Lead, Indigenous Palliative Care

R106532 Lead, Indigenous Palliative Care

At Ontario Health, we are committed to developing a strong organizational culture that
connects and inspires all team members across the province. Our vision is that
together, we will be a leader in health and wellness for all. Our mission is to connect the
health system to drive improved and equitable health outcomes, experiences and value.
How we work together is reflected through our five values: integrity, inspiration, tenacity,
humility and care.

What Ontario Health offers:  

Achieving your career goals is a priority to us. Benefits of working at Ontario Health may
include the following based on employment type:   

• Fully paid medical, dental and vision coverage from your first day
• Health care spending account
• Premium defined benefit pension plan
• 3 personal days and 2 float days annually
• Individual contributors start at 3 weeks’ vacation with 4 weeks at 2 yrs.
• Career development opportunities
• A collaborative values-based team culture
• Wellness programs
• A hybrid working model
• Participation in Communities of Inclusion

Want to make a difference in your career?  Consider this opportunity.  

The Ontario Palliative Care Network (OPCN) is an organized partnership of community
partners, health service providers and health systems planners. Together, the OPCN
develops a coordinated, standardized approach to high-quality, sustainable and person-
centred hospice palliative care for all Ontarians, regardless of age or disease type. The
OPCN Secretariat, housed at Ontario Health, executes the mandate of the OPCN, and
supports the operational and tactical activities of the OPCN.

The Lead, Indigenous Palliative Care role provides leadership for program planning and
quality improvement initiatives, which includes, coordinating and conducting analysis of
the health system to identify population health needs, service gaps, and opportunities
for integrated palliative care service delivery within First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban
Indigenous communities across the province. The Lead role will work with regional and
provincial partners on issues related to Indigenous health services planning and
implementation across the system, to ensure innovative approaches are identified and
implemented, system indicators are met, and accountability is in place. The Lead’s work
will be guided by the Indigenous Health Equity and Coordination team and its
approaches to Indigenous partnership and engagement along with the Ontario Health
Regions’ teams.

Here is what you will be doing:

• Lead complex planning projects or activities, including project management and
  community engagement; and provides expert and strategic advice regarding
  planning and research within OPCN
• Support OH Regions to build and sustain professional and collaborative
  relationships and partnerships with First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban
  Indigenous communities and organizations, health service providers and other
  relevant community partners in defining if and how they would like to be involved
  with Ontario Health through palliative care related initiatives
• Work with OH Regions and First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous
  providers and partners regarding the planning and provision of palliative care
  service delivery in Indigenous communities at both a system and organizational
  level, mitigating risks when identified
• Analyze the local health care system by leveraging health care utilization and
  outcomes data, research, and community input to identify gaps and establish
  planning priorities
• Develop Indigenous health planning strategies and frameworks tailored to
  support the coordination and delivery of local/regional health-care system plans
  and priorities
• Support the development and implementation of provincial palliative care quality
  improvement initiatives where Indigenous communities identify a need for such
  supports
• Engage with key networks, Ontario Health Regional leadership and teams,
  Ontario Health Teams, the Indigenous Cancer Care Unit and the Indigenous
  Health Equity and Coordination team, along with Indigenous leadership and
  communities at the provincial and regional level to team to ensure First Nations,
  Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous communities and organizations palliative care
  needs and priorities are being met and that Ontario Health remains accountable
  to them through ongoing engagement and reporting
• Ensure that work with Indigenous communities and partners is consistent with
  the Indigenous Health Equity and Coordination team’s approach to Indigenous
  partnership and engagement
• Lead the coordination of Indigenous engagement related to palliative care, in
  partnership with the Ontario Health Regions, IHEC and ICCU to ensure
  consistency across the regions
• Provide subject matter expertise to the OPCN regarding Indigenous cultural
  values and perspectives
• Establish and maintain positive relationships with First Nations, Inuit, Métis and
  urban Indigenous health tables/groups/leaders
• Participate in and contribute to provincial and regional planning activities where
  required, including aligning with other OH strategies
• Participate in and present to OPCN Leadership, OPCN Advisory Council, and
  various other meetings as necessary
• Develop relevant Indigenous specific palliative care resources and materials as
  needed
• Develop workplans and timelines with critical milestones identified and produce
  status reports and communicate those milestones to OPCN leadership
• Participate in or lead other areas of work as needed

Here is what you will need to be successful:  

Education and Experience  

• Experience working with Indigenous communities and peoples and/or lived
  experience with First Nations, Inuit, Métis or urban Indigenous communities in
  Ontario
• Completion of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a health-related field, or an
  acceptable combination of education, training and experience
• At least 3-5 years of experience successfully leading and managing health care
  projects and/or programs
• Experience in addressing palliative and/or chronic disease issues would be an
  asset
• Good understanding of and sensitivity to federal and provincial Indigenous health
  planning processes and the jurisdictional issues associated with the delivery of
  Indigenous health care services
• A valid driver’s license as travel will be required from time to time for OPCN
  businessKnowledge and Skills

•  A demonstrated passion for advancing high quality health care within the context
  of a system-wide strategy and the broader challenges of changing health care
  policies
• Proven ability to develop culturally appropriate relationships with key individuals
  and organizations to establish trust, credibility, and respect
• Strong understanding of the social determinants of health and health equity
• Extensive knowledge of the federal and provincial government departments
  responsible for Indigenous issues and Ontario’s provincial healthcare system
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of First Nations, Inuit and Métis history,
  culture and health/socio-economic issues/needs in Ontario, including governance
  structures
• Strategic planning, including the ability to develop short-term and longer-term
  plans that reflect current trends while identifying priorities for relevancy and
  leadership in the future; ability to operationalize strategies to execute key
  priorities
• Ability to communicate effectively with senior management, Indigenous
  communities, and external healthcare organizations, requiring exceptional writing
  and presentation skills and ability to express complex concepts effectively
• Ability to problem-solve and apply critical thinking to involve leadership in
  discussion that might need to be escalated and further managed to mitigate risk
  to relationships to ensure the reputations of the OPCN and Ontario Health are
  upheld
• Strong understanding of the Ontario health care system, and a familiarity with
  palliative care in Ontario. Palliative care expertise would be a significant asset
• Demonstrated project leadership and management skills within a fast-paced
  environment
• Demonstrated ability to conduct literature searches, and compile into summaries
  and briefs
• Ability to speak/understand a First Nation language would be an asset
• Strong technical abilities with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint,
  and Teams

Employment Type:  Permanent Full Time

Salary Band:   6

Location: Toronto, Ontario (currently hybrid; subject to change) All applicants must be a
resident of Ontario to be considered for roles at Ontario Health.

Ontario Health encourages applications from candidates who are First Nations, Métis,
Inuit, and urban Indigenous; Francophone; Black and racialized; members of
2SLGBTQIA+ communities; trans and nonbinary; and disabled.
We encourage applicants with accessibility needs to notify us if they have any
accommodation needs in the application and/or interview process.

Note:  As part of the initial recruitment screening process, applicants must confirm that
they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If applicants are not fully vaccinated, they
will be required to identify any accommodation needs pursuant to a protected ground
under the Code.  Applicants who identify an accommodation need will be required to
provide supporting documentation with respect to their need for accommodation when
requested by Ontario Health. If no such accommodation is identified, the applicant will
not be eligible to proceed through the recruitment process.