Director, Indigenous Health

We are seeking an inclusive and collaborative Director, Indigenous Health to provide leadership and direction toward enhancing the integration of culturally safe service delivery, and promoting culturally safe experiences for Indigenous patients, clients, and residents.

This is an exciting and important opportunity to lead and advance holistic Indigenous programs, initiatives and health services for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples across the Fraser Health (FH) region.

Fraser Health values diversity in the work force and strives to maintain an environment of Respect, Caring & Trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable, and culturally safe manner.

Supporting the Vision, Values, Purpose and Commitments of Fraser Health including service delivery that is centered around patients/clients/residents and families:

In partnership with the Vice President, Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety, the Director provides leadership and direction to an assigned portfolio of the Indigenous Health program. The position is responsible for clinical operations and/or strategic initiatives related to Indigenous cultural safety and humility. The position leads and supports the planning design, coordination, integration, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of culturally safe and holistic Indigenous programs and services that promote, enhance and support the health and wellness for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples across Fraser Health (FH).

The Director partners with physicians, clinical and support leaders on system design, implementation and sustainability of integrated clinical programs that achieve FH’s priority actions supporting the Fraser Health Strategic Operating Priorities. The role collaborates with, and leads, programs, departments and leaders across the organization in support of the integration of Indigenous values that are person-centered and incorporates traditional and cultural values that are built on the foundation of providing holistic care by treating mind, body and spirit while also supporting social determinants of health.

The Director collaborates with program and, department leaders across the organization to support the integration of key policies and frameworks, such as FH’s anti-racism strategy and action plan, into core FH systems and practices. Supports individuals, teams and the organization to embed key priorities within relevant frameworks, decision-making processes and strategic planning. Manages the flow of work between the Indigenous cultural safety team and others in the organization to ensure initiatives and priorities align with FH cultural safety and humility and anti-racism actions.

The Director works within a network of Regional Programs, centralized services, hospital sites and community health service areas. Develops and promotes linkages for primary care, community care, and mental health and wellness projects and clinical initiatives at site and system levels across FH. The role develops and maintains effective relationships with leaders and members of First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC), Fraser Salish Regional Caucus, First Nation and Métis Chartered Communities, and rural and urban Indigenous community organizations on behalf of FH to foster effective communication and partnerships.

1. In collaboration with the Vice President, formulates long-term health goals, resource planning, health service delivery, and policies and procedures necessary to operationalize the Aboriginal Health strategic plan.
2. In partnership with clinical and operational leadership from various programs, networks and sites, directs the design, implementation and evaluation of FH’s Aboriginal Health strategic plans and priorities related to primary care, community care, and mental health and wellness as outlined in the relevant frameworks.
3. In partnership with clinical and operational leadership from various programs, networks and sites, directs the design and implementation of FH’s Aboriginal Health cultural safety and humility and anti-racism initiatives.
4. Defines and leads the operationalization of the organization’s Anti-Racism Strategy and Action Plan within the guiding principles of FH’s operational priority of Embedding Cultural Safety and Humility, and implementing anti-racism actions.
5. Leads complex reviews of practices, procedures and systems that enhance the integration of culturally safe service delivery, that promote culturally safe experiences for Indigenous patients/clients/residents and their natural support, and that integrate Indigenous cultural safety and humility into programs and policies within FH.
6. Ensures the integration and coordination of programs and services that incorporate an Indigenous lens to create a comprehensive service delivery system designed to meet the health and wellness needs of Indigenous populations within FH. Establishes linkages with other project and clinical initiatives at site and system levels across FH.
7. Collaborates effectively with internal and external partners to develop, manage and evaluate programs and services considering client needs, service delivery interrelationships and service potential within a complex environment. Fosters strategic and working relationships that result in the sharing of Indigenous knowledge, monitoring community trends, identification of opportunities to promote innovation and partnerships for improvement, and ensuring consistent delivery of quality health services offered by the program.
8. Leads and manages the interface between FNHA, MNBC and FH. Participates in regular regional meetings. Triages and responds to requests for information, reporting, and surveillance.
9. Works with Joint Working Groups with FNHA and MNBC to develop robust responses to the needs of the Indigenous population within the FH region.
10. Negotiates, facilitates, builds consensus and effectively collaborates with relevant internal and external stakeholders to promote the achievement of cooperative goals and to contribute to an atmosphere of mutual respect.
11. Actively monitors related Indigenous health and cultural safety trends and issues to foresee the need for changes in Indigenous health care. Supports effective strategizing and operational planning.
12. Provides overall leadership, direction and supervision to team members using effective management and leadership techniques including coaching, mentoring, skill and leadership development, performance management and team building.
13. Provides leadership to support engagement and respect through support of the well-being and safety of staff through effective feedback, retention strategies, work practices that support work/life balance and that encourage personal and professional development.
14. Manages the department’s operating budgets, reviews and projects future variances, develops and implements plans for remedial strategies, allocate scarce resources as needed.
15. Represents the program/department/service in the health service community, civic/regional governments or others.
16. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Master’s Degree in a field related to health care management such as public health, nursing or health administration, supplemented by a minimum of seven (7) years’ recent related experience in progressive leadership roles, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Competencies

Demonstrates the leadership practices of the Fraser Health Leadership Framework of Clear, Caring and Courageous and creates the conditions for people to succeed.

Professional/Technical Capabilities

• In depth knowledge and understanding of Indigenous cultures and histories in BC and Canada.

• In depth knowledge and understanding of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the British Columbia Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), In Plain Sight, and other related policies and reports.

• Demonstrated leadership abilities to incorporate department/site needs within the broader context of the health delivery system and multiple site/service requirements.

• Sound working knowledge of planning concepts related to service delivery, budgetary, staffing, quality and strategic initiatives.

• Demonstrated understanding and knowledge of Indigenous health and wellness, including but not limited to: knowledge of local Indigenous peoples, including differences in respect to access to health services, health benefits and advocacy.

• Extensive knowledge of operations and service planning for clinical services.

• Proven presentation skills within a senior leadership capacity.

• Proven proficiency of leading practice in the field of healthcare leadership.

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 48,000+ 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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