Indigenous Patient Navigator
Vancouver Coastal Health
- Vancouver, BC
- Permanent
- Part-time
- 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.
- 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.
- 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’s geographic area is required, with access to appropriate transportation.
- 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’s (VCH’s) communities of care (CoC’s) 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.
- 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