Indigenous Wellness Specialist - FHT (Job ID: 9238)
Unity Health Toronto is working toward making transformative changes in its relationship with Indigenous peoples, and in improvements to health care and care experiences for Indigenous peoples at each of its sites. In order to continue building its capabilities to participate in reconciliation and advancing wellness of Indigenous peoples, Unity Health will be hiring a permanent Full Time, Community Wellness Specialist-Family Health Team.
Working as a member of the Unity Health Indigenous care team, the position will be embedded in the SMH Academic Family Health Team, which is part of the Unity Health Primary and Community Care Program is focused on providing comprehensive primary care to more than 45,000 patients. The Wellness Specialist will assist Indigenous individuals and families in becoming attached to primary care at the SMH FHT, navigating appointments, finding appropriate information, resources and referrals to programs and services and/or case management in community. This will include ongoing liaison with FNIM service organizations, direct outreach support for individual service users and their families.
Responsibilities:
-Indigenous identity with existing ties to local and regional communities and Nations would be considered an asset
-College certificate, undergraduate degree in relevant health or social services field or equivalent relevant work/life experience
-2 years' experience working with Indigenous community-based services
-Social Services education at the Community College level, Health Promotion and/or Public Health education is an asset
-Lived experience of social marginalization(those with lived experience of being marginalized by poverty and discrimination are encouraged to apply)
-Experience in engaging Indigenous people facing significant barriers to accessing health, social services and housing
-An ability to respectfully and meaningfully engage clients experiencing homelessness; demonstrated understanding of the unique issues and barriers facing the Indigenous population
-Demonstrated and exceptional ability to engage and build relationships with diversity of FNIM individuals and agencies in a respectful and strength-based manner
-Strong knowledge of local community resources and past advocacy experience preferred
-Experience and skill in engaging with non-Indigenous service institutions and health care providers and encouraging them to uphold their roles and responsibilities with respect to caring for FNIM peoples
-Demonstrates an understanding of the intersections between trauma, determinants of health and issues around homelessness, mental health and substance use able to communicate with clients in a professional, empathetic and culturally safe manner
-Ability to work within an anti-oppression & trauma informed framework;
-An ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team;
-Ability to work flexible hours as needed to meet the needs of patients
-Ability to manage challenging encounters and de-escalate situations, formal training is an asset
-Comfortable working with clients in diverse external locations, and familiarity with St. James Town, Moss Park and Regent Park
-Strong organizational, coordination and administrative skills; specifically Microsoft Office, Outlook and a comfort using electronic charting records
-Knowledge of addictions treatment modalities an asset
Qualifications
Certification as a regulated health care or social service professional an asset
Certification Sanyas, Crisis Intervention/De-escalation, Trauma Informed. Anti-oppressive
A minimum of 2 years¿ experience working in a healthcare environment
Experience working in a hospital environment an asset
Requires some travel to community agencies, lifting carrying resource materials to agencies, tabling at community fairs etc.
A minimum of 2 years¿ experience working with an interprofessional/interdisciplinary team
Knowledge on Indigenous Nations, community engagement and cultural protocols required
Experience with Indigenous cultural safety training, anti-racist practice and trauma informed care
Indigenous identity and lived experience with Indigenous communities; existing ties to local and regional communities and nations would be considered an asset;
An ability to respectfully and meaningfully engage clients experiencing homelessness; demonstrated understanding of the unique issues and barriers facing Indigenous populations;
An ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team;
Able to communicate with clients in a professional, empathetic and culturally safe manner
Strong organizational, coordination and administrative skills;
Knowledge of mental health and addictions treatment modalities an asset;
Possible extension up to 5 Years
Unity Health Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We strive to provide a recruitment process that is barrier-free and in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We understand that you may require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process. When you are contacted, please inform the Talent Acquisition Specialist or the Hiring Manager, and we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs. We want to emphasize that all accommodation requests are handled with the utmost confidentiality, respecting your privacy and dignity.