Indigenous Patient and Programs 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

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.

Job Description

Union: Non-Union
Number of vacancies: 1
Site: UHN All Sites & Community 
Department: Social Medicine & Population Health
Reports to: Senior Manager
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Shifts: Days
Status: Permanent Full-Time 
Closing Date: December 26, 2025

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)

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.