Indigenous Patient Navigator, Indigenous Health Program
BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital & Health Centre
Vancouver, BC
Pursuant to section 42 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference will be given to applicants of Indigenous Ancestry. We invite applicants to self-identify within their cover letter and/or resume. Indigenous applicants are encouraged to reach out to Sanya'kula (Indigenous Recruitment and Employee Experience) for support, advice, and guidance on the PHSA hiring process.
What you’ll do
- Provide consultative and navigational services to patients referred to PHSA programs and services by supporting cultural interpretation and/or health literacy translation services and by supporting culturally safe practice (e.g., access, system barriers, and navigation challenges). Support patients in communications with physicians, nurses, and other direct care staff.
- Support access and coordination of services for patients within the designated region. As required, coordinates client referrals to and from interagency, Indigenous communities, Indigenous organizations, and other health programs and services.
- Provide client support services within the hospital care system/community by initiating and maintaining working relationships with Indigenous clients to assess their needs and ability to access and receive culturally safe care. Support clients, as requested in the assigned service area, to understand, access, and navigate health care services.
- Is responsible for the facilitation of care, program development, planning and evaluation of services for Indigenous clients.
- Plan, develop, and implement Indigenous community health navigation consultative services to PHSA programs and services. Make recommendations regarding changes to organizational policies, procedures, and practices.
- Advocate for the needs of patients within the health care system and liaises with other community and regional health organizations and promotes and works to strengthen collaboration with regional health authorities to improve patient care.
- Provide support and acts as a resource, as required, for healthcare providers and other staff members, regarding the provision of culturally safe care. Coordinate client/family spiritual care requests and/or access to sacred spaces within the healthcare system to support Indigenous beliefs and practices.
- Support connection to community services such as Indigenous translators and arrange the language and cultural translation services where necessary.
- Maintain and update appropriate documentation and records related to the needs of Indigenous patients in the health care system. Develop and maintain a regional inventory of care related programs and services for clients.
- Support the development of regional strategies to improve care for Indigenous patients by engaging Indigenous communities, organizations, and other health system partners within the region, and works in partnership with the Metis Nation of BC, BC Association of Aboriginal Centre, and the First Nation Health Authority as appropriate.
- Provide a link between Indigenous communities and PHSA healthcare providers and supports Indigenous peoples’ understanding of the provincial healthcare system, the First Nations Health Authority, and federal healthcare systems where applicable.
- Provide information to Indigenous clients, families, communities, and organizations within the designated region and provide outreach support to Indigenous communities and organizations to better understand health needs and improve access to PHSA services.
- Support PHSA in improving relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations within the region.
- Assist in addressing culturally unsafe care with clients and staff.
What you bring
Qualifications
- A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in a related health discipline, health or social sciences, or a patient care/clinical related discipline, and one (1) to three (3) years’ recent related experience working in Indigenous healthcare or equivalent combination of lived experience, education, and employment.
- Lived experience as an Indigenous person (First Nations, Metis, or Inuit) to Canada is an asset.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience working with Indigenous (First Nations, Metis, and Inuit) communities and organizations.
- Extensive knowledge of Indigenous peoples’ demographics, languages, cultures, customs, and traditions.
- Experience or knowledge of the health care system and community-based resources within the region.
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples within social and health contexts. This includes understanding how these factors contribute to current health disparities and barriers to care. Show a clear commitment to identifying, challenging, and eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and all forms of discrimination impacting equity-deserving groups within health care settings. This involves familiarity and understanding Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility recognizing personal biases, institutional barriers, engaging in anti-racism education and training and advocating for systemic change.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments within BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital & Health Care Centre contexts found in the foundational documents including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study - BC Human Rights Code, BC Anti-racism Act and how they intersect across the health care system.
Core Competencies
- Brings an understanding of the Indigenous specific racism and the broader systemic racism that exists in the colonial health care structure, and has demonstrated initiatives in breaking down barriers and ensuring a safe environment ensuring a sense of belonging to all and informed by Indigenous Cultural Safety.
- Awareness of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (the Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).
Skills & Knowledge
- Demonstrated knowledge, understanding and application of cultural safety and anti-racism practice within healthcare. Demonstrated understanding of Canadian colonization, Indigenous specific racism and its impact on the current health and wellness of Indigenous peoples.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills. Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team. Ability to use sound professional judgment, empathy, compassion, and integrity.
- Ability to prioritize workload, keep accurate records and write reports as necessary.
- Ability to adapt as the Indigenous care program evolves.
- Ability to work independently and utilize strong time management skills to meet deadlines and accomplish objectives.
- Demonstrates a commitment to beginning and/or continuing their personal learning journey related to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Shows willingness to articulate and share their learning experiences to contribute to a culture of motivation and inspiration among peers.
- Demonstrates foundational knowledge of the social, economic, and political realities of settler-colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving groups within social and health contexts. Understands the impact of social determinants of health-on-health outcomes. Shows a commitment to learning about and upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments outlined in foundational documents such as the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan, Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, the BC Human Rights Code, Anti-Racism Data Act, and the Distinctions Based Approach.
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: Regular, Full-Time
Salary Range: $76,111 - $109,409/year. The starting salary for this position would be determined with consideration of the successful candidate’s relevant education and experience, and would be in alignment with the provincial compensation reference plan. Salary will be prorated accordingly for part time roles.
Location: 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver BC, V6H 2N9
Hours of Work: Monday – Friday, 0830 - 1630
Requisition # 203563E
What we do
BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) provides care for the most seriously ill or injured children and youth from across British Columbia.
BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre (BCW) is dedicated to improving the health of women, newborns and families through a comprehensive range of services, research and education.
BCCH and BCW 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 – Create equity – Be courageous.
Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services
PHSA, BCCH and BCW are committed to anti-racism and equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently excluded groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.
One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes ongoing commitments to Indigenous recruitment and employee experience as well as dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya’k̓ula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at [email protected].
Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and exclusion faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and title of BC First Nations and self-determination of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. PHSA is mandated to uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents including the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.
Attention current employees of PHSA:
You must apply via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca.
The internal job posting expires on September 7, 2026 and will no longer be accessible. If the internal job posting has expired, please e-mail [email protected] with the six-digit job requisition number and your PHSA employee ID number to be considered as a late internal applicant. Please do not apply for the external job posting.
If you have not yet set up an internal profile, please e-mail [email protected] with your PHSA employee ID number to obtain your temporary password. Our business hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, excluding Statutory Holidays and a Help Desk Representative will respond to you with 1-2 business days.
If you are not a current employee of PHSA and require assistance with your application, please contact the External Careers team at [email protected].
