Cultural Liaison

Status: Permanent, Full-time

Location: R & R, Coquitlam, BC

Schedule

Monday to Friday 9.30am - 3.30pm

Salary Range

$33.49- $35.31

Start Date

As soon as possible.

Job Summary

The Recovery and Rehabilitation Program Cultural Liaison acts as a resource for Indigenous clients and staff to ensure the care and services provided are culturally safe, trauma-informed, and client-centered.

The Cultural Liaison works directly with clients, families, staff, and other health care providers to help connecting to community supports and navigating the health care system.

Job Responsibilities

• Initiate and maintain working relationships with Indigenous clients to assess their needs for support in a culturally safe manner.
• Coordinate client and family spiritual care requests and facilitate access to sacred spaces to support and cultivate Indigenous practices, beliefs and customs.
• Identify clients' and family’s needs for services and supports; develop alternate strategies for client support, when required.
• Promote and develop culturally safe, trauma-informed educational and supportive group programs / activities to meet the needs of clients. Organize and run 3 groups a week; Wellbriety, Indigenous Art, Story Telling.
• Establish effective working relationships with community-based agencies and health care providers who provide services for Indigenous clients and communities.
• Work as alongside the interdisciplinary team at Recovery & Rehabilitation program.
• Develop and maintain a list of relevant community referral services and Indigenous community based agencies that may serve the RR clients.
• Provide liaison services with community agencies and facilitate client follow-up support after their discharge from the program.
• Document client care activities as required.
• Perform other duties as requested.

• Education / Training / Experience
• Demonstrated knowledge, experience, and understanding of Indigenous people and their culture.
• Comprehensive understanding and experience delivering culturally safe, trauma informed care
• Experience working in a health care environment.
• Experience facilitating group work.
• Degree or diploma in a relevant Social Sciences discipline or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Recent, related experience of two years
• Ability to provide/obtain the following upon hire
• Certificates in First Aid + CPR, WHMIS and FoodSafe
• Ministry of Justice Criminal Record Clearance
• TB Clearance
• Immunization Records
• Medical Clearance

Based on Coast Mental Health’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), and pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code, preferential consideration and hiring will be given to qualified applicants who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit).

• Skills and Knowledge
• 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).
• 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.
• Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities impacting indigenous communities
• Demonstrated understanding of Canadian colonization, Indigenous specific racism and its impact on the current health and wellness of Indigenous peoples.
• Knowledge of BC Indigenous peoples’ demographics, languages, cultures, customs and traditions.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience working with Indigenous (First Nations, Metis and Inuit) communities and organizations
• Knowledge of Indigenous health issues impacting Indigenous communities.
• Knowledge of community-based Indigenous organizations across BC, including organizations mandated to provide mental health and substance use care services.
• Interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate effectively with clients, families, staff and the public.
• Ability to work independently and co-operatively alongside the interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to deal with others tactfully and with demonstrated sensitivity.
• Ability to organize and problem solve.
• Computer experience as you Indigenous Lead will be required to provide Progress Notes, Monthly summaries and Quarterly reports.
• Ability to connect with other Nations to help clients get information regarding their Status card, Indigenous Housing Applications, and more.

About Coast

Coast Mental Health (Coast) is one of the largest mental health non-profit societies in Canada and operates a large array of innovative housing and community-based rehabilitation services for people with a mental illness living in and around Vancouver. Coast operates in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia providing approximately 1000 people with supportive housing and 4000 clients living in the community with a wide variety of programs and services.

Coast fosters a client-driven, recovery-oriented environment that promotes restoring health, personal growth and a return to society for individuals with a mental illness through advocacy and providing direct programs and services. Coast is deeply invested in cultural safety, reconciliation, and anti-racism. Our employees receive training on cultural humility, trauma-informed practice, and inclusive leadership. We strive to reflect the communities we serve and value lived experience alongside professional qualifications.

***For any unionized positions, current/internal Coast employees must apply within seven (7) days of the posting date with their internal UKG account (using their Coast email address), in order to be considered as an internal applicant. Current/internal Coast employees who apply to a unionized position using an external account (or email), or after the seven (7) day deadline will be considered an external candidate. In this case, seniority will not be considered.***

Coast Mental Health is committed to creating a culture of diversity and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion or disability.