Position Summary

Who are we looking for?

Interior Health is hiring a permanent full time Indigenous Peer Support Worker II to join their team at the Outreach Urban Health Centre in Kelowna, B.C.

How will you create an impact?

The Indigenous Peer Support Worker (IPSW) uses their own lived experience with mental health and/or substance use, wellness planning, and knowledge of healthcare services to assist Indigenous individuals requesting cultural supports as part of their care. The IPSW identifies themselves as a Peer and works in partnership with the person and the MHSU team to provide and inform holistic, culturally relevant, wellness-focused care. The IPSW has autonomy to determine aspects of the care plan with the individual and works in collaboration with the MHSU team and community partners so that the person’s self-identified goals for wellness are supported and consistent with the values of self-determination, choice and harm reduction.

The IPSW supports individuals to connect with resources and explore various forms of skill building, incorporating Indigenous ways of being and knowing to improve relationships with self, family and community. The IPSW demonstrates how lived experience can strengthen and guide the individual throughout their wellness journey. Where requested by the person, the IPSW directly provides, or provides access to cultural practices and traditional medicine. The role collaborates with Elders, Traditional Healers and Knowledge Keepers to share language, history, ceremony and protocols as well as stories of resiliency and celebration.

What will you work on:

1. Responsible for collaborative, person-directed care planning with the individual and healthcare providers by performing duties such as eliciting information on strengths and goals, and identifying and implementing appropriate programs as needed.
2. Develops reciprocal relationships based on mutual respect with the person, family members, other identified supports, Elders, Traditional Healers and/or Knowledge Keepers.
3. Determines and makes changes to aspects of care planning that are strengthened by lived experience; ensures the person’s voice, goals, strengths and choices are included throughout; uses relevant methods informed by the individual’s preferences to elicit information (i.e. medicine wheel).
4. Engages the individual, identified family members and personal networks in conversations to explore culture as it relates to personal, cultural and spiritual identity.
5. Provides supportive counselling including Peer support (social, emotional, appraisal and practical support), goal setting, action planning and engaging strengths to assist with the development of skills for wellness, promoting health, reducing harm and strengthening skills for empowerment and resourcefulness.
6. Provides formal advocacy; including coaching to develop skills of self-determination, informed decision-making and problem solving, attending appointments to walk alongside or speak up on behalf of the person where they cannot express their needs. Settings informed by the individual and can include legal systems, health systems, education and employment settings, housing and community resources.
7. Maintains an awareness of current community resources related to cultural supports, wellness and harm reduction, with particular attention to resources developed and led by Indigenous organizations. Assists the person to navigate, access, create connections, and support ongoing involvement as required.
8. Engages the person in cultural supports that promote health and healing in a safe and supportive manner by:
• Coordinating access to cultural resources (including language, ceremony, land-based healing and traditional medicine) when requested by the person, and in collaboration with traditional practitioners including Elders, Traditional Healers and Knowledge Keepers;
• Providing and coordinating individual and group activities that honor Indigenous identity and spirituality (may include story-telling, talking circles);
• Incorporating cultural initiatives into program areas where able to (i.e. traditional meal preparation).
9. Assists the person towards self-managing all aspects of their wellness, including cultural identity, mental health, substance use and other health conditions by such methods as sharing information and lived experience perspective, linkages with community supports and advocacy groups, and practical problem solving.
10. Identifies potential emergency situations and develops short-term strategies to address and reduce harm including actions such as responding to overdose, using first aid and assisting the individual to access drug checking and overdose prevention services.
11. Provides input and feedback regarding the person’s expectations for services to the team; provides input into all areas of the person’s care plan; shares information with team members regarding cultural considerations for individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance use concerns; provides additional context specific to resistance to oppressive systems (colonization, racism).
12. Supports the creation of culturally welcoming environments informed by recommendations from individuals accessing services, Indigenous organizations, Elders and Knowledge Keepers; may include recommendations for physical environments (i.e. spaces for cultural activities), emotional environments (i.e. friendly reception, support navigating space), and spiritual environments (i.e. opportunities to participate in ceremony, smudge meeting spaces). Maintains any necessary resources and supplies.
13. Connects and collaborates with Peers locally and regionally, as well as Interior Health’s Indigenous Mental Wellness Team.
14. Prepares and maintains written and computerized records and completes other program documentation, including progress notes and incident reports.
15. Provides medication support to individuals, including administering and providing reminders, in accordance with the person’s care plan and policy.
16. Participates in planning by providing input in staff meetings, quality improvement initiatives, committees and in-services.
17. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Interior Health strives to create an environment where you enjoy the work you do, the place where you work, and the people around you. Together, we create great workplaces. Apply today!

Qualifications

Education, Training, and Experience:

• Experience participating in and/or coordinating cultural activities that honor Indigenous values, beliefs, knowledge and teachings including working under guidance of Indigenous Elders, Traditional Healers and/or Knowledge Keepers.
• Two years of lived experience in recovery from substance use and/or mental illness (as determined by the assigned program area).
• Diploma in a Social Services program and successful completion of recognized Peer Support Training program plus two (2) years recent related experience in a peer support role, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Appropriate valid BC driver’s license.

Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge and understanding that language, cultural beliefs and practices differ widely between First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities; aware of the unique and diverse qualities of Indigenous Peoples accessing services.
• Knowledge and understanding of the historical and present day impacts of colonial trauma, and how this is reflected in the healthcare system.
• Knowledge of two-eyed seeing, wise practices, strengths-based, trauma-informed approaches.
• Knowledge of Indigenous health and wellness practices, including cultural continuity and holistic vision of wellness.
• Knowledge of harm reduction strategies, including Indigenous Harm Reduction Principles and Practices.
• Knowledge of substance use services and programs.
• Ability to establish and maintain respectful and reciprocal relationships.
• Ability to provide a safe environment to encourage open and honest self-discovery for individuals.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, analyze and problem solve.
• Ability to encourage positive change and independence.
• Skills in restorative approaches, conflict resolution and crisis intervention.
• Displays a strong, dedicated and consistent focus on anti-racism, cultural safety and cultural humility; advocates for same.
• Physical and mental ability to carry out the duties of the position.
• Ability to operate related equipment (including necessary computer programs).

Comments

This posting is covered by the Provincial Health Officer’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination orders and selected applicant(s) must comply.

Interior Health now offers assistance from an Aboriginal Employment Advisor. If you self-identify as Aboriginal (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) and if you would like assistance with internal career exploration, send your question via email to AboriginalEmployment@interiorhealth.ca to be redirected to the Employment Advisor. We invite applicants to self-identify as First nations, Métis, or Inuit within cover letters and/or resumes.