Indigenous Youth Mental Health and Wellness Liaison, Child and Youth Mental Health Program

BC Children’s Hospital

Vancouver, BC

 

 

Pursuant to section 42 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference will be given to applicants of Indigenous Ancestry.

 

 

The Indigenous Youth Mental Health and Wellness Liaison reports operationally to the Program Director and to the Professional Practice Lead for general discipline practice within an interdisciplinary team, to support Indigenous perspectives, knowledge, and approaches to wellness are honored and integrated into the delivery of substance use care within BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH). The Indigenous Youth Mental Health and Wellness Liaison provides guidance to the interdisciplinary healthcare team and Indigenous Patients and families with care planning, including networking, advocacy, liaison with community services, coordination of resources, consultation with teams, and collaboration with community agencies to support the provision of culturally safe care to Indigenous youth and families.   As an integral member of Child and Youth Mental Health Substance Use Team, the role provides a proactive, holistic approach from an Indigenous wellness lens when participating in the direct care, research, development and improvement of Indigenous education, policy, and practices within the Mental Health programs and BCCH.

 

What you’ll do

• Represent Indigenous wellness lens for patients and their families regarding decisions about their health and wellness care plan. Collaborate and support the staff to incorporate cultural perspectives grounded in Indigenous worldviews. Facilitate connection to ceremony, traditional wellness practices and teachings.
• Support care coordination for patients, community health centers/services/agencies; clarify family expectations and act as a patient advocate. Participate in care and program planning and development as part of an inter-professional team within the continuum or health care. Communicate with and support connection with appropriate community agencies to ensure the best possible care for patients and families after discharge from hospital. 
• Support the team in being connected with patient safety and family once discharged from hospital and ensuring care plans are coordinated with appropriate referrals and resources regardless of the health authority or municipal jurisdiction to which the patient is being discharged.
• Establish effective working relationships with community based agencies and health care providers, including those who provide services for Indigenous communities, to facilitate connection of services across the continuum of health care to ensure they are accessible and effective.
• Participate in the development of program planning, policy and procedures as part of an inter-professional team within the continuum or health care. Identify, promote and participate in program planning strategies to enhance system processes and resources for Indigenous patients and their families.
• If and as needed, advocates, assesses patient and family need for therapeutic and practical supports through direct telephone contact and assists families in accessing and securing resources in their community. Supports addressing emotional and practical problems of moderate complexity; supports and promotes culturally safe, trauma informed educational, supportive group programs, and the development of groups to meet the needs of clients and families.

 

 

What you bring

 

Education, Training and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant Social Sciences discipline.
• Registration with designated professional regulatory body.
• Minimum one (1) year of recent related experience working with Indigenous patients, communities, or populations.
• Experience in child, youth and family centered practice in a hospital setting is an asset.

 

You will also have:

• Demonstrated ability to deliver culturally sensitive services to Indigenous populations.
• Knowledge of the psychosocial needs of children, youth and their families with substance use and mental health conditions, including the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of the patient, family and community.
• May hold wisdom and knowledge in areas of Indigenous traditional health and wellness as recognized by their Nation and/or family. Demonstrated capacity to share wisdom and knowledge with patients, families and health care providers.
• Knowledge of and experience with Indigenous centered and holistic care and unique needs or Indigenous populations and health services, in alignment with Paige’s story (2015) and the Truth and Reconciliation Call To Action Report (2015).
• Broad knowledge of Aboriginal and non-aboriginal services and community resources available for substance use, trauma, and other mental health services for Aboriginal children, youth and their families.
• Awareness of and commitment to learning and understanding the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight Report (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), and other related reports.
• Commitment to upholding the shared responsibility of creating lasting and meaningful reconciliation in Canada as per TRC (2015) and BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019).
• As a strong asset for consideration, we are looking for our successful candidate to have: Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities impacting indigenous communities and familiarity with Indigenous Cultural Safety and anti-racism and accompanying reports (BC DRIPA, TRC, etc.).

 

What we bring

 

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That’s why we’re focused on your care too – offering health, wellness, development programs to support you – at work and at home.

• Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations – offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
• Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
• Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
• PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
• Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

 

Job Type: Temporary, Full-Time (until March 27. 2025)
Wage: $42.27 to $52.81 per hour

Location: 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, V6H 2N9
Applications will be accepted until position is filled.

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday; 900-1700
Requisition # 160985E

 

As per the current Public Health Order, full vaccination against COVID-19 is a condition of employment with PHSA as of October 26, 2021.

 

 

What we do

 

BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) provides care for the most seriously ill or injured children and youth from across British Columbia.

 

BCCH is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).

 

The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include: Respect people – Be compassionate – Dare to innovate – Cultivate partnerships – Serve with purpose.

 

Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services

 

PHSA and BCCH are committed to employment equity, encouraging all qualified individuals to apply. We recognize that our ability to provide the best care for our diverse patient populations relies on a rich diversity of skills, knowledge, background and experience, and value a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.

 

Reconciliation is an ongoing process and a shared responsibility for all of us. The BC Governments’ unanimous passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act was a significant step forward in this journey—one that all health authorities are expected to support as we work in cooperation with Indigenous Peoples to establish a clear and sustainable path to lasting reconciliation. True reconciliation will take time and ongoing commitment to work with Indigenous Peoples as they move toward self-determination. Guiding these efforts Crown agencies must remain focused on creating opportunities that implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Mandate.

 

ATTN: PHSA Employees:

 

To be considered as a PHSA employee (internal applicant) for this position, you must apply online via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca    

 

Please note the internal job posting will no longer be accessible after the expiry date of March 8, 2024. If the internal job posting has expired, please contact the Internal Jobs Help Desk and advise that you would like to be considered as a late internal applicant for this position. Please do not apply for the external job posting.

 

If you have not registered your internal profile, a password is required to log in for the first time. To obtain your password, please contact the Internal Jobs Help Desk at 604-875-7264 or 1-855-875-7264. Please note regular business hours are Monday – Friday (excluding stats), 8:30am to 4:30pm. For inquiries outside of regular business hours, please email the Internal Jobs Help Desk at internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca and a Help Desk Representative will contact you the next business day.