We are seeking a Licensed Practical Nurse who is passionate about harm reduction and promoting health and wellness equity in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) to join our newest program and site, Doris Fox Lelum, at Kilala Lelum Health and Wellness Cooperative.
Doris Fox Lelum is a new initiative to provide low-barrier access to cultural, medical, and harm reduction services for Indigenous people who use drugs (IPWUD) and Kilala Lelum members living with opioid use disorder. The purpose of Doris Fox Lelum is to reduce the harms experienced by Indigenous people who use drugs in the DTES by providing low barrier, drop-in programming and services in a less medicalized setting. The Doris Fox Lelum aims to integrate Indigenous culture, harm reduction services, drop-in programs, and prescription alternatives to the toxic drug supply. Doris Fox Lelum will provide clinical services (primarily nursing), peer support and systems navigation, as well as opportunities to connect with Elders, Knowledge Holders, cultural programming, and the Social Navigation team. Doris Fox Lelum will also house a supportive employment program for members.
Expanding on the current services offered at Kilala Lelum, Doris Fox Lelum will prioritize lower-barrier services to better meet the needs of IPWUD than existing models of service delivery. This includes titrating and stabilizing members on oral and injectable Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT) and other prescription alternatives. Doris Fox Lelum will facilitate internal referrals to other Kilala Lelum programs (e.g., Food as Medicine, Chronic Pain Management) and external referrals to services such as detox and treatment.
Job Summary:
The Licensed Practical Nurse (0.4 – 1.0 FTE), supported by an multidisciplinary team, will provide excellent culturally-safe care to members accessing Doris Fox Lelum. Through a safety-first, member-led, strengths-based, and hope- and future-oriented model of care, the licensed practical nurse nurse will provide care targeted at health issues disproportionately affecting people using unregulated substances. This role requires nursing staff to be comfortable around substance use and non-judgement toward people who currently or have previously used unregulated substances.
Responsibilities:
- Establish relationships with members and provide culturally safe, kind, and empathetic support; support wellbeing and increase access to holistic health supports.
- Assessment of members pre- and post-administration of IM/IN/IV prescribed OAT.
- Medication administration to program members in a low barrier setting, including witnessing doses.
- Responding to overdose and other medical emergencies.
- Facilitating referrals to community resources (both in house and external).
- Follow wound care plans to provide wound care for members, collect samples, including bloodwork and point of care urine drug screening and other primary care interventions.
- Point of care drug testing.
- Advocacy, including promoting safety, providing clarification and access to information while empowering members and promoting their autonomy.
- Establishing relationships with members and providing culturally safe, kind, and empathetic support; supporting wellbeing and increasing access to holistic health and psycho-social supports.
- Timely and accurate documentation in Oscar EMR.
- Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams of Elders, Knowledge Holders, Cultural Wellness Workers, Nurses, Outreach Workers, Social Navigators, Physicians, Dieticians, Counsellors and the broader Kilala Lelum team.
- Follow leadership of Primary Care Co-Leads regarding program changes, day-to-day functioning of program, and plans to meet future goals.
- Liaise with other healthcare teams in the DTES.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Knowledge of the principles of recovery and trauma informed practice.
- Broad knowledge of nursing theory and practice within a client/family-centred model of care.
- Knowledge of BCCNM Standards for Nursing Practice; commitment to annual continuing education to meet competencies.
- Demonstrated ability to promote Indigenous Cultural Safety.
- Demonstrated ability to provide competent and culturally safe care in a variety of settings and with diverse populations.
- Demonstrated knowledge of substance use, harm reduction strategies including assessment and intervention, evidence-based pharmacological approaches to substance use treatment and recovery.
- Broad knowledge of behaviour management and ability to utilize non-violent crisis intervention strategies in a trauma informed manner.
- Broad knowledge of facilitation, mediation and conflict resolution techniques.
- Demonstrated skill in CPR techniques and current certification.
- Experience in responding to overdose.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary team environment.
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize, work independently, and use a cooperative approach.
- Ability to operate related equipment including applicable software applications.
- Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
- Flexible, team-oriented, and committed to respectful, collaborative problem-solving with team members.
- Knowledge of the social, economic, political, and historical realities impacting Indigenous communities and familiarity with the TRC’s Calls to Action and BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act is beneficial.
- Experience in training others to use Naloxone.
- Familiarity with rapid drug testing.
- Minimum of one year of experience in primary care nursing or similar experience in a location that serves Indigenous community members and/or communities with multiple barriers to health and wellness equity, preferably within the DTES.
Required Qualifications:
- Baccalaureate degree or Diploma in Nursing.
- Current practicing registration with BC College of Nurses and Midwives.
- Completion of a cultural competency course or willingness to participate required.
- Current CPR.
Working Conditions:
- Work will take place at the Doris Fox Lelum at 121 Heatley Ave, an embedded clinical space in an Indigenous Wellness Resource Hub
- Will be part of multidisciplinary team providing services for members
- Hours: TBD
Supervision Provided:
This position is supervised by the Clinical Nurse Coordinator and Primary Care Co-Leads, and will receive support and mentorship from the in-clinic Medical Office Assistant team, and the Administrative/ HR Lead.
Additional Information:
- This is a non-union nursing position with hourly salary based on the BCNU wage grid.
- Hours of work will be agreed upon to meet requirements of negotiated FTE.
- Robust extended health and dental benefits available.
To Apply:
Please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Your cover letter should outline your interest in the role, how your background and experience make you a good fit, and your availability. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be accepted until August 4, 2025.
