Indigenous Homelessness Outreach Worker

Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for an Indigenous Homelessness Outreach Worker to join the Community Outreach Team out of the HOpe Center in North Vancouver. Apply today to join our team!

Recruitment Advisor, Indigenous Health Contact:

Stephanie Beaulieu (stephanie.beaulieu@vch.ca) or 236-333-6361.

As an Indigenous Homelessness Outreach Worker with VCH you will:

• Work as a member of an interdisciplinary team to provide support services to Indigenous individuals who are experiencing homelessness, precariously housed, and/or at risk of losing their housing.
• Provide outreach services to Indigenous individuals living in shelters, supported housing, and elsewhere to create linkages to other community resources and programs.
• Liaise and work with the local First Nation community, other Indigenous serving organizations, community resources, and healthcare providers to assist Indigenous clients to access support services such as benefits or assistance as appropriate.
• Provide brief planning and coordination on issues related to homelessness or housing insecurity.
• Collaborate with Indigenous Elders, traditional teachers, and/or Knowledge Keepers to establish rapport with clients based on mutual respect and cultural safety.
• Provide emotional and spiritual support by applying Indigenous traditions to everyday living to assist with problem solving day-to-day matters/issues of living.
• Provide care within the interdisciplinary model through trauma and violence-informed practice, two-eyed seeing practice, harm reduction and a recovery oriented care approach.
• Use a strength based perspective to support the client to identify housing goals and housing options.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education & Experience

• Diploma in Community Social Service or related discipline and one (1) year’s recent, related experience working with Indigenous clients with complex health and/or psychosocial problems or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• First Nations, Inuit, Metis ancestry is regarded as directly relevant to the skills and knowledge for excellence in the position.
• Pursuant to Section 41 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference will be given to candidates who identify as Indigenous including First Nations, Metis or Inuit.
• Valid BC Driver’s License as travel within the health authority is required.

Knowledge & Abilities

• Demonstrated Health Care experience; including experience working with Indigenous patients; experience working with Indigenous populations.
• 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 colonization and the impact on healthcare to Indigenous people and communities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of local First Nations community and other Indigenous serving organizations, including an understanding of wellness and history, cultural knowledge, understanding of intergenerational trauma.
• Comprehensive knowledge and demonstrated ability to provide culturally safe care, has knowledge of cultural humility and anti-racism practices, has completed Indigenous Cultural Safety training.
• Demonstrated ability to identify factors leading to the over-representation of Indigenous people experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles of recovery in mental health and substance use.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in Trauma and violence Informed Practice.
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to apply a Harm Reduction approach to care.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize signs/indicators of clients at risk of harm to self or others and knowledge of appropriate standards / processes as it relates to the rights and obligations of clients and staff.
• Demonstrated knowledge of community resources.
• Demonstrated knowledge of other health care disciplines and their role in client care.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with clients, educational personnel, resource workers, service providers, colleagues, physician, and other health care staff, both one-on-one and in groups.
• Demonstrated listening and information seeking skills that promotes communication and lead to a co-operative approach to problem solving within a multidisciplinary setting.
• Demonstrated ability to establish workload priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated ability to adjust to new or unexpected events.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a high volume/high stress environment with strong conflict resolution and problem solving skills.
• Ability to operate related equipment including applicable software applications.

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 (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 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 2022.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for this posting.

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