Indigenous Community Health Navigator in Toronto

The University Health Network is committed to high quality and equitable care for all patients. UHN recognizes the significant barriers to accessing care that continue to exist for Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) and is committed to addressing these gaps by advocating for culturally safe, high quality, trauma-informed care that is free of racism and discrimination for all Indigenous patients. It is also committed to supporting the well-being of Indigenous staff, learners, and health care providers so that they can learn and work in an environment that respects and values their Indigenous identities.

Position Summary

The Indigenous Community Health Worker will work at UHN and in community settings to provide direct 1:1 support to Indigenous patients/clients through the collaborative coordination of health and social services. Patients/clients will be connected with the Indigenous Community Health Worker who will develop a comprehensive plan to address their medical and social needs, including navigation support, advocacy, and referral to community services. The Indigenous Community Health Worker will provide support to the Indigenous Health Program and UHN Social Medicine and Population Health Program to inform program development and role refinement; build, grow, strengthen, and sustain relationships with community partners; and advocate for the needs of Indigenous clients. This position recognizes the University Health Network's commitment to health equity, to create a culturally safe institution for structurally marginalized people, and to educating future health care providers about health equity. First Nations, Inuit and Métis persons are strongly encouraged to apply.

Duties

• Support UHN’s most medically and socially complex patients/clients and coordinate appropriate community and clinical supports.
• Provide information, advocacy, and navigation of health and social services, strengthening communication between patients/clients, UHN, and community partners.
• Facilitate access to Indigenous ceremonies, medicines, Elders, Traditional Healers, and other cultural or community supports.
• Participate in care coordination discussions and client debriefs.
• Build trust and advocate for patients/clients and their families.
• Develop and adjust comprehensive care plans addressing complex health and social needs and maintain ongoing connections to community services.
• Follow up with clients and care teams to ensure supports are effective and modify plans as required.
• Support data collection and tracking (e.g., referrals, workload statistics, identified needs) to improve understanding of client experiences and outcomes.
• Problem-solve barriers and challenges in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams.
• Build and sustain relationships with community organizations and support linkages between UHN partners and the Social Medicine Team.
• Contribute to the development of screening, intake, and referral processes and identify care gaps or barriers for marginalized clients.
• Assist in the development or revision of policies, procedures, and best practices aimed at improving safety and wellbeing for complex patients/clients.
• Support program design, implementation, evaluation, and participate in meetings, committees, workshops, and related activities.
• Assist with developing and sharing communication materials regarding resources and supports for high-needs patients/clients and families.
• Serve as a resource for staff on the needs of medically and socially complex patients/clients and their communities.
• Provide oversight and advocacy to support equitable, high-quality services from staff and learners.
• Support access to education on health equity, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice, and trauma-informed care.
• Work in compliance with the Occupational Health & Safety Act, reporting hazards or deficiencies.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Completion of a bachelor degree in relevant health or social work field or recognized equivalent of lived or work experience.
• At minimum, 4 years practical and related experience.
• Strong knowledge of, and familiarity with, community resources to address the health needs of Indigenous peoples and the social determinants of health, including housing, poverty, and food insecurity.
• Dynamic knowledge of community engagement principles.
• Dynamic knowledge of Indigenous Nations, community engagement and cultural protocols.
• Experience building and nurturing relationships with Indigenous communities, leaders, Elders, Healers, language speakers and Knowledge holders.
• Experience with the provision of trauma-informed care and anti-racist, anti-discriminatory, anti-oppressive practices.
• Strong understanding of acute care setting and ability to navigate hospital systems an asset.
• Well-developed decision-making, problem-solving, and judgement skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Well-developed public speaking abilities.
• Fluency in an Indigenous language (written and/or verbal) an asset.
• Facilitation and/or teaching experience.
• Experience in program development and implementation.
• Experience in program evaluation and data collection.
• Proven ability to work as a team member and independently.
• Ability to have and use diplomacy and tact at all times.
• Member in good standing with professional college (if applicable).