Indigenous Engagement Specialist

Position: Indigenous Engagement Specialist, Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program

Employment: Full-time permanent

Schedule: Days with evening and weekend shifts.

FTE: 1.0

Location:  CarePoint Health – 2695 North Sheridan Way, Suite 120, Mississauga, ON (Hybrid schedule, with work from home options) but may also be required to work at other sites within Mississauga, Brampton and Halton.

Application deadline: November 22, 2024

Preferred start date: January, 2025

Salary and benefits: $71,000- $83,000 and a comprehensive benefits package (including HOOPP pension).

Who we are?

CarePoint Health (CPH) is an innovative team of physicians and healthcare professionals that aims to improve the health and wellness of the Mississauga communities. CPH’s mission is to improve health outcomes for our community through partnerships and a culture of innovation. Our goals are to increase patient satisfaction, improve provider work life, improve population health, and reduce health care costs.

CPH is also the Network Lead Organization for the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program (OSP) for Brampton, Halton, Mississauga and South Etobicoke. OSP provides access to publicly funded, evidence-based, short-term, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and related approaches to clients with depression and/or anxiety (including obsessive compulsive concerns, trauma, social anxiety).

OSP is committed to providing access to culturally safe services for depression and anxiety to all Ontarians. A key priority in achieving this goal is to develop an Indigenous approach to OSP service delivery. This may include re-design of intake and assessment processes, adapting approaches to support cultural safety, policy review from an Indigenous perspective, Indigenous data governance considerations, and communication and engagement activities.

As mainstream healthcare organization operating within a colonized society and healthcare system, CarePoint Health recognizes the historical and current harms to Indigenous people through these systems. We are committed to working together with Indigenous led organizations and Indigenous communities to address both historical and current harms. Over the past year, CarePoint Health has been building relationships with Indigenous led organizations across Brampton, Halton and Mississauga.  An OSP Indigenous Advisory Circle has been launched and is meeting regularly to guide the work of the network. The role of Indigenous Engagement Specialist has been developed with guidance from the OSP Indigenous Advisory Circle.

ospcarepointhealth.ca  

What is this role?

CarePoint Health is seeking an Indigenous Engagement Specialist to engage with and strengthen relationships with Indigenous organizations, health care providers and Urban Indigenous community members as well as provide support to Indigenous clients by connecting them to Traditional healing and other supports that they may need. The incumbent will be a resource to leadership, staff, and clients on counseling and related matters. They will also assist in identifying trainings and learning opportunities to improve cultural capacity and knowledge sharing for leadership and front line staff. It is expected that the incumbent will be actively and positively involved in the culture of CarePoint Health, providing support for engagement and special events. The incumbent will work closely with the OSP Indigenous Advisory Circle to advance the development of an Indigenous approach to OSP in the region of Brampton, Halton and Mississauga. As this is a new position at CarePoint Health, there will also be an opportunity to shape this role with guidance from Indigenous partners to align with the development of the Indigenous approach and to best respond to the needs of local Indigenous individuals.

This is an exciting opportunity to join an innovative primary care team, work within a regional mental health program and actively provide greater access to culturally relevant services for Indigenous people in the Mississauga, Brampton and Halton regions. This is an ideal role for a candidate with a passion for Two-Eyed Seeing and bridging Western and Indigenous worldviews treatment approaches to support clients in their healing journey.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

