Providence Health Care’s Indigenous Wellness and Reconciliation team is hiring!

To learn more about the Indigenous Wellness and Reconciliation team, check us out here.

“We are here to support and advocate for Indigenous folks to ensure that their healthcare is inclusive and that it is just as important as anyone else’s.” – Jaye Currie, Indigenous Wellness Liaison

Your duties will include:

• Support patients and families one-on-one by sharing your own lived experiences with challenges like racism, trauma, substance use, poverty, or health issues.
• Work with Indigenous Wellness Liaisons and other Peers in the Indigenous Wellness Program to provide care that is safe, respectful, and trauma informed.
• Offer emotional support to patients, speak up for their needs, and help build positive relationships with healthcare providers.
• Take part in projects like planning, harm reduction programs, and improvements to health services.
• Share your lived experience to support research and help shape better programs and policies.
• Help create a care environment that values patients’ needs, respects Indigenous cultures, and fights against racism.
• Bring your whole self, life experiences and cultural learnings, to this role and make a tangible impact on the health care services provided to Indigenous patient populations at Providence Health Care. We are committed to treating those we serve — and each other — with compassion and respect.

Meet the Indigenous Wellness and Reconciliation (IWR) team and what they do:

The IWR team guides Providence Health Care in its commitment to advance Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, informed by seminal reports like In Plain Sight (2021) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. All of us at Providence are responsible for advancing Indigenous human rights in partnership with Indigenous Peoples, through processes underpinned by mutual respect and dignity. We also continually seek to maximize our capacity to deliver exceptional, culturally safe care to the Indigenous patients that we serve. The Indigenous Wellness and Reconciliation team is an integral part of guiding and leading this work.

Implementing innovative solutions to challenges is a key part of advancing culturally safe, identify-affirming care. The implementation of innovative solutions often involves multiple teams and services and requires coordination and respectful collaboration.

In this position, you will report to Neil Fowler, Manager, and be joining an exceptional, hardworking team balanced with unwavering support for one another and a great sense of humour: Fancy Poitras, Lindsay Beck, and Sheri Hundseth. The Vice-President of Indigenous Wellness and Reconciliation, Harmony Johnson, leads the team through a strong vision and provides flexibility and autonomy.

Read more about the impact IWR is making at Providence Health Care.

• The successful candidate is someone with valuable lived experience, such as navigating challenges related to systemic racism, intergenerational trauma, substance use, poverty, sex work, or health concerns. They bring a deep understanding of Indigenous cultures and practices, enabling them to provide culturally safe and meaningful support to others.
• While training in Peer Support or related fields (such as Substance Use Counselling or Social Sciences) and one year of experience in areas like mental health, housing support, or healthcare is an asset, candidates with equivalent knowledge, skills, and lived experience are equally valued and encouraged to apply.
• An understanding of the impacts of colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and integrates harm reduction and trauma-informed approaches into work. Commitment to using personal experiences to compassionately guide and support others on their journeys.
• Strengths in communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution, being adaptable, capable of managing time effectively, and working collaboratively or independently. Being open to continuous learning and growth to further enhance ability to support individuals and communities.

About you:

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent. We want to learn about you and your journey as it relates to this role. In lieu of a cover letter we encourage you to submit the story of your journey – this can be in a written/oral story, video, or even infographic. In your application, please let us know if you identify as Indigenous in Canada such as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit. Preference will be given to those who self-identify as being First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit.

• The salary range for this role is $54,444 - $57,720 per year, depending on experience.
• A comprehensive health benefit package, including dental, vision, and life coverage.
• An orientation session and comprehensive onboarding to all new hires.
• A chance to grow professionally and personally, as part of a supportive team driven by innovation and the desire to address the future health needs of patients, families and our communities.
• This position will be required to be on site at St. Paul’s Hospital in downtown Vancouver.

Your Day to Day 

• Provides day to day Peer support and advocacy from knowledge and lived/living experience to patients and families across acute and primary care services and will liaise with existing Peers and/or Volunteers already working across PHC sites (e.g., acute care, seniors care, mental health) and outpatient clinics (i.e., John Ruedy Clinic and the Rapid Access Addiction Clinic) at Providence Health Care.
• Works as an embedded team member in the Indigenous Wellness Program and supports patient referrals to the Indigenous Wellness Liaisons, as well as helps facilitate patient and family access to traditional cultural practices, All Nations Sacred Space, and as required, access to other community health programs, cultural supports, and harm reduction services.
• Acts as a resource for both patients and health care providers by providing emotional support and advocacy and supporting referrals to the Indigenous Cultural Safety team to ensure health provider relationships are trauma informed, person and family centered, and embedding principles of cultural safety and humility in the delivery of care services.
• Supports Peer initiatives at Providence Health Care by participating in working groups and meetings related to strategic planning, harm reduction, redevelopment and other organizational initiatives.
• Tracks referral and program access data utilizing word processing, email, and spreadsheets, or is willing to learn or develop these skills.
• Attends regularly scheduled Indigenous Wellness & Reconciliation department meetings and provides informal updates on the Peer Support Program.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Advance Your Career at Providence Health Care!

We acknowledge that Providence Health Care and the new St. Paul’s Hospital site is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.