Senior Practice Leader, Indigenous Health, Children’s and Women’s

Job Summary:

In accordance with the Mission, Vision, Values and strategic direction of PHSA, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.
The Senior Practice Leader (SPL) reports to the Director, Indigenous Health, and is accountable for promoting excellence in Indigenous health practice and quality of patient care. The SPL is a leader, innovator, knowledge translator, and change agent who is accountable for promoting excellence in nursing practice and quality of patient care. The scope of practice of the SPL is both broad and complex, encompassing complex patient care planning, consultation, education, dissemination of research and administration across Health Authorities and the province. The SPL builds effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders and negotiates and facilitates provincial collaboration, advisors senior leadership, and consults on planning. The SPL advances knowledge creation and uptake by engaging in or supporting the use of current research, evidence/best practice standards in order to address professional, program and patient problems and concerns. The SPL assists educators in reviewing policies/education along with building capacity for educating, training, and facilitating Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility. The SPL liaises and develops partnerships with Community and Public Health organizations and practitioners throughout BC and consults, advises, organizes and provides provincial Indigenous health education programs in partnership with other care providers. The SPL supports professional practice, program and organizational goals in alignment with Indigenous Health direction in collaboration with the Program Directors, Professional Practice Leaders and community partners. The SPL is an advanced practitioner who is responsible for provincial Indigenous health programs, surveillance, investigation, policy and procedure, consultation, education, and research.

Duties/Accountabilities:

• Consults internally and for local, provincial and national planning in the area of Indigenous Health at the program, organizational, community, provincial, national and international levels.
• Advises the senior leadership physicians, nursing and other providers across and beyond the boundaries of the organization about issues related to Indigenous children and women care to promote optimum and effective resource allocation. Partners in the development, implementation and evaluation of provincial guidelines and standards of practices for the delivery of Indigenous health programs, patient care standards, and professional practice standards in collaboration with leadership, team members, and stakeholders.
• Promotes and advances the implementation of relevant evidenced-based practice and shares knowledge about current research and literature, including innovation in practice as it relates to Indigenous health. Establishes opportunities to support staff in implementing evidence-based practice, participates in clinical research endeavors, promotes and advances best practice through publications, presentations, and conferences.
• Plans, implements and evaluates appropriate educational programs based on ongoing needs assessment, in collaboration with educators and other professional staff.
• Builds effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders and negotiates and facilitates provincial collaboration. This includes collaboration with Health Authorities, First Nations Health Authority and health practitioners, as well as with the 203 First Nations communities in BC.
• Pursues relationships, including through joint appointments, with academic programs in university settings (BCIT, University of BC, University of Victoria), with professional associations, and with other Indigenous Health organizations involved in health and service delivery. Precepts and mentors students at a graduate level and from different disciplines.
• Initiates and participates in community development initiatives and provides support for the development of outreach initiatives in line with organizational and program priorities. Organizes and provides relevant educational outreach programs, including workshops and presentations, in collaboration with other medical and nursing experts. Represents Indigenous Health and Children’s and Women’s on external committees and with external bodies, including the Ministries as required.
• Scans the environment and the literature to identify emerging practice trends and challenges and implements strategies to address challenges. Leads and manages complex and innovative projects and initiatives and engages all disciplines to find solutions.

Qualifications:

Pursuant to section 41 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference will be given to applicants of Indigenous Ancestry. Please self-identify in your cover letter/resume.
A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Master’s Degree in Nursing, or related field and five (5) years recent related public health experience in Indigenous health and/or public health nursing in progressively senior leadership positions or advanced practice roles including experience in drafting guidelines and standards of practice. Eligible for registration with the British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives (BCCNM) and holds current certification in CPR.
Demonstrated extensive knowledge of Indigenous health care needs, services, and issues as well as knowledge of culture, protocols, traditions, and ideology of Indigenous people and organizations in British Columbia. . Experience in teaching and program development. Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills. Extensive knowledge of health issues, especially the determinants of health affecting Indigenous people. Demonstrated leadership, facilitation and mentoring skills as well as modelling problem-solving skills within a complex challenging environment and across the health care system with a wide variety of patients, practitioners, and others. Works well in a collaborative team environment. Demonstrated understanding and experience in the dissemination of research and mentoring. Knowledge and appreciation of the unique history, cultures, and rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada is required. Knowledge of and experience with Indigenous-centered care and unique needs of Indigenous populations and health services, in alignment with Paige’s Story (2015), Truth and Reconciliation Call To Action report (2015), In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-Specific Racism and Discrimination in BC Health Care (2020), Reclaiming Power and Place: Recommendations from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (2021), Sacred and Strong: Upholding Our Matriarchal Roles (FNHA, 2021). Knowledge of specific resources for Indigenous patients and families: First Nations Health Authority, Métis Family Services, Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society and other delegated Aboriginal child and family services, and Community Health Centres/Clinics on and off reserve.