Indigenous Practice Facilitator

Somerset West Community Health Centre; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

A community health organization in Ottawa is seeking an Indigenous Practice Facilitator to integrate Indigenous cultural knowledge into their services. The role requires a deep understanding of Indigenous cultures and practices, along with collaboration with interdisciplinary teams. Applicants should have lived experience and ideally 1-2 years of direct service in a harm reduction context. The position offers competitive compensation and a full-time schedule.

Benefits

Comprehensive health benefits

Pension plan participation

Time-off entitlements

Qualifications

• Fluency in English; Indigenous languages are an asset.
• 1-2 years of experience providing direct service from a Harm Reduction lens.

Responsibilities

• Integrate Indigenous cultural knowledge and practices across services.
• Support interdisciplinary teams to ensure culturally grounded care.

Skills

Knowledge of Indigenous cultures

Experience with trauma-informed care

Excellent communication skills

Education

College diploma or degree in social sciences or health services

Job description

Overview

• Position Title: Indigenous Practice Facilitator
• Classification: Community Health Worker, Level 1
• Job Type: Permanent, Full Time (35 hours per week) including days and evenings (8 hour shifts)
• Department: Family and Community Services
• Reporting to: Director, Family and Community Services
• Compensation: $52,380 - $63,184 per year plus a comprehensive compensation package that includes time-off entitlements, health benefits, life insurance, and participation in the HOOPP pension plan
• Deadline to apply: Until suitable candidate has been found
• Apply to: https://swchc.bamboohr.com/careers/705

What You’ll Do

The Indigenous Practice Facilitator will play a critical role in integrating Indigenous cultural knowledge and healing practices across SWCHC.

This position will support staff across interdisciplinary teams, including case managers, nurses, outreach workers, and counselling services, to ensure culturally grounded care is embedded in both site-based and outreach service delivery. This is a unique opportunity to advance Indigenous-led healing within an innovative, multi-service community health centre that is deeply committed to reconciliation, cultural safety, and equity.

What We’re Looking For

This is a designated role for individuals who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, or Métis), in recognition of the importance of lived experience and cultural knowledge in advancing Indigenous-led approaches to health and wellness.

Life and Work Experience

• Deep knowledge of Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) cultures, societal values, traditions, and healing practices.
• Lived experience working with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and cultural advisors.
• Familiarity with culturally appropriate wellness strategies and systems navigation in the Ottawa context.
• Training and/or experience in trauma-informed care, mental health, addictions, housing supports, and traditional healing practices is considered a strong asset.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams while advocating for culturally responsive care.
• Experience developing, delivering and evaluating training materials
• Knowledge and experience working with computers.
• Knowledge and understanding of traditional healing practices and the ability to apply culturally grounded, trauma-informed, and community-centered approaches to support Indigenous wellness and the well-being of Indigenous peoples.
• Ability to build and maintain respectful, collaborative relationships with Indigenous communities, organizations, and service providers. This role requires a deep commitment to working in partnership across programs and sectors to support culturally safe, community-led approaches to health and wellness.
• Strong understanding of the historical and contemporary experiences of Indigenous peoples, including intergenerational trauma and the impacts of colonization.
• 1-2 years of experience providing direct service to people who use drugs from a Harm Reduction lens.

Your Education Path

• A minimum college diploma and/or degree in social sciences or health services and 3 years’ experience in a community setting.
• Valid Driver's License and ability to drive Centre vehicles is an asset.

Language Capability

• Fluency in English
• Indigenous languages an asset

What You Bring to the Table

• Ability to apply cultural safety principles in daily practice through the planning and delivery of programming and resources rooted in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis knowledge and traditions.
• Knowledge of related community resources
• Understanding of homelessness, mental health and substance use
• Excellent communication/interpersonal skills
• Enhanced skills in non-violent crisis intervention and de-escalation
• Knowledge of best practice guidelines for individuals with substance use and suicide assessment
• Effective organizational, critical thinking, problem solving and independent decision-making skills
• Demonstrate and advocate for welcoming practices that are anchored in trauma-informed practices
• Ability to work independently, set priorities and manage time effectively
• Commitment to working within a Health Equity, Person-Centered and Anti-Oppressive Framework

Mental/Emotional Requirements

• Ability to make rapid decisions about safety and risk and a high degree of clinical judgment with unknown factors
• Ability to assess safety in engaging with people who may be in crisis or in rapidly shifting stages of escalation
• Ability to work in environments that are fast paced, loud in volume, with people who may be in crisis
• Ability to work within a team of people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences
• This position will require the ability to assess the safety of entering unknown locations (usually in public), including at night to engage with people who may be in crisis.
• Regular exposure to significant psychological and emotional stressors, vicarious trauma, and potential risk of violence

Ready to Apply?

Submit a cover letter and your resume to: https://swchc.bamboohr.com/careers/705

This opportunity will be closed once suitable candidate has been found.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Somerset West Community Health Centre is an equal opportunity employer who values the diversity of individuals in our programs and services. We welcome and encourage applications from members of Indigenous, Black and racialized communities, Two-Spirit, nonbinary, LGBTQ+ people; people with disabilities; and members of other equity seeking groups. Applicants are encouraged to share accessibility needs in the application process, and every attempt will be made to accommodate them.

Due to the high volume of applicants, we can neither confirm receipt of nor respond to inquiries regarding your application. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.