Career Opportunity
Position Title: Indigenous Practice Facilitator
Classification: Community Health Worker, Level 1
Job Type: Permanent, Full Time (35hs/week) including days and evenings (8 HR Shifts)
Department: Family and Community Services
Reporting to: Director, Family and Community Services
Compensation: $52,380 - $63,184 per year plus a comprehensive compensation package that includes time-off entitlements, health benefits, life insurance, and participation in the HOOPP pension plan
Deadline to apply: Until suitable candidate has been found
Apply to: https://swchc.bamboohr.com/careers/705
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About us
We are Somerset West Community Health Centre (SWCHC), a non-profit, community-governed organization that serves over 18,000 clients annually. Established in 1978, SWCHC provides a wide range of health care services such as primary health care, health promotion, community development, mental health, and harm reduction. We are deeply connected to the communities we serve and committed to removing barriers to accessing services for people who experience vulnerabilities because of their age, income, ability, sexual orientation or gender identity, and language or culture.
SWCHC strives to ensure that our team reflects the communities we serve. We work within an anti-racist, anti-oppressive framework that acknowledges the existence and impacts of systemic racism and seeks to ensure that systems are fair and equitable for everyone.
What You’ll Do
The Indigenous Practice Facilitator will play a critical role in integrating Indigenous cultural knowledge, and healing practices across SWCHC.
This position will support staff across interdisciplinary teams, including case managers, nurses, outreach workers, and counselling services, to ensure culturally grounded care is embedded in both site-based and outreach service delivery. This is a unique opportunity to advance Indigenous-led healing within an innovative, multi-service community health centre that is deeply committed to reconciliation, cultural safety, and equity.
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What We’re Looking For
- Deep knowledge of Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) cultures, societal values, traditions, and healing practices.
- Lived experience working with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and cultural advisors.
- Familiarity with culturally appropriate wellness strategies and systems navigation in the Ottawa context.
- Training and/or experience in trauma-informed care, mental health, addictions, housing supports, and traditional healing practices is considered a strong asset.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams while advocating for culturally responsive care.
- Experience developing, delivering and evaluating training materials
- Knowledge and experience working with computers
- Strong knowledge of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis guiding principles.
- Knowledge gained through lived experience, oral teachings, or community-recognized learning, including the guidance of Elders, Knowledge Keepers, or cultural leaders, is deeply valued.
- Knowledge and understanding of traditional healing practices and the ability to apply culturally grounded, trauma-informed, and community-centered approaches to support Indigenous wellness and the well-being of Indigenous peoples.
- Community-recognized learning, or lived experience as an Elder, Knowledge Keeper, or cultural leader will be considered an asset.
- Strong understanding of the historical and contemporary experiences of Indigenous peoples, including intergenerational trauma and the impacts of colonization.
- 1-2 Years experience providing direct service to people who use drugs from a Harm Reduction lens.
- Your Education Path
- A minimum College diploma and/or degree in social sciences or health services and 3 years’ experience in a community setting.
- Valid Driver's License and ability to drive Centre vehicles is an asset.
- Language Capability
- Fluency in English
- Indigenous languages an asset
What You Bring to the Table
- Ability to apply cultural safety principles in daily practice through the planning and delivery of programming and resources rooted in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis knowledge and traditions.
- Knowledge of related community resources
- Understanding of homelessness, mental health and substance use
- Excellent communication/interpersonal skills
- Enhanced skills in non-violent crisis intervention and de-escalation
- Knowledge of best practice guidelines for individuals with substance use, and suicide assessment.
- Effective organizational, critical thinking, problem solving and independent decision-making skills
- Demonstrate and advocate for welcoming practices that are anchored in trauma-informed practices
- Ability to work independently, set priorities and manage time effectively
- Commitment to working within a Health Equity, Person-Centered and Anti-Oppressive Framework.
Mental/Emotional Requirements:
- Ability to make rapid decisions about safety and risk and a high degree of clinical judgment with unknown factors
- Ability to assess safety in engaging with people who may be in crisis or in rapidly shifting stages of escalation
- Ability to work in environments that are fast paced, loud in volume, with people who may be in crisis
- Ability to work within a team of people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences
- This position will require the ability to assess the safety of entering unknown locations (usually in public), including at night to engage with people who may be in crisis.
- Regular exposure to significant psychological and emotional stressors, vicarious trauma, and potential risk of violence
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Ready to Apply?
Take your career to the next level! Submit a cover letter and your resume to: https://swchc.bamboohr.com/careers/705
This opportunity will be closed once suitable candidate has been found
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Somerset West Community Health Centre is an equal opportunity employer who values the diversity of individuals in our programs and services.
We welcome and encourage applications from members of Indigenous, Black and racialized communities, Two-Spirit, nonbinary, LGBTQ+ people; people with disabilities; and members of other equity seeking groups. Applicants are encouraged to share accessibility needs in the application process, and every attempt will be made to accommodate them.
Due to the high volume of applicants, we can neither confirm receipt of nor respond to inquiries regarding your application. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.