Doula, Families in Recover (FIR)
BC Children’s and BC Women’s Indigenous Health
Vancouver, BC
Pursuant to section 42 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference will be given to applicants of Indigenous Ancestry. We invite applicants to self-identify within their cover letter and/or resume. Indigenous applicants are encouraged to reach out to Sanya'kula (Indigenous Recruitment and Employee Experience) for support, advice, and guidance on the PHSA hiring process.
The Doula, Families in Recovery (FIR) Program reports to the Clinical Director and is responsible for supporting an integrated traditional wellness program for patients admitted to FIR program during pregnancy, labor, and the early postpartum period. Working in an inpatient and community transition capacity, the Doula provides connection to Indigenous cultural practices and supports, informational and health system navigational support for perinatal substance use patients and their families and support to clients who face barriers to enter into primary care and other community services. The role works in close collaboration with FIR Program interdisciplinary care team members, community service providers, and other external partners to advance improved health and wellness outcomes and health care experiences for perinatal substance use patients through the pregnancy, labour, and early postpartum continuum of care.
The Doula offers culturally safe, non-medical biopsychosocial, informational, and health system navigational support and companionship through the continuum of the perinatal period, from pregnancy, labour, and early postpartum period and provides support through the full spectrum of reproductive health outcomes, including live birth, abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth, and adoption. The Doula supports families with the transition of welcoming and integrating the new baby into the family, which may include supporting housing transitions, and working with service providers, external partner agencies, toward family reunification.
The Doula works in close collaboration with the Indigenous Health Services, FIR medical and allied/support staff, community partners, and other internal/external partners to support new and health initiatives and perinatal health quality improvement projects based on principles and practices of cultural safety and humility, gender and sexual health inclusivity, and reproductive justice.
What you’ll do
- Provides non-medical doula services within an interdisciplinary team to perinatal substance use patients. Provides companionship, connection to Indigenous cultural practices, biopsychosocial, informational, and health system navigational support during pregnancy, labour, and the early postpartum period.
- Provides support through the full spectrum of reproductive health outcomes, including live birth, abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth, and adoption. Accompanies clients to appointments and meetings with service providers (e.g., primary care provider, social worker, housing providers).
- Leads with cultural safety to support the removal of barriers to accessing care for Indigenous patients. Promotes effective communication between Indigenous patients, their families, and their healthcare team, including helping Indigenous clients and families to feel safe and comfortable to ask questions, make requests, and participate in informed decision-making and consent.
- Within an interdisciplinary team, supports continuity of care through the perinatal period, including between acute and community settings, with appropriate referrals to medical and community service providers. Build relationships with key service partners in community to ensure health, housing, and family support service resources are established.
- Provides prenatal visits and frequently provide virtual (phone/text) support in between face-to-face interactions with clients. Discuss pregnancy, birth preferences, questions, and concerns in consultation with community primary care and service providers to help patients prepare for labour. Provides perinatal education to patients and support those who wish to develop a birth plan. This may include comfort measures, breastfeeding/chestfeeding support, connection to cultural practices including Elders and/or Knowledge Keepers or other spiritual advisors.
- Provides emotional and physical support during labour and childbirth, which may take place at the client’s home and/or BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre (BCWH).
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
What you bring
Qualifications
- A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to completion of a Doula Training Program from an accredited institution (bachelor’s degree in health care, social work, nursing or related discipline is an asset) and two (2) years of recent related experience working with individuals requiring substance use and/or mental health support.
- Valid BC Driver’s License as travel within the health authority is required.
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples within social and health contexts. This includes understanding how these factors contribute to current health disparities and barriers to care. Show a clear commitment to identifying, challenging, and eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and all forms of discrimination impacting equity-deserving groups within healthcare settings. This involves recognizing personal biases, institutional barriers, engaging in anti-racism education and training and advocating for systemic change.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments within BCCH & BCW contexts found in the foundational documents including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, BC Human Rights Code, Anti-racism Data Act and how they intersect across the health care system.
