Job Description

Reporting to the Director, Indigenous Patient Experience and Professional Practice, the Indigenous Patient Navigator (IPN) is 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). The IPN liaises 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. The IPN is responsible for ensuring that patient care occurs in a culturally safe and respectful manner by \xe2\x80\x93 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. The Indigenous Patient Navigator also liaises with a variety of Indigenous community based agencies.
The IPN will 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\xe2\x80\x99s people-centred values and focused on advancing Indigenous Cultural Safety, anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Qualifications

Two (2) to three (3) years\xe2\x80\x99 recent, related experience working with Indigenous communities in British Columbia, with a combination of training, education and/or experience in a similar field. Bachelor\xe2\x80\x99s 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. We encourage Indigenous applicants to identify in their CV, cover letter, or application form.

Travel within the health authority\xe2\x80\x99s geographic area is required, with access to appropriate transportation.

ROLE SPECIFIC EXPERTISE:

• 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\xe2\x80\x99s (VCH\xe2\x80\x99s) communities of care (CoC\xe2\x80\x99s) 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 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 wordprocessing, spreadsheet, and database programs.

SHARED VALUES:
You care for everyone:

• You are compassionate, empathetic, and sensitive to the needs of others.
• You are respectful, treating people as equals, and valuing others\xe2\x80\x99 perspectives and differences.
• You are appreciative of others\xe2\x80\x99 efforts and give them praise when it\xe2\x80\x99s due.

You are always learning:

• You are open minded, always receptive to different perspectives and ways of doing things.
• You are curious and ask questions to find a deeper understanding.
• You share your expertise and mentor others by sharing your knowledge and experience.

You strive for better results:

• You are accountable, and take responsibility for what you say, what you do, and who you engage in achieving better results.
• You are a solution finder, empowered to solve the challenges we face in healthcare.
• You take ownership for growth and development and personal development, always seek feedback and opportunities to improve how we do things.

Closing Statement

As per the current Public Health Orders (Long Term Care/Seniors Assisted Living Provincial Health Officer Order and the Health Sector Order), as of October 26, 2021, all employees working for Vancouver Coastal Health must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required.

Why Join Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH):

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.

• 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

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to our goals of creating a great place to work and delivering exceptional care. We acknowledge and accommodate unique differences and ensure special measures are in place so that all prospective and current employees are given an opportunity to succeed.

We are committed to building a representative workforce and encourage applications reflecting diversity of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization or ancestry, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada\'s Top 100 Employers in 2023.

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. Refer to the https://my.vch.ca/working-here/job-postings site for instructions on how to view internal job postings and how to apply as an employee. Current VCH employees who apply to this posting using this external site will be considered as an external candidate. Seniority will not apply.***

Thank you for your interest in Vancouver Coastal Health.

Vancouver Coastal Health