Triage​/Care Navigator

Triage – Care Navigator

Program: HART Hub

Reporting To: Program Manager, HART Hub

Type: Full-Time Contract until March 31, 2028

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The Triage – Care Navigator is an on‑site member of the HART Hub team who serves as a key point of contact for individuals accessing HART Hub services. Working collaboratively with Peer Support, Outreach, and other interdisciplinary team members, the Triage – Care Navigator identifies immediate and longer‑term client needs and assists individuals in navigating health, housing, income, identification, treatment, justice, and social service systems.

The Triage – Care Navigator completes initial assessments, coordinates immediate supports, assists clients with applications and essential documentation, facilitates referrals and warm transfers, and provides ongoing navigation, advocacy, accompaniment, and follow‑up as required.

Using harm‑reduction, trauma‑informed, culturally safe, strengths‑based, and client‑centred approaches, the Triage – Care Navigator works to reduce barriers to services and support clients toward long‑term stabilization, treatment, wellness, and permanent housing.

The role also acts as a resource to HART Hub staff by maintaining current knowledge of available community programs, services, eligibility requirements, and access pathways.

HART Hub honours the spirit, dignity, and resilience of our clients and communities by integrating Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing into all aspects of care.

The Triage – Care Navigator walks alongside each client throughout their healing and wellness journey, offering compassion, accountability, advocacy, and hope within a culturally grounded, community‑based environment. The position demonstrates cultural humility and supports equitable access to services for Indigenous clients, including knowledge and navigation of Indigenous‑specific programs and resources.

To reduce barriers and guide clients toward long‑term stabilization, appropriate treatment and supports, wellness, and permanent housingthrough coordinated navigation, advocacy, and connection to appropriate community resources and services.

• Conduct initial assessments of individuals seeking access to HART Hub services.
• Identify clients' immediate, short-term, and longer-term needs, including health care, mental health and substance use treatment, housing, income, identification, food security, transportation, legal/justice, and other social determinants of health.
• Determine appropriate internal and external service options based on identified client needs, eligibility, and availability.
• Arrange referrals and admissions to medical, treatment, housing, social service, and other identified programs.
• Present potential clients at daily debriefing meetings, case conferences, circles, and/or program application reviews as required.
• Forward assessments and relevant information to appropriate services in accordance with privacy and consent requirements.
• Apply crisis de‑escalation techniques, safety planning, and risk assessment protocols as required.

• Assist clients in navigating complex health, social service, housing, income, and government systems.
• Provide hands‑on assistance with completing applications, obtaining essential documentation, and accessing programs and benefits, including but not limited to:
• Indian Status cards;
• Birth certificates;
• Ontario health cards;
• Ontario Photo Cards, where applicable;
• Ontario Works (OW);
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP);
• Housing applications;
• Long‑term care applications and referrals; and
• Other documentation, benefits, and programs required to support client stabilization.
• Maintain working knowledge ofNon‑Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) programs and other Indigenous‑specific services and resources and assist eligible Indigenous clients in accessing available supports.
• Provide clients with clear information regarding available HART Hub housing resources, including current availability and alternative options when HART Hub housing is at capacity.
• Co…