Indigenous Patient Navigator, Clinical Operations – Permanent Full-Time

CHEO; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

CHEO in Ottawa, Ontario is seeking an Indigenous Patient Navigator to support First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Urban Indigenous patients and families in accessing equitable, culturally responsive care across CHEO and the broader health system.

You will partner with patients, families, clinical teams, and community partners to navigate, advocate, and coordinate care while centering Indigenous world views and self-determination.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Social Work or related Indigenous Health field (Essential)
• Lived experience and a strong connection to Indigenous communities (Essential)
• 3 years’ experience in health navigation, case management, community health, social services, or related fields serving Indigenous peoples (Essential)
• 4 years’ experience collaborating with clinical teams and community partners (Essential)
• Knowledge of Indigenous histories, cultures, languages, holistic wellness models, colonial impacts, intergenerational trauma, social determinants of health (Essential)
• Knowledge of trauma and violence informed, culturally safe, and anti-racist approaches within health systems (Essential)
• Ability to advocate for Indigenous patients by navigating complex systems and ethically leveraging resources (Essential)
• Strong communication and facilitation skills across cultures (Essential)
• Ability to work independently and in interprofessional environments (Essential)
• Working knowledge of client information systems and Indigenous data sovereignty (Essential)
• Strong analytical, adaptability, and problem-solving skills (Essential)
• Strong organizational and time management skills (Essential)
• Commitment to excellence and patient-focused care (Essential)
• Training in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention and related areas (Preferred)
• Knowledge of NIHB and Jordan’s Principle (Preferred)
• Ability to work with interpreters (Preferred)
• Bilingual in French and English (Preferred)
• Fluency in Indigenous languages (Preferred)
• * An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Provide trauma informed, culturally safe navigation for Indigenous patients and families across services.
• Support informed consent, care planning, appointments, referrals, and follow up.
• Advocate for patient rights by addressing barriers and escalating concerns related to discrimination or unsafe care.
• Explain diagnoses, treatments, options, medications, and care pathways; facilitate shared decision making.
• Participate in case management discussions or Safety Incident Report debriefs as required.
• Promote access to cultural safety practices and antiracism initiatives.
• Facilitate access to traditional medicines, Elders, ceremony, and land-based supports per patient preference.
• Connect staff to educational resources on Indigenous health contexts and determinants of health.
• Contribute to developing resources supporting staff and learners on Indigenous Safer Care.
• Document navigation activities in privacy-compliant systems and support Indigenous data sovereignty.
• Support program metrics and quality improvement reporting.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Cultural safety

Advocacy

Care coordination

Communication

Interprofessional collaboration

Indigenous health knowledge

Bilingual (French/English)

Navigation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Social Work or related Indigenous Health field

Job description

The Indigenous Patient Navigator (IPN) supports First Nations, Inuit, and Métis and Urban Indigenous patients and families to access equitable, safe, timely, and culturally responsive care across CHEO and the broader health system. Working in partnership with Indigenous patients, families, clinical teams, and community partners, The IPN facilitates navigation, advocacy, and care coordination while centering Indigenous world views, rights, and self-determination.

The IPN promotes the inclusion of patient and family voice in clinical decision making and supports patients and families in understanding care pathways, care plans, and follow-up. The IPN facilitates access to cultural, spiritual, emotional, and practical supports, assists with care coordination, and connects patients and families to appropriate community partners. The IPN addresses systemic barriers, responds to and supports the prevention of racism and discrimination in health care settings, and contributes to improved patient experience and health outcomes.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide trauma informed, culturally safe navigation for Indigenous patients and families across primary, acute, specialty, and community services.
• Support informed consent processes, care planning, appointment scheduling, referrals, discharge coordination, and follow up, including transportation and medical escort needs, where applicable.
• Advocate for patient rights by identifying and addressing barriers (e.g., jurisdictional issues, coverage or benefits, language needs, or documentation requirements) and escalating concerns related to discrimination or unsafe care.
• Support patient and family understanding by offering explanations of diagnoses treatments options, medications, and care pathways. facilitate shared decision making throughout the patient’s care journey.
• Participate in case management discussions or Safety Incident Report debriefs, as required.

Cultural Safety & Antiracism – 20%

• Promote cultural safety practices and challenge discriminatory behaviors and policies within care environments through respectful, collaborative, and solution focused engagement. Contribute to antiracism and quality improvement initiatives.
• Facilitate access to traditional medicines, Elders or Knowledge Keepers, ceremony (e.g., smudging), and land-based supports in alignment with patient preference and organizational policy.
• Connect staff, medical staff, learners and volunteers to educational opportunities on Indigenous health contexts, colonial impacts, and determinants of health.
• Contribute in partnership with Indigeneity, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Social Justice (I-IDEAS) to the development of educational and training resources supporting staff, medical staff, learners and volunteers on Indigenous Safer Care.

Documentation, Data, and Privacy – 10%

• Document navigation activities in appropriate systems in compliance with privacy legislation and in support of Indigenous data sovereignty principles (e.g. distinction-based considerations).
• Utilize secure, trauma informed approaches to the collection, storage, and sharing patient information, obtaining consent for the involvement of any community or external supports.
• Contribute to program metrics (e.g., access, wait times, patient experience, cultural safety indicators) and quality improvement reporting.

Program & Organizational Contributions – 10%

• Participate in case conferences, huddles, and rounds, bringing forward patient and family voice and cultural safety considerations.
• Contribute to developing resources on available supports for medical staff benefiting Indigenous patients and families.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Social Work or a related Indigenous Health field* (Essential)
• Lived experience and a strong connection to Indigenous communities, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis (Essential)
• 3 years’ experience in health navigation, case management, community health, social services, or related fields serving Indigenous peoples (Essential)
• 4 years’ experience collaborating with clinical teams and community partners (Essential)Knowledge of Indigenous histories, cultures, languages, holistic wellness models, colonial impacts, intergenerational trauma, social determinants of health, community engagement, and cultural protocols (Essential)
• Knowledge of trauma and violence informed, culturally safe, and anti-racist approaches within health systems, emphasizing choice, control, safety, strengths-based care, and reflective practice.
• Ability to advocate for Indigenous patients by navigating complex systems, addressing barriers, negotiating pathways, and ethically leveraging resources (Essential)
• Strong communication and facilitation skills, including the ability to translate complex clinical information, engage across cultures, and support case related discussions (Essential)
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within interprofessional and cross disciplinary environments, including constructively challenging harmful practices when required (Essential)
• Working knowledge of client information systems and documentation, privacy requirements, distinction-based approaches, and Indigenous data sovereignty (Essential)
• Strong analytical, adaptability, and problem-solving skills to respond effectively to evolving patient and system needs in fast paced environments (Essential)
• Strong organizational and time management skills to balance competing demands and priorities.
• Commitment to excellence, patient focused care, and the consistent exercise of diplomacy and tact (Essential)
• Training in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training, mediation, de-escalation, or conflict resolution (Preferred)
• Knowledge of Non-insured Health Benefits -NIHB (or local equivalents), Jordan’s Principle Application medical travel processes, and jurisdictional funding pathways (Preferred)
• Ability to work with interpreters (Preferred)
• Bilingual (French and English) proficiency (Preferred)
• Fluency in one or more Indigenous languages (Preferred)

* An equivalent combination of post-secondary education (e.g., college diploma) and significant relevant professional experience may be considered.

Please note you will be represented by the Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA).

CHEO values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process and welcome interest from all qualified applicants.

Should you require accommodation during any phase in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail]. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

We thank all those who apply, however, only those to be interviewed will be contacted.