Palliative Care Coach, Ontario Health Team (10574)

Oak Valley Health; Markham; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in York Region, Markham is seeking a Clinical Coach to improve palliative care services. Candidates should have a degree in a health discipline, five years' experience in palliative care, and strong coaching skills. The role includes developing frameworks and providing education to community organizations. Commitment to equity and cultural responsiveness is essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years experience in practice in palliative care.
• Experience supervising clinical staff preferred.
• Experience designing education for interprofessional learners.

Responsibilities

• Co-create the regional Delivery Framework implementation plan.
• Lead community-building activities with participating organizations.
• Promote and provide palliative care education in community organizations.

Skills

Fluency in French and/or another language

Strong clinical coaching skills

Excellent communication skills

Strong critical thinking skills

Interpersonal communication skills

Education

Degree in a registered health care discipline (RN, RSW, NP)

Graduate degree (MScN, MSW)

Tools

Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Teams, PowerPoint, Excel)

Job description

Who you are

You encompass Oak Valley Health’s core values and live the words of respect, trust, commitment, compassion and courage. You are a patient and / or client centered individual who performs at an exemplary standard. You are a team player with excellent communication, critical thinking and prioritization skills.

What we need

The Clinical Coach is responsible for working with participating community organizations in alignment with provincial direction established by Ontario Health and guidance developed by the Ontario Palliative Care Network. The Clinical Coach will drive practice change, with a focus on improving access to and quality of clinical care, aligned to the Palliative Care Health Services Delivery Framework in the Community ("The Delivery Framework") and the Ontario Palliative Care Competency Framework.

Schedule

Monday - Friday Days. Please note schedules may change due to operational needs.

Contract length

Full Time Temporary (Approx June 1, 2026)

Responsibilities

Implementation

Co-create the regional Delivery Framework implementation plan with Ontario Health, including required measurement and reporting. Attend all regional planning meetings and contribute to the regional palliative care implementation plan, especially plans for education and practice change. Provide feedback on key learnings related to coach role, along with providing input and reviewing regional progress reports as required.

Collaboration

Foster regional collaboration and contribute to broader system integration. Develop relationships with key partners to establish trust, credibility, and respect. Clearly articulate key messages that resonate across different partner groups and audiences. Update the regional implementation team on challenges and opportunities in the community. Support Ontario Health Team planning and/or implementation of palliative models of care (where there is readiness).

Quality assurance

Ensure alignment of community implementation with the guidance of the Ontario Palliative Care Network. Participate in relevant provincial level committees, working groups and task forces. Support the regional advisory groups and subject matter experts who provide clinical leadership. Guide the creation of a quality improvement plan to address gaps.

Leadership

Lead engagement and community-building activities with participating organizations. Develop and present materials that express palliative care concepts and implementation plans effectively. Provide support to Indigenous communities and organizations for their implementation efforts, as requested by those organizations and, where appropriate, in collaboration with regional partners. Critically evaluate the quality of palliative care in participating community organizations.

Patient care

Build competency amongst front-line community providers in the delivery of primary-level palliative care. Guide palliative care quality improvement (QI) and practice change initiatives in participating community organizations. Offer consultation as a palliative care expert to service providers in person, onsite, by telephone, by videoconference or through email. Provide limited and occasional direct patient care.

Education

Promote and provide palliative care education in participating community organizations, aligned to the Ontario Palliative Care Competency Framework. Provide informal, case-based educational opportunities (coaching) for health service providers in community organizations, incorporating principles of adult learning. Provide palliative care mentoring for health service providers in the community. Complement the work of educational organizations, such as Ontario CLRI and Pallium Canada.

Requirements

Education

A degree in a registered health care discipline (RN, RSW, NP) with substantive experience and training in palliative care (CAPCE). A graduate degree is required (MScN, MSW). Proficiency in educational technologies (webinars, apps) as well as knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Teams, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Experience

Minimum five (5) years’ experience in practice in palliative care is required. Experience supervising clinical staff is preferred. Experience working with large-scale quality improvement initiatives. Experience working with a range of roles, disciplines, and levels of staff in different health care settings. Experience working across health care settings. Experience designing education to effectively address palliative care training needs of interprofessional learners.

Knowledge

Knowledge of relevant legislation and reporting requirements, including the Fixing Long-Term Care Homes Act, the Excellent Care for All Act and the Compassionate Care Act and other pertinent legislation and regulations related to professional practice is required. A good understanding of regional priorities and local health care needs, within Ontario’s health care landscape. A demonstrated focus on person-centered care.

Skills

Fluency in French and/or another language is an asset. Strong clinical coaching and debriefing skills, with both individuals and teams. Strong consultation skills, with expert knowledge of models of consultation and their application with individual, team and community service providers. Excellent communication skills and experience with culturally responsive teaching. Strong active listening and interpersonal communication skills for one-on-one coaching.

Abilities

Ability to work well under pressure and use good judgment in assessing difficult situations. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Aptitude for proactive problem solving, using strong critical thinking, and negotiating skills. A demonstrated ability to develop, deliver and evaluate training and coaching efforts. An ability to develop relationships based on trust, compassion, and empathy.

Initiative

A commitment to developing equity-based, evidence-informed approaches for delivering palliative care services for all people in Ontario, regardless of their age or illness. Supports the advancement of equity, inclusion, and diversity across Ontario’s health care system. Commitment to engage with First Nations, Indigenous, Métis and urban Indigenous people as they self-determine their own approach to palliative care.