Registered Nurse (RN) ‘Street Nurse’

REGISTERED NURSE (RN) ‘Street Nurse’

Are you a Registered Nurse who is passionate about working with Indigenous peoples experiencing homelessness? Are you experienced in harm reduction and interested in providing culturally supportive and safe models of care? The Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society (ACEHS) is seeking a Registered Nurse to work with the Indigenous Street Community related to health and wellness, to support them to transition into housing, or to support those who recently transitioned into culturally supportive housing and accompany individuals at land-based healing camps when required.

BACKGROUND:

Many members of the Indigenous Street Community have experienced racism and discrimination in the healthcare system. These experiences in-turn can result in the street community disengaging from health-related services. The Street Nurse position empowers members of the Indigenous Street Community to engage with their healthcare needs in a safe, culturally supportive environment, on the frontline and a downtown storefront facility. The Street Nurse’s role is broad and includes medication administration, acute care, care planning, chronic illness management, referrals, and advocacy as well as support pre and post detox and treatment.

JOB DETAILS:

Term: October 12, 2021, to August 31, 2021

Position Type: Full time, salary

Salary: Starting at $40 per hour

Required Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities:

• Graduate of an approved School of Nursing with current practicing registration as an RN with the British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals (BCCNP)

• Minimum of two years management or leadership experience

• Experience practicing in an outreach, community, and/or primary care nursing capacity (preference given to applicants who have experience working with people who are unhoused and who use substances)

• Progressive understanding of persistent mental illness, addictions, and other challenges and how these impact people’s overall health, well-being, and quality of life

• 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 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

• Experience developing and implementing harm reduction planning including risk assessments and wellness planning are considered an asset

• Sound understanding of the intergenerational trauma that occurs as a result of colonization, Residential Schools, Sixties Scoop, and other oppressive systems as well as the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada

• Current First Aid and CPR certification are required

• Possession of valid Class 5 Driver’s License required.

Preference will be given to qualified candidates with Indigenous ancestry.

The ACEH values strength in diversity. As an inclusive employer that celebrates the gifts of all its staff, the ACEH encourages members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community to apply.

More about the role: The Street Nurse will help support the development of Harm Reduction Plans and Agreements that support Indigenous peoples experiencing homelessness to attend Land-based Healing Camps as well as work one on one with folks that recently transitioned to and from detox, the streets, and supportive housing. Contributing to the development of the Decolonized Harm Reduction Framework from a nursing perspective, this position will work closely with the Executive Director and the ACEH Team and liaise with primary care providers, Island Health/various health organizations and professionals; acting as a primary advocate for Indigenous Street Community members who visit the acute care facilities and follow-up on care provided. The Street Nurse will be stationed at the ACEHS downtown ‘Gathering Space’ and will work closely with a team that includes an Outreach and Community Relations Manager, a Traditional Health and Wellness Manager, an Indigenous Clinical Counsellor, a Youth Advocate and researchers.

WHO WE ARE:

We are a non-profit and registered charitable organization whose sole focus is to support Indigenous peoples experiencing homelessness with a vision to lead long-term systemic change to better meet the needs of our people living away from home and experiencing homelessness.

Established in 2016, the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness is an Indigenous-led non-profit organization whose mission is to end Indigenous homelessness across Vancouver Island by lovingly providing culturally supportive housing and services. Our work is grounded in Indigenous knowledge and centers on the voices of the Indigenous Street Community who share their immediate needs, lived experiences, and thoughts on solutions. Together, these perspectives guide our path toward collective healing, health, and housing stability. Being the sole organization focused on ending Indigenous homelessness on Vancouver Island, the work of the ACEH is critical.

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter which highlights how your knowledge, skills and abilities will culturally support and contribute to the ACEH and our community.

Please submit by September 22, 2021. Only qualified candidates will be interviewed. Interviews will take place on September 27 and September 29, 2021. Please indicate your preferred interview date in your cover letter and if you are shortlisted we will do our best to accommodate.