Health Literacy Information Specialist, Family Library
BC Children’s Hospital
Vancouver, BC
Reporting to the Program Manager (Health Literacy), the HLIS oversees service provision at the Family Library at BC Children’s Hospital. The HLIS collaborates with families, clinicians, educators, and community partners in developing and implementing health literacy strategies that are accessible, acceptable, and equitable to meet current and emerging patient learning needs and are in alignment with clinical program, agency and PHSA goals and objectives. The HLIS raises awareness of health literacy among health professionals on the importance of plain language and health literacy principles, provides access to vetted health literacy tools and educational resources. The HLIS manages library services at the Family Library to ensure the effective delivery of quality consumer health information to staff, students, patients and families. As part of the Health Promotion and Projects team, and broader Health Literacy and Health Promotion department, the HLIS also undertakes work as needed to support team and department strategic objectives.
What you’ll do
- Provide library services including assisting patients, families and staff find and access health information, manage the library/bookstore catalogue and the library collection, as well as supervises, trains and coordinates FSRC staff and volunteers.
- Develop and provide health education and health literacy services and instruction to support Health Literacy among clinicians, staff, and their patients.
- Identify and address health literacy needs in high risk situations and with underserved populations such as through developing in services, development of information materials for distribution and providing in person follow-up.
- Manage multiple projects for patient and family education resources and health literacy initiatives in collaboration with an inter-professional team which includes patient and family advisory committees and external partners.
- In collaboration with PHSA/BCCH/BCW Communications, and website group or committees, actively participates in the development, selection and evaluation of web resources for subject guides and other client services.
- Design and provide access to print, audiovisual, and social media content that is easy to understand and act upon for patients, families, and health care providers. Providing health care providers with plain language, patient friendly materials and providing access to plain language materials to patients and families.
- Evaluate, select and promote the use of current and emerging technologies including print, audio, video, web based, social media and e-learning formats that meets the standards of excellence to increase patient access to health information.
What you bring
Qualifications
- A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Master’s degree in an appropriate field, such as Library or Information Studies , Education, Communications, Information Technology.
- A minimum of five (5) years of recent related experience with a background in healthcare preferred, including supervisory experience.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples in social and health contexts, including supported by significant knowledge of Indigenous-specific mandates, including clear understanding of and commitment to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination and embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility.
- 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 health care settings. This involves familiarity and understanding Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility 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 BC Children’s Hospital 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, BC Anti-racism 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 initiatives in breaking down barriers and ensuring a safe environment ensuring a sense of belonging to all and informed by Indigenous Cultural Safety.
- Awareness 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
- Demonstrated expertise in supervising and training staff and volunteers, and knowledge and training in the identification, selection, organization and dissemination of evidence-based information, ability to recognize and set priorities, high level of computer literacy, including knowledge of automated systems, on-line databases, web applications, strong interest in collaborating and working with clinicians, patients, families and students.
- Strong commitment to client-focused service and for innovative and collaborative instruction approaches.
- Ability to work effectively with a diverse client community, proven excellent oral and written communication skills with a broad range of stakeholders, coupled with an ability to function at a high level in a complex and changing interdisciplinary healthcare environment.
- Sound judgment, tact, and diplomacy to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
- Ability to integrate high quality, and evidence based health information, and demonstrates initiative, flexibility, and the ability to adapt and work creatively in a rapidly changing environment.
- Demonstrates a commitment to beginning and/or 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: $76,111.00 - $109,409.00/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 to Friday, 0900-1700
Requisition # 202102E
What we do
BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) provides care for the most seriously ill or injured children and youth from across British Columbia.
BCCH is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).
The Provincial Health Services Authority (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 – Create equity – Be courageous.
Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services
PHSA and BCCH are 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 August 25th, 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].
