.

What We Offer

• The salary range for this role is $54,444 - $57,720 per year, depending on experience.
• A comprehensive health benefit package, including dental, vision, and life coverage.
• An orientation session and comprehensive onboarding to all new hires.
• A chance to grow professionally and personally, as part of a supportive team driven by innovation and the desire to address the future health needs of patients, families and our communities.
• This position will be required to be on site at St. Paul’s Hospital in downtown Vancouver.

Your Day to Day

• Provides day to day Peer support and advocacy from knowledge and lived/living experience to patients and families across acute and primary care services and will liaise with existing Peers and/or Volunteers already working across PHC sites.
• Works as an embedded team member in the Indigenous Wellness Program and supports patient referrals to the Indigenous Wellness Liaisons.
• Acts as a resource for both patients and health care providers by providing emotional support and advocacy.
• Supports Peer initiatives at Providence Health Care by participating in working groups and meetings related to strategic planning and harm reduction.
• Tracks referral and program access data utilizing word processing, email, and spreadsheets.
• Attends regularly scheduled Indigenous Wellness & Reconciliation department meetings and provides informal updates on the Peer Support Program.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Advance Your Career at Providence Health Care!

We acknowledge that Providence Health Care and the new St. Paul’s Hospital site is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.