Social worker, indigenous wellness

Salary

The salary range for this position is CAD $44.85 - $56.02 / hour
Detailed Overview

Works within an interdisciplinary team to provide comprehensive services and therapeutic clinical counseling to clients and their families of the Indigenous Primary Health and Wellness Home.

Conducts comprehensive social work and psychosocial assessments of clients and their families using a variety of assessment tools to provide treatment services for clients including liaising with community agencies and caregiver support groups; provides Indigenous wellness clinical support to the interdisciplinary team including physicians and nurse practitioners in the development of culturally safe care plans and services within the assigned area of responsibility; delivers and evaluates clinical services and outcomes; participates on local committees and planning bodies to identify areas to improve the efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery to enhance client care services and reduce service gaps for the Indigenous population.

Provides client and family-centered, culturally safe care through a trauma-informed approach and evidence-informed practice, and in accordance with professional standards, clinical policies, legislation and practices; establishes a dignifying, purposeful and trusting relationship with clients, promoting self-determination and independence; encourages knowledge exchange in day-to day activities, and empowers clients and natural supports to engage and connect within their communities; ensures clients and their family members are supported in navigating the health care system.

Responsibilities

Supports the facilitation of a person-centered and holistic approach to health and wellness journeys to improve the healthcare experience of Indigenous patients within the hospital healthcare system, including anti-racism, cultural safety, family support, advocacy, spiritual care, community liaison, etc.

Conducts comprehensive social work and psychosocial assessments by interviewing the client and/or their family, obtaining relevant information, gathering social data and interpreting the data using a variety of tools.

Provides comprehensive therapeutic services by exploring the psychosocial response to identify problems, personal concerns, treatment objectives and facilitates change in coping style, behavior, attitude and feelings; participates with the client, families, community supports and the interdisciplinary team to coordinate services, manage cases and facilitates meetings.

Provides short-term brief/crisis intervention for patients with mental health and substance use issues using a variety of interviewing, clinical counselling and assessment methods.

Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team in client care planning by interviewing the client and/or family to assess and determine care plan and type of service required; follows up and provides ongoing monitoring of complex psychosocial situations; evaluates client's response to interventions.

Strengthens partnerships and collaborates with local community health, wellness and social services organizations and partners targeting a range of health promotion and disease prevention activities operating at the community level in the region

Acts as a clinical resource for clients and their families by providing information regarding community resources and access to these resources, facilitating referrals where appropriate; provides education and promotes health promotion initiatives/services to individuals, families, and Indigenous communities to increase knowledge regarding self-care and whole body health. Encourages informed decision-making, personal growth and learning, empowering the client to improve their quality of life.

Provides consultation to staff for the purpose of enhancing knowledge of Indigenous cultures, contemporary social issues, and health beliefs. Provides information on social and health services available in the community for Indigenous people. Participates in committees that integrate Indigenous Health with [primary care] and community programs by providing input and addressing Indigenous Health issues. .

Maintains patient records by documenting assessments, charting information and preparing progress notes and reports in accordance with established standards, policies, procedures and current regulatory requirements.

Maintains a variety of records such as workload statistics by recording information into approved formats, collating data, analyzing trends, accounting for variances, preparing reports as required and provides recommendations to the Manager, Indigenous Health, as required.

Builds capacity related to Indigenous wellness, cultural safety and humility, among the interdisciplinary team and develops, coordinates and delivers in-services, presentations, psycho-educational and support groups and/or training by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team determining relevant content, conducting literature searches, planning and coordinating seminars.

Participates on local committees and planning bodies to identifying opportunities for change, assess available resources, analyze outcomes and identify areas to enhance patient care services and reduce service gaps.

Initiates, develops and carries out research activities and program planning and development relevant to the needs of the patient, families, hospital and community, as assigned.

Arranges and participates in joint home visits to clients and/or families with other healthcare professionals, as required; provides advice to the clients and/or caregiver about available community resources.

Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Qualifications

Education, Training and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from an approved school of Social Work plus two (2) years' recent related experience in a complex health care environment, working with interdisciplinary teams including 1 year of experience working with Indigenous clients. Knowledge of Indigenous health and wellness approaches, protocol and cultural issues. Or an equivalent combination of social work education, training and experience. Current full registration with the BC College of Social Workers.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of cultural safety, harm reduction, trauma-informed, strength and resiliency-oriented approaches; concurrent disorders; addictions and addictions counselling.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices and theories of clinical counselling as applied to First Nations, Métis and Inuit populations.
• Knowledge of how First Nations, Métis and Inuit culture impacts the development of individuals and communities. Familiarity with residential school issues and the effects on First Nations people.
• Demonstrated ability to develop consultative relationships with health professionals, counsellors, traditional healers, and Elders.
• In-depth knowledge of community resources and strong collaborative skills in working with other community partners to inform the referral process, with application to First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals, groups, and interdisciplinary professionals through understanding the frameworks of other disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to assess, plan, organize, implement, evaluate and problem-solve, organize and prioritize workload in a complex environment.
• Ability to effectively develop, coordinate and deliver in-services, trainings, presentations, psycho-educational and support groups and consultation to clients, families, and healthcare professionals.
• Proficiency in the use of personal computers, including related word processing and database management software applications.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct comprehensive social work and psychosocial assessment.
• Comprehensive counseling skills including crisis counseling, brief therapeutic interventions and loss and grief applicable to patient, families and their support networks.
• Comprehensive knowledge of pertinent/relevant health care and privacy legislations.
• Ability to educate and provide consultation to patients, families and healthcare professionals.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize workload in a complex environment.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.

About Fraser Health

Fraser Health is the heart of health care for over two million people in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada, on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations and is home to 32 First Nations within the Fraser Salish region.

People - those we care for and those who care for them - are at the heart of everything we do. Our hospital and community-based services are delivered by a team of 50,000+ staff, medical staff and volunteers.

We are committed to planetary health and value diversity in the work force. We strive to maintain an environment of respect, caring and trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable and culturally safe manner.

Together, we are the heart of health care.

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