Social Medicine Patient Support Representative

University Health Network; Toronto; On-site; CAD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

HOOPP pension

Transit access

Flexible work environment

Development opportunities

Corporate discounts

Job summary

University Health Network’s Social Medicine team seeks a Patient Support Specialist to join the unified care approach. You will engage patients, coordinate navigation across programs, and support community resources within the Social Medicine Hub and Housing.

You’ll work with an interdisciplinary team to document needs, support safe engagement, and contribute to policies that promote equity and patient-centred care in a complex hospital setting.

Qualifications

• High school diploma and up to one year in community health or related training.
• At least 1 year practical or on-the-job training.
• Experience with marginalized populations, homelessness, substance use, and mental health.
• Experience with trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and anti-racist practices.

Responsibilities

• Engage patients at the Social Medicine Hub and other hospital spaces.
• Consent patients to participate in Social Medicine supports and services.
• Support patient navigation and accompany to appointments within the hospital setting.
• Facilitate and participate in patient-centered activities.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in EPIC and other trackers.

Skills

Crisis de-escalation

Trauma-informed care

Harm reduction

Anti-racist practices

Community resources knowledge

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

One-year or less program in community health or related field

Tools

EPIC system

Job description

• Full-time
• Department: Other (Not Listed)
• Compensation: CAD 41,535 - CAD 51,909 - yearly

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.

Union: Non-Union
Number of vacancies: 1
New or Replacement Position:New
Site: UHN All Sites & Community
Department: Social Medicine & Population Health
Reports to: Senior Manager
Salary: $41,535 - $51,909 per annum
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Shifts: Days
Status: Permanent Full-Time
Closing Date: November 9, 2026

Position Summary

The Social Medicine Patient Support Representative is an integral member of the Social Medicine clinical team, supporting the interdisciplinary team, engaging patients, and managing social needs experienced by patients on a day to day basis. The Patient Support Specialist works in coordination with the interdisciplinary Social Medicine clinical team, with partner organizations and within the Social Medicine Hub and Housing. The primary responsibilities of the Social Medicine Patient Support Specialist include: engaging patients in the Social Medicine Hub and Housing, hospital spaces to build positive rapport, supporting initial patient navigation across Social Medicine programs, facilitating patient-centred activities, and ensuring documentation is completed as appropriate.

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.

Duties

• Engage and build rapport with patients at the Social Medicine Hub and other hospital and Social Medicine spaces.
• Introduce and consent patients to participate in Social Medicine supports and services.
• Support patient navigation by providing accompaniments to appointments within the hospital setting.
• Facilitate and participate in patient-centered activities
• Support the development and/or revision of policies, procedures, and/or best practices targeted towards improving the wellbeing and safety of marginalized clients.
• Assist with development, dissemination and posting of communication materials related to resources & supports for clients
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in hospital records, including the EPIC system and other trackers, in accordance with organizational standards.
• Ensure adherence to engagement protocols and communication standards
• Identify trends in patient needs and flag opportunities for improving engagement approaches
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in hospital records, including the EPIC system and other trackers, in accordance with organizational standards.
• Ensure adherence to engagement protocols and communication standards
• Identify trends in patient needs and flag opportunities for improving engagement approaches
• Organize and prioritize outreach activities based on patient needs and program priorities
• Support scheduling and coordination of patient interactions and follow-ups
• Identify risks and escape issues related to patient safety, access, or system barriers.

Qualifications

• At minimum, completion of high school and additional program under 1 year in community health, mental health, substance abuse, peer support programs or recognized equivalent required or recognized equivalent of practical, lived experience and non-traditional training.
• At minimum 1 year practical and related experience and/ or 1 year on-the-job training
• Experience working with patients experiencing systemic marginalization, homelessness, substance use, and mental health challenges. Lived experience is considered a strong asset.
• Experience with the provision of trauma-informed care, harm reduction principles, and anti-racist, anti-discriminatory, anti-oppressive practices
• Strong knowledge of, and familiarity with, community resources to address the social determinants of health
• Dynamic knowledge of community engagement principles
• Experience with crisis de-escalation
• Trained in overdose response, CPR, and first aid
• Proven ability to work as a team member and independently
• Ability to have and use diplomacy and tact at all times

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.At University Health Network (UHN), artificial intelligence technologies may be used to assist in the screening, assessment, and selection of candidates for this position.

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.