Wellness Navigator, Substance Use

**FNHA Overview**:
The First Nations Health Authority is a diverse and transformational health organization of professional, innovative and dedicated team members and leaders.

The first of its kind in Canada, FNHA works as a health-and-wellness partner with BC First Nations to support self-determination and decision-making to improve health outcomes.

**JOIN OUR HISTORIC JOURNEY**
At FNHA, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to BC’s history. With a unique governing structure and mandate, our fluid work environment means you can play an active role in real change.
Our talented teams value respect and foster lateral kindness in their working relationships. Our holistic approach to wellness, based on First Nations teachings, is incorporated into all aspects of work culture. Where else will you get to create a personal wellness plan as part of your performance goals?

**Position Summary**:
The Wellness Navigator plays an integral part in advancing the Vision of “Healthy, Vibrant and Self-determining BC First Nations Children, Families and Communities” in British Columbia (BC), in collaboration with the entire health care system. This role will operate within the context of the decriminalization of small amounts of unregulated drugs and a harm reduction approach. This position works with individuals, families, communities, focusing on those living with substance use (SU), to help advance their wellness journey across the full spectrum of options, including connection to supports and services and awareness of policy shifts such as decriminalization.

**Responsibilities**:

- Supports the development of a regional SU and decriminalization literacy work including providing tools and support for each citizen to have an increased awareness and access to supports and services
- Play a supportive role in decriminalization implementation
- Liaise with local law enforcement to ensure increased awareness of supports and services available.
- Support knowledge translation and communications related to decriminalization
- Support monitoring and evaluation activities including data collection and reporting for decriminalization and connections with people who use drugs
- Recommends and implements practices and procedures to improve access to SU care and a wide array of health and wellness programs, services and facilities
- Develops partnerships with community health and wellness service providers and local health care providers in offering spiritual, mental, emotional and physical wellness of community members, and improve transitions in care and access to appropriate substance use services.
- Links people with the appropriate SU care, wellness and public health services
- Collaborates with community based FNHA programs targeting MHSU promotion and harm reduction activities operating at the community level in the region
- Strengthens partnerships and increases collaborative action in partnership with community wellness workers, including Peer Coordinators and Peer lead groups in the region.
- A full job description is available upon request

**Qualifications**:

- Education- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- Certificate in Substance use specialization and relevant experience
- Occupational Certification- First aid level 1 (with CPR), Hep B shot, and flu vaccine
- Naloxone training
- Experience- Recent and relevant experience (usually acquired over a period of 3-5 years)
- Experience in the regional health authority systems/services/services and in particular working with First Nations individuals, communities or organizations on issues related to health and wellness
- Experience supporting people who use drugs and their families
- Experience in the mapping of health and/or social systems and assets
- Experience in harm reduction and knowledge of decriminalization.

**Knowledge, Skills & Attributes**:

- In-depth knowledge of the BC health care system, and the current landscape of First Nations health in BC
- In-depth knowledge of Aboriginal/First Nations health and wellness system needs
- Thorough understanding of person centred care to provide holistic, integrated, coordinated, and high-quality care that respects diversity and culture
- Knowledge and support of Harm Reduction approach to substance use recovery
- Trauma informed practice
- Motivational interviewing

**Closing Statement**:
**Diversity**

The First Nations Health Authority is committed to respecting diversity within our workforce; preference will be given to individuals with Indigenous ancestry (First Nations, Inuit, Métis).

**What You Can Expect From Us**

Joining our family means joining an organization that supports personal growth, in-house training, a paid volunteer day and a unique full-day orientation program.

Leading with culture, all FNHA employees complete San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training. We support our family to be leaders in wellness and all staff memb