Indigenous Patient Navigator, Clinical Operations – Permanent Full-Time (1.0)

CHEO; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 63,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

CHEO in Ottawa is seeking an Indigenous Patient Navigator to support First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Urban Indigenous patients and families in accessing equitable, safe, timely, and culturally responsive care.

The IPN will work with Indigenous patients, families, clinical teams, and community partners to facilitate navigation, advocacy, and care coordination while centering Indigenous world views and self-determination.

Qualifications

• Lived experience with Indigenous communities and strong cultural awareness.
• 3 years of health navigation, case management, or related field experience.
• 4 years of collaboration with clinical teams and community partners.
• Knowledge of Indigenous histories, cultures, languages, holistic wellness models, and colonial impacts.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills across cultures and teams.
• Bilingual (French and English) proficiency is preferred.
• Fluency in one or more Indigenous languages is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide navigation and advocacy for Indigenous patients and families across care settings.
• Support consent, care planning, scheduling, referrals, and follow-up including transportation.
• Address barriers and escalate concerns related to discrimination or unsafe care.
• Explain diagnoses and treatment options to patients and families, supporting shared decision making.
• Participate in case conferences and quality improvement activities.

Skills

Lived Indigenous communities knowledge

Health navigation experience

Collaboration with clinical teams

Indigenous health context knowledge

Communication and facilitation skills

Bilingual English/French

Indigenous languages (any)

Education

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

Job description

Compensation Pay Range:

$46.02-$56.91

Job Description:

Please note this is a designated job for candidates who self-identify as Indigenous.

Ottawa is built on un-ceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory. The peoples of the Algonquin Anishinabek Nation have lived on this territory for millennia and we honour them and this land. Their culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land. CHEO also honours all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and their valuable past and present contributions to this land.
CHEO is one of the few stand‑alone, global leaders in pediatric health and is home to more than 6,500 staff, clinicians, scientists and researchers, as well as volunteers – all of whom work together to help children and youth achieve their best lives. Within its own walls and through partnerships with community providers, CHEO has transformed from a 20th century acute care hospital into a 21st century integrated child and youth health system.
Ranked in the top 1% of Canadian hospitals for the digitization of its clinical infrastructure, CHEO combines excellence in clinical care, research, and education to advance seamless care that’s provided where, when, and how it is needed. CHEO’s Research Institute is dedicated to world‑class clinical, translational, and basic science research covering a wide range of children’s health concerns. CHEO has been named Canada’s best health‑care employer by Forbes in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and is ranked second among Canadian hospitals on its list of Canada’s Best Employers for multiple consecutive years. For the 14th consecutive year in a row, the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers has recognized CHEO as a top employer in the National Capital Region. Every year CHEO helps more than 500,000 children and youth from Eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and Northern Ontario.

POSITION SUMMARY

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

Patient Navigation & Advocacy - 40%

• 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)
• Vulnerable Sector Check (Essential)
• 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).

Effective March 29, 2021, CHEO will conduct a more comprehensive pre-screening and evaluation process. This process may include more varied and multidimensional testing such as a written test, practical exam, or other assessment. All candidates who meet the essential and preferred qualifications may be tested.

**Bilingualism (French/English) will be validated by a language proficiency assessment conducted by a third party provider. Candidates will be required to meet the minimum linguistic profile prior to the date of hire.**

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.

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.