Job Opportunity - Research Assistant, Fraser Health

Research Assistant

La Vway – Filling the knowledge gap with Métis patient voices

Description:

Fraser Health serves nearly 1.8 million people in the Lower Mainland, accounting for over one third of the population of British Columbia (B.C.). It is the fastest growing health authority in the province and has more than doubled in population since 1986. Between 2016 and 2021, the population is expected to increase by 8.5 per cent to over 1.9 million people.

The Fraser Region is home to nearly 62,000 self-identifying Aboriginal peoples, with over 40% identifying as Métis. Métis Citizens from 6 Chartered Communities live within Fraser Health’s service area representing almost one third of the Métis Citizens in BC.

In June 2019, Fraser Health and Métis Nation British Columbia signed a Letter of Understanding in order to provide culturally safe, person and family centred care to all Métis Citizens in the Fraser-Salish region. In support of this LOU, Fraser Health and Métis Nation British Columbia received a Develop grant from the Vancouver Foundation in October 2019.

The systems change grant is intended to address the historical and systemic issues that have rendered Métis voices invisible, especially in the context of designing and delivering health services. Through this project, Fraser Health and MNBC will meaningfully engage and consult 5 Métis Chartered Communities to hear the voices of Métis Citizens throughout the Fraser-Salish Region. We are looking for a Research Assistant to work with Fraser Health and MNBC to join Fraser Health’s reconciliatory efforts and support the work of the Develop grant.

The goals of the project are to:

1. Understand how unique socio-historical and political factors associated with the colonization have impacted the experiences of and access to care for the Métis.

2. Collaboratively determine opportunities for Métis patient partners to directly and indirectly inform systems change and improve patient experiences,

3. Incorporate Métis cultural values and principles within care planning to support and deliver the highest attainable standard of mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

4. Create a Métis Community Engagement report to inform the FH and MNBC joint working group.

Responsibilities

The Research Coordinator will collaborate with Fraser Health’s Aboriginal Health Team and Metis Nation British Columbia to ensure the meaningful involvement of Métis Citizens in healthcare reform. In addition, the successful candidate will contribute to the B.C wide effort to ensure Health Services are culturally safe and person and family-centred. Specific responsibilities will include:

 Review, analyze and synthesize previous research and projects related to health equity and access to services for Métis Citizens

 Work with the Regional Health Coordinator from MNBC in the development and delivery of 5 Chartered Community Engagement events

 Collect, analyze and code engagement and research material pertaining to Métis engagement events

 Synthesize work into a final report accessible to community and organizational stakeholder

Required Skills & Competencies

 Team oriented with the willingness/ability to collaborate and participate in sharing ideas

 Demonstrated desire to work in Métis communities and build positive and mutually beneficial relationships

 Strong organizational and written and verbal communication skills and PowerPoint presentations

 Strong research and analytical skills

 Interested in learning from and working with various Métis communities

 Ability to multi-task and manage multiple priorities

Please e-mail a cover letter and resume to Stephen Thomson, Regional Health Coordinator, Métis Nation British Columbia at sthomson@mnbc.ca

Applications Due 5:00 PM on Friday November 15th, 2019