Indigenous Homelessness Outreach Worker (Community Social Service Diploma)

Salary Details

The salary range for this position is CAD $33.49/Hr. - CAD $35.31/Hr.

Job Summary

Join the team as an Indigenous Homelessness Outreach Worker with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) at qathet General Hospital in beautiful Powell River, BC!

Vancouver Coastal Health is committed to valuing diversity within our workforce. VCH encourages Indigenous applicants who identify as Indigenous (including First Nations, Metis or Inuit), who may not possess all required qualifications but would become job ready through Employer provided training, orientation or mentoring, to apply.

Within the context of cultural safety and a client-centred model, and in accordance with established vision and values of the organization, the Indigenous Homelessness Outreach Worker works 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. Using an outreach model, the Indigenous Homelessness Outreach Worker will provide outreach services to Indigenous individuals living in shelters, supported housing, and elsewhere to create linkages to other community resources and programs. Liaises and works 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. Provides brief planning and coordination on issues related to homelessness or housing insecurity. Collaborates with Indigenous Elders, traditional teachers, and/or Knowledge Keepers to establish rapport with clients based on mutual respect and cultural safety. Provides emotional and spiritual support by applying Indigenous traditions to everyday living to assist with problem solving day-to-day matters/issues of living. Provides care within the interdisciplinary model through trauma and violence-informed practice, two-eyed seeing practice, harm reduction and a recovery oriented care approach. Uses a strength based perspective to support the client to identify housing goals and housing options.

ABOUT POWELL RIVER, BC

On the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, where endless green mountains meet sheltered Pacific Ocean waters, Powell River provides a stimulating blend of outdoor adventure and cultural amenities. Originally founded as a resource extraction centre - once home to the world's largest pulp and paper mill - Powell River now offers adventurers countless opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, golfing, boating, hiking, biking, fishing, and scuba diving. This area is host to world-class art galleries, tremendous dining opportunities, and memorable events and festivals.

On the doorstep of both Vancouver and Vancouver Island, the Powell River region offers an array of experiences for travelers of all kinds, no matter the season. Experience the legendary Sunshine Coast Trail and Powell Forest Canoe Route, rock-climb the Eldred Valley, snowshoe in the Knuckleheads; this is the adventure destination you've long been waiting for.

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.
• For this position, we also want to highlight that 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, Skills & 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.

Closing Statement

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 Canada’s Top 100 Employers, BC’s Top Employers, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and Canada's Top Employers for Young People in 2026.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.