Regional Indigenous Patient Navigator bei University Health Network

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.

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Union: Non-Union
Number of vacancies: 1
Site: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Department: Toronto Central South Regional Cancer Program
Reports to: Director, Toronto Central South Regional Cancer Program
Hours: 37.5 per week
Status: Permanent Full-Time
Closing Date: December 4, 2025

Position Summary:

The Toronto Central South Regional Cancer Program (TCS RCP), led by Ontario Health, works in collaboration with hospital and community partners to improve the quality of cancer care across the region. Based at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, the TCS RCP supports University Health Network, Sinai Health System, Women’s College Hospital, Unity Health Toronto and Humber River Health, and also works closely with partners in the Toronto Central North Regional Cancer Program, including Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Odette Cancer Centre), Michael Garron Hospital, North York General and Scarborough Health Network. This work is guided by Ontario Cancer Plan 6, the Toronto Central Regional Cancer Strategy and the Toronto Central Regional Indigenous Cancer Plan (2024–2028).

The Regional Cancer Program is responsible for implementing provincial standards and programs for cancer care, and ensuring service providers meet the requirements and targets set out in their partnership and funding agreements with Ontario Health. The Program also responds to local cancer care priorities, coordinates care across hospital and community partners, and monitors performance through quality metrics.

A key part of this work is the Regional Indigenous Cancer Program team, which leads and supports efforts to improve cancer care experiences and outcomes for Indigenous patients and caregivers in the region. This team’s work is guided by the Toronto Central Regional Indigenous Cancer Plan (2024–2028), developed in collaboration with Indigenous partners and reflective of Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous) community members’ voices and feedback. As part of this commitment, the Program recognizes the significant and ongoing barriers that Indigenous Peoples continue to face when accessing cancer services and works to advance culturally safer, high-quality, trauma-informed care. These efforts are grounded in relationships with Indigenous communities, Indigenous organizations and health system partners across the region.

The Regional Indigenous Patient Navigator (RIPN) is a core member of the Regional Indigenous Cancer Program team. The RIPN will work in collaboration with patients, families, hospital staff and community partners to support Indigenous patients throughout the cancer care journey. The RIPN will assist with care navigation, facilitate access to culturally relevant supports, and help strengthen relationships between hospitals and Indigenous communities.

Through their work, the RIPN will help to build, strengthen and sustain relationships with Indigenous communities and community organizations. The RIPN 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 safer institution for Indigenous peoples and other structurally marginalized groups, and 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 families/caregivers
  • Provide Information, advocacy, supports and coordination of services
  • 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 discussions or quality of care incident report debriefs as required
  • Facilitate referrals to appropriate personnel (advocate for patients and family/significant others)
  • Regular travel to the hospital sites and community organizations throughout the Toronto Central region where patients and families/caregivers are accessing care when needed
• 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 that aligns with Indigenous models of governance, cultural practices, knowledges and philosophies
• Supports 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 and deliver on Indigenous educational initiatives
• Perform 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 Toronto Central South Regional Cancer Program as requested through participation on committee's, working groups and conferences

• A degree in Social Work, Nursing or 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
• Demonstrated lived experience as a member of the constitutionally recognized Indigenous peoples of Canada (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) preferred
• Facilitation and/or teaching experience to a variety of diverse audiences is an asset
• Experience in program development and implementation an asset
• Fluency in an Indigenous language an asset
• Fluent in use of Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.)
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment, experience working in acute care an asset.

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.)

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.