• Build relationships with Indigenous-led organizations and Urban Indigenous community members across Brampton, Halton, Mississauga and South Etobicoke.
• Facilitate and support the regional OSP Indigenous Advisory Circle and actively participate in the provincial OSP Indigenous Community of Practice. There may also be opportunities to participate in other communities of practice related to OSP.
• Provide Indigenous-specific service navigation and warm referrals to programs and services outside of OSP.
• Work alongside OSP assessment clinicians and therapists to support Indigenous clients in their treatment journey.
• Work with the Indigenous Advisory Circle, CarePoint Health leadership and other OSP network providers to identify Indigenous-specific CBT training, cultural-safety training and to further develop the training plan for all roles across the OSP program.
• Contribute to ongoing program development and program evaluation and implement new practices as required. For example, work with the Clinical Lead, other clinicians in the network and with the guidance of the Indigenous Advisory Circle to identify and implement changes to the current intake process.
• Assist in the development of an Indigenous engagement and communication plan for the region to reach the Indigenous population across the region
• Actively participate in engagement events throughout the region to strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations, share about OSP services and connect with potential clients and/or organizations interested in referring clients – this will include some travel offsite.
• Engagement work and relationship building opportunities may occur outside of regular business hours and will require a flexible work schedule.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of an Indigenous data governance plan.
• Support and participate in organizational policy review from an Indigenous lens.
• Manager has the right to assign additional responsibilities.
• This role reports to the Senior Director, Strategic Programs & Quality Improvement

Key Qualifications and Skills

• Undergraduate degree in Social Work, Sociology, Indigenous Studies, Psychology or a related field with a minimum of FIVE (5) years’ work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• A Master’s Degree in Social Work, Indigenous Studies or a related field is an asset but not required
• A professional designation as a registered healthcare profession would be an asset but is not required
• Demonstrated affiliation and relationship with one or more Indigenous communities
• Extensive experience working with and within Indigenous communities, in roles including community development and/or partnership building, delivering Indigenous cultural programming and engaging with diverse Indigenous communities in a mental health capacity.
• Strong knowledge of Indigenous frameworks, including generational trauma and the impact of colonization is required. This includes the ability to identify and understand intersecting issues related to gender identification, age, sexual orientation, disability, race/ethnicity and Indigenous heritage.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and appreciation for the diversity of cultural traditions and spiritual practices of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit peoples.
• Foundational understanding of mental health and illness, evidence-based mental health practices, behavioural issues, anger management and conflict resolution is an asset.
• Ability to uphold CarePoint Health values and be an active contributor to a positive, innovative, collaborative, and cooperative work environment.
• A growth mindset with a passion for learning and continuous improvement is required.
• Good judgement and sensitivity, flexibility and resourcefulness. Able to exercise patience, tact, judgment and discretion.
• Excellent written, verbal, and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Keyboarding skills and working knowledge of relevant software is required (e.g. Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• A satisfactory and current Criminal Background and Vulnerable Sector Screening required
• Vaccines (COVID-19 and others) are a requirement of the job unless you have an exemption on a medical ground pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code.
• Preference will be given to candidates who self-identify as Indigenous. Recognizing that there are a variety of terms that potential candidates may use to self-identify, CarePoint Health uses the term “Indigenous” to encompass the people of Turtle Island, including those who identify as First Nations, Métis, and Inuk (Inuit).
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and equity for all persons regardless of age, income, racial and ethnic origins, language, gender, sexual orientation, religion, intellectual ability, and health status.

Why CarePoint Health?

• Excellent benefits package and pension plan (HOOPP).
• Exciting role in the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy program working within an organizational and regional team
• Professional development days and allowance to support ongoing learning.
• Innovative, collaborative, and supportive team environment.
• Work culture that promotes work-life balance and life-long learning.
• A community of mental health professionals (psychologists and social workers) and other allied health professionals on site.
• Support for professional resources that might be needed.
• Located in Mississauga just off the QEW at Winston Churchill.

At CPH we are developing and implementing a new model of primary care for the future. Being part of CPH means that you will have the opportunity to contribute to building a patient centered, partnership based and innovative model of care.

Are you ready to join an extraordinary team and do the best work of your life?

Interested candidates are invited to submit their application through Indeed.

Website: www.carepointhealth.ca; www.ospcarepointhealth.ca

Please note, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

CPH is a respectful, caring, and inclusive workplace, committed to Employment Equity.  We welcome diversity in the workplace, and encourage applications from all qualified individuals including women, members of visible minorities, Indigenous persons, and persons with disabilities.  We will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities. Applicants need to make their accommodation needs known when contacted.