Core Competencies
- Brings an understanding of the Indigenous specific racism and the broader systemic racism that exists in the colonial health care structure, and has demonstrated leadership in breaking down barriers and ensuring an environment of belonging. Embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility into all aspects of work. This means creating an environment where Indigenous patients feel respected, valued, and understood. Foster trust through respectful communication, active listening, and honoring equity-deserving people's perspectives on health and wellness. Commit to ongoing education and training on Indigenous health issues, cultural safety, and DEI principles. Participate in workshops, cultural immersion experiences, and continuous professional development to stay informed and responsive to equity-deserving groups. Provide patient-centred care that respects Indigenous ways of knowing and healing, respects BIPOC experiences and world views ensuring that care plans are culturally relevant and holistic.
- Knowledge of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (The Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).
Skills & Knowledge
- Lived experience as an Indigenous person (First Nations, Metis, or Inuit) in Canada is an asset.
- Lived experience with Indigenous populations and demonstrated extensive knowledge of Indigenous health care needs, services, and issues as well as knowledge of culture, protocols, traditions, and ideology of Indigenous people and organizations in British Columbia.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience working with Indigenous (First Nations, Metis, and Inuit) communities and organizations, Elders and/or Knowledge Keepers to build positive relationships based on trust and mutual respect. Demonstrated extensive knowledge of Canadian colonial impacts on Indigenous people in social and health contexts, supported by significant knowledge of Indigenous ways of knowing and being.
- Demonstrates a commitment to beginning and continuing their personal learning journey related to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Shows willingness to articulate and share their learning experiences to contribute to a culture of motivation and inspiration among peers.
- Demonstrates foundational knowledge of the social, economic, and political realities of settler-colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving groups within social and health contexts. Understands the impact of social determinants of health-on-health outcomes. Shows a commitment to learning about and upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments outlined in foundational documents such as the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan, Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, the BC Human Rights Code, Anti-Racism Data Act, and the Distinctions Based Approach.
What we bring
Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That’s why we’re focused on your care too – offering health, wellness, development programs to support you – at work and at home.
- Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations – offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
- Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
- Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
- Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
- PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
- Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.
Job Type: Regular, Full-Time
Salary Range: $76,111 - $109,409/year. The starting salary for this position would be determined with consideration of the successful candidate’s relevant education and experience, and would be in alignment with the provincial compensation reference plan. Salary will be prorated accordingly for part time roles.
Location: 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver BC, V6H 2N9
Hours of Work: Monday – Friday; 830-16:30
Requisition # 203550E
What we do
BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) provides care for the most seriously ill or injured children and youth from across British Columbia.
BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre (BCW) is dedicated to improving the health of women, newborns and families through a comprehensive range of services, research and education.
BCCH & BCW program is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).
PHSA plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include: Respect people – Be compassionate – Dare to innovate – Cultivate partnerships – Serve with purpose.
PHSA and BCCH & BCW are committed to employment equity, encouraging all qualified individuals to apply. We recognize that our ability to provide the best care for our diverse patient populations relies on a rich diversity of skills, knowledge, background and experience, and value a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.
Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services
PHSA is committed to anti-racism and equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently excluded groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.
One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes ongoing commitments to Indigenous recruitment and employee experience as well as dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya’k̓ula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at [email protected].
Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and exclusion faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and title of BC First Nations and self-determination of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. PHSA is mandated to uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents including the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.
Attention current employees of PHSA:
You must apply via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca.
The internal job posting expires on September 7, 2026 and will no longer be accessible. If the internal job posting has expired, please e-mail [email protected] with the six-digit job requisition number and your PHSA employee ID number to be considered as a late internal applicant. Please do not apply for the external job posting.
If you have not yet set up an internal profile, please e-mail [email protected] with your PHSA employee ID number to obtain your temporary password. Our business hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, excluding Statutory Holidays and a Help Desk Representative will respond to you with 1-2 business days.
If you are not a current employee of PHSA and require assistance with your application, please contact the External Careers team at [email protected].
