About Us

FNHA Overview

The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is a diverse and transformational health organization of professional, innovative, and dedicated team members and leaders.

The first of its kind in Canada, FNHA works as a health-and-wellness partner with BC First Nations to support self-determination and decision-making to improve health outcomes.

Title: Practice Lead, Health and Wellness Services - Fraser West First Nations Primary Care Centre

Salary: $99,8992 - $117,528 - $135,158 per year (pay range explained)

Contract: This position is a 2-year term with the FNHA ending 12/31/2026,with the possibilty of extension. When the term position ends with the FNHA, it is intended that this position will be offered as a permanent role with the Fraser West First Nations Primary Care Clinic.

Hours: Standard Hours - 37.5 hours per week

Location: Fraser West

FNPCI 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. The FNPCI is part of the province’s primary care strategy, which is integrating team-based care in communities throughout B.C. and changing the way primary care is delivered with the creation of primary care networks in partnership with the Regional Health Authorities.

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 and being are woven into services.

One of the main objectives of the FNPCI is to develop new First Nations Primary Health Care Centers in rural and urban locations across the province.

The centers will provide access to culturally safe, 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 centers.

About The Centre

The Fraser West First Nations Primary Care Centre (FW-FNPCC), based in the western part of the Fraser Salish Region will provide culturally safe, trauma-informed primary care services to the members of Katzie, Tsawwassen, Kwikwetlem and Semiahmoo First Nation and the diverse Indigenous population living in the western part of the Fraser Region (Burnaby, Tri-Cities, New Westminster, Pitt Meadows, White Rock and Delta).

The FW-FNPCC will operate through a number of spoke sites to provide holistic care for Indigenous Peoples, weaving together western medicine and traditional wellness practices. Services are designed to provide wraparound, team-based primary care, mental health and traditional wellness services. The centre will provide safe spaces for Indigenous Peoples and their families seeking high-quality primary care services.

Working at FW-FNPCC is guided by the foundational Vision and Seven Directives of FNHA, emphasizing care, respect, and excellence in serving First Nations communities. The centre champions wellness and seizes the unique opportunity to drive transformative changes in First Nations health and wellness. It is an ideal place for those passionate about making a difference, who are open to cultural understanding, and ready to embrace challenges. As a young and evolving organization, FW-FNPCC offers rich opportunities for transformational learning and personal growth, fostering a sense of purpose that goes beyond professional duties. Here, the work you do impacts not only the lives of those served but also your own, all while collaborating closely with culturally rich First Nations communities in British Columbia.

About The Role

Working within an innovative and growing team-based care environment, the Practice Lead is responsible for the effective and efficient clinical service functioning, including leadership and oversight to some of the non-physician and non-nurse practitioner direct care service providers of primary care. With a strong view to providing access to culturally safe care closer to home for First Nations people and their family members, the team will provide access to western and traditional wellness services including mental health and substance use wrap around care. During the initial launch and development phase, the Practice Lead will provide strong, creative, relational, and progressive clinical leadership to the growing clinical services team as we continue to expand both our existing services, as well as adding new clinical services.

Under direction of the Regional Manager Clinical Health and Wellness Services, this role will work in alignment with the Centre’s Governance model which includes the fourteen local Nations, supporting the Centre’s priorities and service model goals.

About You

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing or a Master’s Degree in a relevant field (e.g. health administration, nursing, clinical counselling etc.).

Occupational Certification

• Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse in good standing with a British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives or with a regulatory body.

Experience

• 6-8 years of experience in working in a primary care setting, including 2-5 years of experience in a direct progressive supervisory/leadership capacity, and clinical supervision.
• Experience working with First Nations people and communities and providing culturally safe care.
• Experience in mental health and substance use is an asset.
• Experience in financial and human resource management is an asset.
• Experience working with Electronic Medical Records and encounter coding system is an asset.

Knowledge

• Sound ability to practice using culturally safe and trauma-informed approaches.
• Familiarity with the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (BC), the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the “In Plain Sight” report, the national inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and the impacts of these on health, health care and health care design for Indigenous people.
• Familiarity with Traditional Healing practices, customs, values and traditions of local First Nations
• Ability to apply a two-eyed seeing approach to balance western and Traditional Indigenous worldviews in practice.
• Knowledge of relevant socio-historical events relevant to First Nations in Canada
• Understanding of own intersectionality, power, privilege, and how these concepts may impact own work and perspectives.
• Ability to apply critical reflection in practice.
• An understanding of rural and remote communities and their inherent challenges and barriers
• Understanding and ability to practice with Nation based, community driven philosophy.
• Knowledge of best practice standards and expectations for Registered Nursing and advanced practice as they relate to primary care.
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability in clinical health care practice, education and program planning, development, implementation and evaluation.
• Strong comfort with learning new technology, and excellent computer skills
• Broad knowledge of legislation and government policies and procedures that relate to care.

Please refer to Job Specification section of the Job Description for more details.

Working at FNHA

As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits, including:

• Municipal Pension plan with an employer contribution of 9.31% (after 3 months)
• 4 weeks’ vacation, which increases with service to 5 weeks, plus 5 personal days, 1 volunteer day, and 14 public holidays including National Indigenous People’s Day, National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, Easter Monday and Boxing Day
• Access to group health benefits and a Health Care Spending Account through Canada Life on day 1 of employment
• And more!

The First Nations Health Authority is committed to respecting diversity within our workforce; preference will be given to individuals who identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis.

Leading with culture, all FNHA employees complete San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training. We support our family to be leaders in wellness and all staff members develop a yearly wellness plan as part of their performance partnership and goal-setting.

The Pay Range is the minimum (Step 1) and maximum (highest Step) annual base salary based on full time equivalent hours.

Incumbents are typically hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the range based on their knowledge, skills, abilities and experience in relation to the role requirements.

The top 10% of the pay range is for the incumbents who are industry experts in the job with the combination of exceptional experience and competencies needed to perform all duties and responsibilities at a superior capability level. Internal employee compensation will be determined as per the FNHA Employee Total Compensation Policy.

How To Apply

If this sound likes the opportunity for you, please click on the 'Apply for Job' button.

FNHA may invite members of partner organizations to work with FNHA on an interview panel to interview and select job candidates. Members of the interview panel might include non-FNHA staff such as members of the First Nations Health Council, First Nations Health Directors Association, First Nations Community partners, or other public partners. By applying for this job posting, you acknowledge and consent to your application, resume, and references being shared with all members of the interview panel. This personal information will be held in strict confidence and protected according to the Personal Information Protection Act.