Indigenous Patient Navigator (IPN)

Position Summary
Interior Health is seeking an Indigenous Patient Navigator to provide compassionate, culturally safe, and client-centered support to Indigenous individuals accessing healthcare services. Working alongside an interdisciplinary team, you will help bridge the connection between Indigenous patients, their families, and healthcare providers, ensuring respectful, inclusive, and meaningful care. If you are committed to advocacy, cultural safety, and holistic approaches to wellness, we encourage you to apply. Come and join our team at the Urgent and Primary Care Centre in beautiful Williams Lake, BC, located within Secwepemcúl'ecw.

This is a Term Specific Full Time opportunity until September 2026, or the return of the incumbent.

Some of the Benefits of Joining Interior Health:

• An attractive remuneration package
• Excellent career prospects
• Employer paid training/education
• Employer paid vacation
• Employer paid insurance premiums
• Extended Health & Dental coverage
• Municipal Pension Plan
• Work-life balance

Salary Range:
Salary range for the position is $67,861 to $97,550. Interior Health establishes salaries within the minimum and maximum of the salary range based on consideration of the qualifications, experience of the applicant, and an internal equity review of the salaries of other employees.

How will you create an impact?

In accordance with the established vision and values of the organization, the Indigenous Patient Navigator (IPN) works as part of the Interdisciplinary Care Team and as required, acts as a resource for both Indigenous clients and healthcare providers to ensure the provision of care is culturally safe and client centered. The IPN works with Indigenous people located in the assigned Interior Health (IH) service area across varying sectors of health (e.g., acute care, residential services, mental health, public health, and home health services), depending on the local service area.

What will you work on:
• Provides consultative and navigational services for health professionals, the community, and clients to understand and identify client needs by supporting cultural interpretation and/or health literacy translation services and by supporting culturally competent practice (e.g., access, system barriers, and navigation challenges).
• Provides support and acts as a resource, as required, for healthcare providers, including primary healthcare physicians, regarding the provision of culturally safe care. Coordinates client/family spiritual care requests and/or access to sacred spaces within the healthcare system to support Indigenous beliefs and customs. Coordinates and provides community resources and connections to Indigenous spiritual services as required.
• Provides 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. Supports clients, as requested in the assigned service area, to understand, access, and navigate acute care, home health, community, mental health, addictions, chronic disease, and public health services. Assists clients in addressing their concerns by linking with the IH complaint process.
• At the client or healthcare provider’s request, the IPN provides client support services related to discharge planning by participating in the discharge planning process, including assisting in the early identification and assessment of clients’ needs and liaising with the appropriate community and IH program and services (e.g., mental health, addictions, and/or other IPN or community resources).
• Provides client-specific navigation of services for Indigenous clients in conjunction with an interdisciplinary team that may include such work as attending bed meetings, supporting staff with client/family culturally safe needs assessment, checking for referrals, and attending health-related service rounds. As required, coordinates client referrals to and from interagency, Indigenous communities, urban Indigenous organizations, and other health programs and services.
• Provides a link between Indigenous communities and IH healthcare providers and supports Indigenous peoples’ understanding of the provincial healthcare system, the First Nations Health Authority, and federal healthcare systems where applicable. Provides information regarding the provision of and access to healthcare programs and services to Indigenous clients, families, and communities.
• Supports connection to community services such as Indigenous translators.
• Coordinates client-specific meetings between the inter-professional team, including Indigenous healthcare providers, to address concerns or system barriers that arise.
• Maintains and updates appropriate documentation and records related to the provision of client care. Completes summary and statistical casework information as required.
• Attends regularly scheduled meetings with Managers and Administrators and monthly IPN teleconference calls. Charts client referrals, receives and documents referrals from home health and community service organizations, and travels as required.
• In alignment with IH’s Occupational Health & Safety Program, employees shall adhere to all Occupational Health and Safety policies and procedures at all times and attend all required training. Employees are responsible to report any identified hazards, unsafe conditions or incidents to the manager or supervisor immediately.
• 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!

Honouring Interior 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/or hiring will be given to qualified applicants who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit).

Qualfications
Education, Training, and Experience:
• A degree or diploma in social work, healthcare, or a relevant field (e.g., Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse).
• Two years of related experience working in a healthcare environment.
• Lived experience with Indigenous populations and demonstrated knowledge of their care needs, services, culture, traditions, and Indigenous organizations in the relevant geographical area.
• Demonstrated understanding of Canadian colonization, Indigenous specific racism and its impact on the current health and wellness of Indigenous peoples.
• 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.).
• OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Preference will be given to candidates proficient in one or more Indigenous languages.
• A valid BC Driver’s License.