Physician

Are you a Physician who is a self-starter, with a passion for working with a growing non-profit organization that supports Indigenous peoples experiencing homelessness? The Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society (ACEH) is seeking a Physician to work with the Indigenous Street Community and support those who recently transitioned into culturally supportive housing.

Position Type: Available based on applicants’ capacity for practice.

Salary: Based on practice and experience.

Start Date: As soon as possible.

Application Submission: Interested candidates are required to submit a resume and cover letter which highlights Indigenous community/organization involvements and how your knowledge, skills, and abilities will support and contribute to the ACEH. Applications missing this will automatically be screened out of the selection process.

Applications can be submitted to hr@acehsociety.com

About you:

• You are passionate supporting Indigenous peoples with their health and wellness journeys.
• You have training and awareness in Cultural Safety.
• You have experience providing culturally safe care.

About the Role

As the Medical Doctor you will be required to provide day to day medical leadership for family members in their acute and chronic health journey. It will be essential to operate within the framework of the Dual-Model of Housing Care, with particular emphasis on Land-Based Healing and decolonized harm reduction. You will work with a great team providing compassionate and culturally sensitive healthcare to urban Indigenous communities, bridging the gap between Western medical practices and Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, healing, and health practices ensuring that patients receive holistic and comprehensive care.

Summary of Deliverables: 

• Work closely with diverse interdisciplinary groups using trauma informed care, including Traditional Healers, Elders, Cultural Mentors, House Managers, RNs, Social Workers, and Support Staff. The Physician role will involve supporting and integrating Indigenous healing practices into medical care. You'll collaborate with various stakeholders to ensure holistic care at all locations, merging contemporary medicine with Indigenous knowledge.
• Responsibilities will include the development of a recovery and treatment program for the upcoming Wellness House. You'll work alongside the Elder-in-Residence to conduct assessments, diagnoses, and treatment plans that honor spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. Collaborating with patients, families, and community members, you'll create culturally sensitive treatment strategies aligned with cultural beliefs. As a leader in the Managed Alcohol Program, you'll engage Indigenous patients in crafting personalized alcohol harm reduction plans, encompassing safe supply and strategies for concurrent or polysubstance misuse. You'll also emphasize the significance of community connections, traditional practices, and participation in land-based healing.
• Advocacy forms a key part of the Physician’s role, involving the promotion of Indigenous community health within various ACEH programs across locations. You'll also raise awareness about the unique healthcare needs and challenges faced by the urban Indigenous community.
• Empowering patients to make informed decisions rooted in their cultural values is a fundamental aspect of the work. You'll contribute to the development and implementation of health promotion initiatives, tailored to our Indigenous Alcohol Harm Reduction Residency Program. Additionally, you'll oversee the implementation of a culturally informed, residentially based alcohol recovery program, focusing on health education and preventive measures.
• An essential component involves maintaining legal patient records that encompass cultural considerations and treatment plans while adhering to privacy and confidentiality regulations. You'll support current research data on health trends and outcomes to support of evidence-based decision-making, ensuring continuous support and follow-up care of individuals walking their alcohol harm reduction journey.
• Collaborating with our RN, you'll support culturally sensitive health education sessions, covering up to date topics on nutrition, mental health, acute and chronic disease management.
• Finally, the role as medical lead ensures all patients walking their lives with addiction feel cared for without judgment, recognizing their journey as key to their recovery process.

Education and Experience required:

• Graduate from an approved medical school in Family Practice (FRCP)
• Licensed and in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia.
• Prior experience and or passion to gain knowledge in Indigenous health and cross- cultural medical care.
• Preference will be given to those with rural Indigenous experience.
• Understanding of Indigenous health disparities, cultural competency, trauma informed care and social determinants of health.
• Experience or personal insights working cooperatively with people with disabilities, lived experience, and addictions considered an asset.
• Experience working with non-profit organizations, family support, social services, and Indigenous support services and programs considered an asset.
• Required to consent to the Ministry of Justice Criminal Record Check for Working with Vulnerable Adults

Skills & Abilities

• Current understanding and management of persistent mental illness, addiction, acute and chronic health challenges, and barriers to health improvements.
• Proven ability to be highly self-motivated, demonstrated initiative and recommend changes when required to improve operations.
• Demonstrated commitment to cultural sensitivity and inclusivity.
• Ability to work in a holistic, professional, and non-judgmental manner as you are working with a broad range of personalities, needs, cultures, lived experiences and abilities.
• Ability to effectively respond and adjust to unexpected events, assess complex health needs in potentially high-risk situations, problem-solve, provide crisis intervention, and manage conflict in a culturally supportive manner.
• Ability to work independently and effectively respond to and manage competing demands while adhering to deadlines within a fast-paced environment.
• Effective written, electronic, and verbal communication skills to facilitate interprofessional collaborative practice, healthy and culturally safe environments, and a respectful workplace for community members, staff, guests, and volunteers.
• Ability to delegate to team members where needed to ensure optimal health promotion is achieved in all settings.
• Sound understanding of the intergenerational trauma that occurs because of colonization, Residential Schools, Sixties Scoop, and other oppressive systems as well as the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Working conditions

• Ability to use stairs.
• Ability to complete repetitive tasks (such as sitting, standing, walking, and bending).
• Ability to communicate effectively in English.
• Ability to collaborate with Island Health leaders to support admission and discharge of patients and willingness to manage care on site as appropriate.

Preference will be given to qualified candidates with Indigenous ancestry. The ACEHS values strength in diversity. As an inclusive employer that celebrates the gifts of all its staff, the ACEHS encourages members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community to apply.