Come work as a Indigenous Care Coordinator with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

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.

This position is part of the new Indigenous Crisis Response Team (ICRT) at VCH. The ICRT provides a non-police crisis response outreach services to individuals in the inner city who are experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis that cannot be resolved by their regular care provider or alternate crisis services. ICRT is a voluntary, non-police healthcare service that leads with cultural safety and sees individuals in encampments, shelters, or in their homes.

As a Indigenous Care Coordinator with Vancouver Coastal Health you will:

• Within the context of a person, family, and community centered, trauma and violence-informed, and culturally safe, care model, and in accordance with the standards of practice and the established vision and values of the organization, the Indigenous Care Coordinator works as part of a multidisciplinary community team using a strengths-based model, comprehensive treatment plans and discharge planning services to support clients dually diagnosed with mental health and addictions.
• Provide treatment services including crisis intervention and group facilitation, establishes and maintains relationships with clients, collaborates with multidisciplinary team and other community resources, liaises and consults with internal/external physicians, governmental and community social service, health and mental health agencies in facilitating clients’ access to services.
• Participate in committees and meetings, engages in on-going team planning, development and quality improvement activities, and maintains and updates own knowledge.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a behavioural science from a recognized program.
• Two (2) years’ recent related experience working in Indigenous-led or First Nations organizations providing mental health and substance use clinical services in community-based settings for designated program or an equivalent combination of education, training or experience.
• Valid BC Drivers License. Local area travel may require the use of a personal vehicle.
• 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 systemic 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.
• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act as it applies to the rights and obligations of clients and staff.
• Demonstrated ability to identify suicidal ideation and basic intervention.
• Knowledge of the principles of recovery in mental illness.
• Broad knowledge of drug and alcohol addiction issues, treatment including non-violent intervention, and the recovery process.
• Broad knowledge of psychotherapeutic and counselling skills.
• Broad knowledge of other facilities and community resources.
• Broad knowledge of public housing and housing issues, both locally and provincially.
• Broad knowledge of legislation and government policies and procedures that relate to the client.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct social, psychosocial and substance abuse assessments.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with clients, colleagues, physicians, and other health care staff, both one-on-one and in groups.
• Demonstrated ability to apply knowledge of theory and practice to a case management process.
• Demonstrated ability to establish rapport with multi-barrier clients.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with a variety of individuals/service providers .
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated ability to adjust to unexpected events, analyze and problem-solve, set priorities, deal effectively with conflict, and respond to crisis.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Basic computer literacy to operate a computerized client care information system and word processing, spreadsheet, Internet and e-mail software.

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 the current Public Health Orders, as of October 5, 2023, all employees working for Vancouver Coastal Health must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have received a single dose of the most-recent, updated COVID-19 vaccine. Proof of vaccination status will be required.

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.

• 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

Equity, diversity, 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 2024.

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.