Director, Williams Lake First Nations Wellness Centre (WLFNWC) – 3 Year Term – (Williams Lake, BC)

Primary Care Initiative

About This Initiative

The First Nations-led Primary Care Initiative (FNPCI) aims to improve access to primary health care services for First Nations people across BC in a way that is culturally safe and closer to home.

In order to meet the health and wellness needs of First Nations people, it is very important that primary care is culturally safe and culturally-informed; where Indigenous ways of knowing, being and understanding are embedded and become foundational within the delivery of primary care approaches to health services.

First Nations Primary Health Care Centres

One of the main objectives of the FNPCI is to develop new First Nations Primary Health Care Centres in rural and urban locations across the province of BC. Development will include a combination of new centres as well as enhancements of existing health centres and services.

The centres will provide access to culturally safe, high quality primary health care services for First Nations people and their families. The aim is for clients to feel safe, welcomed, valued, respected and heard when they access care services at one of these centres.

Centres are being planned, developed and implemented in phases over the next three years.

Planning and Services

These centres will provide a new/unique form of health care and will see different types of health professionals working together in a “team-based approach” in the same space to meet the health care needs of First Nations peoples.

The planning and services of the centres will include First Nations knowledge, beliefs, values, and practices. These may be reflected differently based on the specific needs of First Nations communities and Nations across BC.

Leadership and Governance

First Nations Primary Health Care Centres are led by First Nations. This leadership includes governance, decision-making, planning, implementation, health information management and ongoing operations of services.

Service Model

Indigenous ways of knowing and being are the foundation of the new centre service model. Elders, Sacred Knowledge Keepers and Traditional Wellness Practitioners are key members of the care team and work in close collaboration with Western health professionals.

Position Summary

The Williams Lake First Nations Wellness Centre (WLFNWC) Director directs the implementation and operationalizes one of the first net new BC First Nations-led Primary Health Care Centers. This leader champions the integration of traditional wellness and culturally embedded health and wellness practices within inter-professional practice, develops a team-based care culture towards care delivery and oversees the integration of coordinated care. In this role, the Director also ensures quality of care, consistent health outcomes, and client experiences through providing ongoing coaching and advice to the centre’s team members. The Director also provides operational leadership to a team of health professionals and directs corporate functions for the health center.

Note: As a health and wellness organization, the First Nations Health Authority has aligned with the Provincial Public Health Order released on October 14, 2021. We have a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for all employees at First Nations Health Authority. This policy requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If selected for employment, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination by providing a copy of your BC Vaccination Card Passport with the QR code.

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning and Implementation

• Leads and directs the development of a detailed service model and work plan for the creation, implementation, and ongoing management of a First Nations-led primary health care center.
• Collaborates with WLFNWC Site Advisory Board and Executive Committee to identify and advocate for opportunities in improving and obtaining access to various funding sources locally, provincially and federally.
• Provides strategic advice to the FNHA Senior Executive Team and Medical Director related to new or emerging issues, trends, and developments relating to the First Nations primary care models and service delivery. Makes recommendations on expansion of scope/services.
• Monitors current policies around primary care services and health care, identifies policy, program, region specific barriers and issues, and provides strategic advice and expertise to leadership, recommends and advocates for actions in the addressing these issues.
• Builds and maintains effective, culturally relevant and respectful relationships with all relevant and interested parties and stakeholders such as the FNHA, First Nations leadership and communities, as well as federal, provincial and regional agencies (i.e. PCN Steering Committees, Doctors of BC, Ministry of Health, Regional Health Authority, Divisions of Family Practice, etc.)
• Leads strategic planning, program building and contingent service delivery, in conjunction with clinical leaders, through direct engagement and partnership with First Nations communities.

Coordinated Care and Quality Assurance

• Develops a system of inter-professional primary care service delivery that defines roles, responsibilities, procedures, and the inclusion of traditional knowledge in the region and recognition of First Nations governance and jurisdiction in their traditional territories.
• Leads the development of culturally safe, culturally informed primary care services and programs based on vision, benchmarks and key performance indicators, developed through First Nations engagements with partners and providers.
• Manages an inter-professional team to effectively collaborate in identifying service gaps and priorities and creates workflows for services based on First Nations priorities.
• Working with clinical leadership, establishes service standards and quality status reports.
• Provides leadership, strategic advice, and oversees the process of feedback collection, performance measurements, issues management, and continuous improvement. Ensures that community leaders are engaged when collaborative resolution is required.
• Implements the necessary controls to identify and mitigate risks in all areas of accountability; and flags critical issues as they emerge, making recommendations for action.
• Ensures compliance with external regulations and internal policies. Working with Medical Director, identifies and addresses compliance issues with MSP, ICBC, WCB, or private billing practices and processes.

Operational Management

• Leads operational policy and process development, in alignment with current FNHA corporate policies and standards, which ensures effective collaboration with internal stakeholders and high quality service in a culturally safe environment, including administration, recordkeeping, HR, IMIT, Finance, etc.
• Leads financial reviews, including annual operating and capital budgeting, and annual financial reviews.
• Leads the recruitment of health professionals, administrative and support staff, including the interviewing, hiring and onboarding process.
• Oversees the performance of administrative and support staff, initiates corrective action plans and provides recommendations on professional development and training.
• Provides leadership and ensures alignment to FNHA accreditation program.
• Oversees development, maintenance, negotiation, and evaluation of service and operational contracts, agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOU’s) and provider relationships to ensure the efficient day-to-day operations of the clinic.
• Leads and models cultural safety, humility, relational practice and a trauma-informed approach in all interactions, partnerships and planning initiatives.
• Provides leadership that creates and fosters a healthy and engaging environment that enables personal excellence, contributes to FNHA’s vision of “Health through Wellness” and cultural safety and humility in the workplace.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Degree in Health Management or a relevant field, and a minimum of 10 years of experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• MBA would be an asset.
• Minimum 8 years’ experience leading and managing a team in a health care environment, or management level in primary care.
• Minimum 8 years’ experience in health management, managing budgets, program management, operational and strategic planning.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience working directly in or with First Nations communities.
• Experience developing and overseeing operational contracts, agreements and MOU’s.
• Experience in risk management and service delivery contingency planning.
• Experience working with and delivering health services to First Nations clients is an asset.
• Training in anti-Indigenous racism response and cultural safety and humility is an asset.
• Experience working with Electronic Medical Records and billing system is an asset.
• High degree of comfort using digital technology and online systems.

Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of cultural safety, humility and trauma informed approaches to care.
• Knowledge of, and ability to apply, an understanding of First Nations cultural principles and protocols in work situations.

Competencies

• Ability to lead and manage teams.
• Ability to create and foster a culture of humility to enhance quality and culturally safe work environments, and to identify and address anti-Indigenous racism and cognitive biases in a proactive manner.
• Ability to lead and model cultural safety, humility, relational practice and a trauma informed approach in all interactions, partnerships and planning initiatives.
• Ability to oversee and manage operational budgets.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information and matters in a trusted and responsible manner.
• Ability to develop and maintain administrative systems, processes and procedures.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position

Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada.

Closing Statement

Diversity

The First Nations-led Primary Health Care Initiative (FNPCI) and First Nations Primary Health Care Centres (FNPCC) are committed to respecting diversity within our workforce; preference will be given to individuals with Indigenous ancestry (First Nations, Inuit, Métis).

Closing

If you would like to know more, please contact [email protected] .