Emergency Department Indigenous Patient Navigator

Company Description

UHN is Canada’s #1 hospital and the world’s #1 publicly funded hospital. With 10 sites and more than 44,000 TeamUHN members, UHN consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education and West Park Healthcare Centre. As Canada's top research hospital, the scope of biomedical research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. UHN has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in neurosciences, cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.

UHN’s vision is to build A Healthier World and it’s only because of the talented and dedicated people who work here that we are continually bringing that vision closer to reality.

www.uhn.ca

Job Description

Union: Non-Union
Number of vacancies: 1
Site: Toronto General Hospital
Department: Indigenous Health Programs
Reports to: Operations & Program Manager
Hours: 37.5 per week
Status: Permanent Full-Time
Closing Date: August 24, 2025

Position Summary

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.

The ED Indigenous Patient Navigator (ED IPN) will report directly to the Operations & Program Manager, Indigenous Health Program, UHN, and work within UHN to create pathways among hospital and community-based services to support Indigenous patients, with a focus on patients and programs in the emergency department. The ED IPN will provide continuity through patients’ care journeys when they are admitted, and help facilitate safe, supportive accompaniment and discharge with community supports and resources.  The ED IPN will focus on emergency care, where many Indigenous patients come for acute concerns and begin their care journey through the hospital or are discharged home.  In addition to identifying existing pathways and helping to create new ones, the ED IPN will provide direct 1:1 support to Indigenous patients at UHN through provision of information, resources, advocacy and coordination of services; facilitate requests for access to Indigenous ceremonies and medicines; facilitate connections with family, Elders, Traditional Healers and other community supports, and participate in case discussions and debriefs.

Through their work, the ED IPN will help to build, strengthen and sustain relationships with Indigenous communities and community organizations. The ED IPN will also support institutional partners and provide guidance to staff regarding the needs of Indigenous patients and community.

This position recognizes the University Health Network’s commitment to health equity, to creating a culturally safe institution for Indigenous peoples and other structurally marginalized groups, and to educating future health care providers about health equity.

First Nations, Inuit and Métis persons are strongly encouraged to apply.

Duties

• Support for First Nations, Inuit and Métis patients and their families
  • Provide Information, advocacy, supports and coordination of services for Indigenous patients
  • Facilitate requests for Indigenous ceremonies and access to Indigenous medicines
  • Facilitate connections to Elders, Traditional Knowledge Keepers, Traditional Healers and other community supports
  • Participate in case management discussion or quality of care incident report debriefs as required
  • Facilitate referrals to appropriate personnel (advocate for patients and family/significant others)
• Relationship Building
  • Build, strengthen and sustain relationships with local Indigenous communities and organizations.
  • Build, strengthen and sustain relationships with regional and provincial Indigenous organizations.
  • Build, strengthen and sustain internal relationships with TeamUHN.
  • Build, strengthen and sustain external relationships with local care providers and organizations.
• Program Development and Support
  • Identify gaps or barriers to care for Indigenous patients within existing organizational programs and policies and work with colleagues to address
  • Support the development or revision of policies, procedures and/or best practices targeted to improve the wellbeing and safety of Indigenous patients in the hospital setting
  • Based on gaps identified in the services available for Indigenous patients, seek out other possible programs and develop informal and/or formal referral pathways
  • Support the development, design, implementation and evaluation of programming offered through the UHN Indigenous Health Program that aligns with Indigenous models of governance, cultural practices, knowledges and philosophies
• Supports to staff and learners
  • Act as a resource for staff and program leaders regarding the needs of Indigenous patients, their families and communities
  • Provide monitoring, oversight and advocacy related to the quality and equity of services being offered by providers, programs and institutions for Indigenous patients and their families including how to access the complaints processes
  • Promote respect for- and understanding of- Indigenous knowledges and traditional practices among hospital learners, staff and leaders.
  • Collaborate on Indigenous educational initiatives
• Performs cross-functional and/or other duties consistent with the job classification, as assigned or requested
  • Support the development of data collection and tracking initiatives to better understand the experiences and outcomes for Indigenous patients and their families, and adhere to reporting mechanisms (workload statistics, volumes, referrals, types of needs identified, etc.)
  • Represent the IHP as requested through participation on committee's, working groups and conferences

Qualifications

• A degree in a related field is preferred along with direct care experience in healthcare delivery; however, equivalent lived experience and knowledge gained through community-based pathways will also be considered
• Minimum 3 years of practical, related experience or on the job training
• Dynamic knowledge of Indigenous Nations, community engagement and cultural protocols
• Experience building and nurturing relationships with Indigenous communities, Leaders, Elders, Healers, Language Speakers, Oral Historians and Knowledge Keepers
• Experience with Indigenous cultural safety training, anti-racist practice and trauma-informed care
• Well-developed decision-making, problem-solving and judgement skills are required
• Good interpersonal, oral and written communication skills
• Ability to have and use diplomacy and tact at all times
• Proven ability to work as a team member and independently
• Experience in healthcare an asset, but not required
• Demonstrated lived experience as a member of the constitutionally recognized Indigenous peoples of Canada (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) preferred
• Facilitation and/or teaching experience an asset
• Experience in program development and implementation an asset
• Fluency in an Indigenous language an asset
• Experience working in fast-paced environment, experience working in acute or emergency care an asset.

Additional Information

Why join UHN?

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP https://hoopp.com/)
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, to be eligible for consideration.

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates.  Please ensure you check your email regularly.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.