Come work as an Indigenous Cultural Support Worker with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) at Sheway Pregnancy Outreach Program in Vancouver, BC! Apply now to join the team.

Within the context of a person, family, and community centered, trauma and violence informed, and culturally safe care model, and in accordance with standards of practice and the established vision and values of the organization, the Indigenous Cultural Support Worker works as a part of a multidisciplinary team, in collaboration with Indigenous Health, to provide a variety of day-to-day strengths-based cultural, emotional, and social supports to Indigenous clients VCH services. In accordance with program objectives and res. in collaboration with the Elders in Residence (EiR) program in Indigenous Health and/or local Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and/or community members, establishes relationships with clients based on trust, mutual respect and understanding to provide cultural and biopsychosocial support including group facilitation, connection to cultural practices and wellness supports. Acts as a role model to facilitate appropriate behaviors. Collaborates with multidisciplinary team and other community resources to walk alongside clients in their self-identified and self-determination goals of culture, connection/reconnection, and community integration; participates in case planning; assists with collecting relevant records, documents client’s progress, provides information on community services; while advocating for access, rights, and leading with cultural safety.

About Sheway:

Sheway is a program that supports pregnant and parenting women/people with substance use issues through comprehensive services, promoting the well-being of families. Sheway aims to support healthy pregnancies and positive early parenting experiences. The model of care is based on a client centered, culturally safe, trauma informed, harm reduction, low barrier framework. The inter-disciplinary team addresses the broader determinants of health by providing wrap around services under one roof and/or on outreach.  The services include primary care (including prenatal and postnatal care), nutrition, addiction supports, parental support, infant development and advocacy.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, healthcare, or related discipline or a Health Care Assistant Certificate that includes an Indigenous Wellness component for frontline workers who provide care for Indigenous clients supplemented with a minimum of two (2) years of offering cultural supports and demonstrated work in First Nations or Indigenous community organizations, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Local area travel requires 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, Skills & 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, including an understanding of wellness, cultural knowledge, understanding of direct and intergenerational trauma.
• 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.
• Demonstrated knowledge of how to apply strengths-based trauma and violence-informed principles into practice.
• Demonstrated knowledge of recovery community agencies, health care agencies and a range of service options available to the designated client population.
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to apply a Harm Reduction approach to care.
• Broad knowledge of the barriers LGBTQIA2S+ face and the available services and programs in the community.
• Broad knowledge of substance use issues, treatment interventions, and recovery pathways, and basic understanding of behaviour management.
• Broad knowledge of mental health issues and the principles of recovery in mental health and wellness.
• Broad knowledge of psychiatric medications and their side effects.
• Ability to identify suicidal ideation and basic intervention.
• Broad knowledge of palliative and end of life care.
• Broad knowledge of other health disciplines and their role in healthcare.
• Ability to establish and maintain relationships with clients based on trust, mutual respect and understanding.
• Ability to observe and recognize changes in clients.
• Ability to problem solve and take initiative.
• Ability to deal effectively with conflict situations, manage aggressive behavior, and use non-violent crisis intervention, behavioral management techniques, and restorative justice approaches.
• Ability to organize, prioritize and respond to competing responsibilities.
• Ability to work independently and in cooperation with others.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to establish/maintain satisfactory work relationships with the public and other employees, to deal tactfully and effectively with co-workers, public and staff from other agencies, to maintain confidentiality and to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.

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 Ministry of Health policy, all health care workers working in publicly-funded health care facilities are required to report their past receipt of certain vaccines or history of certain infections. Collecting these records will allow for offering of any missing vaccines, and for appropriate actions to be taken in the event of any future exposure to a communicable disease or during outbreaks. For all new hires and appointments to Vancouver Coastal Health, you will be asked to provide this information as part of the onboarding process.

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

At Vancouver Coastal Health, our vision of healthy lives in healthy communities inspires us and our values and pillars guide us. We support equitable practices, diverse teams and inclusive environments, which are vital to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and feel supported. We encourage applications from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous Peoples and members of racialized groups, people with disabilities and people of all gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and Canada's Top Employers for Young People in 2025.

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.